Page 9 - Meadowhall 25th Anniversary: The Star Special Supplement
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Saturday,September5,2015 www.thestar.co.uk
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Meadowhall Shopping Centre handing over a donation to Darnall United in 2012
Carol Harrop, aged 68, from Sheffield, and her grandson Harry Tussnell, 15, from Boots with the commemorative blanketthey made to mark Meadow- hall’s 25th anniversary.
The blanket features all the key landmarks and events that have helped ce ment Meadowhall’s place in the heart and minds of the Sheffield community ofthe last 25 years.
Footballers on their game with community scheme
Community football team Darnall United is going from strength to strength as it cel ebrates its third successful season at the same time as Meadowhall Shopping Cen tre marks 25 years ofopening its doors.
Three years of funding from Meadowhall has allowed morethan70localyoungsters from across avariety ofdiffer ent communities and ethnic backgrounds to register with the team.
Launched by the Darnall and Tinsley Safer Neighbour hoodTeam,theboystakepart in weekly training sessions andfriendlygamesoffootball.
So far, Meadowhall and its owners British Land have giv
en £19,000 to Darnall United, paying for pitch hire, equip ment,newkits,staffandtui tion.
Some regular players have been so dedicated that they have been scouted by profes sional clubs and signed up to academies such as at Sheffield United Football Club.
But the success ofthe club is apparent offthe pitch too, with figures showing that an ti-social behaviour plummet ed by more than 50% on Friday evenings when the training sessions take place, contrib utingtoanoverallreductionin levels of crime and youth-re lated anti-social behaviour in the Darnall area, year on year.
Mick Osborne, head of se
curity for Meadowhall and key co-ordinator in the Dar nall United project, said: “The scheme was one ofthe first of its kind in the country but it shows what you can achieve when you have strong part nership with the local com munities, no matter how disadvantaged the area may be.
“It has been a lot of hard work and commitment from the Meadowhall team, the po liceandthecommunity-and not least the kids themselves.
“They have turned up in allweathersandhaveshowed true spirit, which is why we are all proud to still be work ingwiththem.
“It has also helped bring
barriers down between com munities and cultures which have very different outlooks and experience on life.”
South Yorkshire Police In spector Paul Ferguson said: “Darnall United’s achieve ments for the young people andthewidercommunityare significant.
“Every week, a group of committed youngsters from the area’s differing ethnic backgrounds come together through football.
“Cultural and ethnic barri ers are being broken down and friendshipsmade.Theadded benefits of reduced levels of crimes in the community and anti-social behaviour speak for themselves.”
Meadowhall centre director Darren Pearce took a stroll over to Tinsley MeadowsPrimarySchoolinSheffieldearlierthisyearforaspecialbook reading with pupilsto mark World Book Day. Darrenwentbacktotheclassroomfortheinteractive readingofthechil dren’s classic The Gruffalo with the enthusiastic 5 and 6 year olds, before presentingeachchildwithacopyofthepicturebooktotakehomeasa memento.
champagne toast
has been coming from the very beginning.
Widower George comes with his neighbours to listen to the music andjust to “enjoy the social occasion”.
He added: “I don’t like lots ofvisitors at home but this is lovely because I still get out and about and can meet people.”
Brian and Gloria Studley,
from Sheffield, have an even
longer connection to Mead
owhall as Brian used to work
at the old Hadfield steelworks,
wherethecentreissited. Thesewillbepresentedto
“My grandfather used to tea dance members as a me work there with his brothers mento.
so we have a long history with the site,” he said.
Gloria has fond memories ofMeadowhallopeningfordif ferent reasons as her grandson was born shortly afterwards.
“It’s easy to remember the opening as he arrived just af terwards, so he’s 25 this year,
just like Meadowhall,” she added.
The group members en joyed a chat with Darren and special commemorative pho
tographs were taken.
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Meadowhall tea dancers join centre director Darren Pearce for a special ohotooraoh
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