Press Release

Landmark Project to Deliver West-Midlands' First Carbon-Neutral Hockey Pitch and England Kabaddi Training Base Birmingham, UK

Barford Tigers Sports Club has submitted plans to Birmingham City Council to transform the long-unused Wood Lane playing fields into a state-of-the-art Community Sports & Wellbeing Hub. This ambitious project will bring the region's first fully carbon-zero hockey pitch and a dedicated national training centre for England Kabaddi Association to the heart of Handsworth.

A Welcoming Space for the Whole Community

The new hub is designed to break down cultural, financial, and weather-related barriers that prevent local families from being physically active. The project will provide a range of facilities, including:

• A state-of-the-art, carbon-neutral artificial pitch built to National Premier League hockey standard
• A dedicated indoor training centre for England Kabaddi squads
• An all-weather 3G pitch with priority access for local junior football teams
• A new community pavilion with rooms for elders' groups, youth programmes, and health workshops - Guaranteed daytime use for local schools

A Transformational Starting Point for Kabaddi

Ashok Das, President of England Kabaddi Association , said: "At long last, local kabaddi clubs and the England Kabaddi Association will have a permanent base after decades of nomadic existence. This is a transformational starting point to grow the sport across the entire region."

A Safe and Welcoming Space for All

Dr Sukhdev Gill, Director of Barford Tigers Sports Club, added: "We're creating a safe, welcoming space where a grandmother can play social badminton in the morning, her grandson can train with an England Kabaddi squad in the afternoon, and her granddaughter can play league hockey in the evening – all within walking distance of home. Choosing a fully carbon-zero surface also means we're looking after the planet as well as local people."

Get Involved

The plans are publicly available on Birmingham City Council's planning portal (reference 2025/04405/PA link: https://bit.ly/44d3JkW).