Women’s football club secures at Solihull ground until 2030, thanks to Thursfields

A women’s football club has secured the use of its Solihull ground until 2030, thanks to specialist advice from Thursfields Solicitors.

Thursfields has arranged a ten year lease for Leafield Athletic Ladies FC to continue playing at Dickens Heath Sports Club, on Rumbush Lane, Earlswood, which is owned by Tanworth and Camp Hill Cricket Club.

John McCormack is general manager of Leafield Athletic, whose first team competes in Division One Midlands of the FA Women’s National League.

He explained that although the women’s club had been going since 1997, until now they had been on a 12-month rolling contract at Rumbush Lane.

Mr McCormack said: “We’re now running six teams at Leafield Athletic, ranging from girls as young as seven to women in their 30s, and the uptake from people wanting to take part is getting stronger and stronger.

“We wanted to have our use of the splendid ground at Rumbush Lane put onto a more secure footing to allow us to become more adventurous in our future planning.

“Rob Pettigrew at Thursfields’ Solihull office has already been so supportive of the club and the company is the current shirt sponsor of our Under-18s, so I mentioned to him that we might need their help.

“Rob gave us great expert advice and literally handled the whole lease for us from start to finish. We’re very grateful to Thursfields, and it’s great for our club to have such meaningful support from a local business.”

Mr McCormack added: “Now we have the new lease in place we’ve refurbished the clubhouse and have development plans, including improvements to the changing rooms.”

Robert Pettigrew is a director of the Commercial Property department at Thursfields, specialising in the retail and leisure sector.

He said: “Thursfields is determined to put something back into the communities where our offices are based, and we’ve been delighted to support Leafield Athletic in many different ways over the years.

“When we realised they needed our specialist advice on their new lease, we were only too happy to help out, as that is something we could provide professionally for them.

“We now look forward to watching the club’s continued growth and to carry on as one of their main sponsors for the next season.”

▪ Anyone who needs commercial property advice can call Rob Pettigrew on 0121 796 4022 or email him on rpettigrew@thursfields.co.uk.

▪ If any girls or women would like to give football a try, they can email John McCormack at villaladies@yahoo.co.uk or call him on 07753 328185.

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