A NEW sports centre geared for top class football coaching is taking shape on a Yeadon industrial estate.

A disused warehouse at the Moorfield estate is being converted by former Guiseley AFC captain Joe McPhee into a state-of-the-art centre equipped with the latest hi-tech sports flooring.

He hopes it will provide youngsters with coaching on a five-a-side pitch all year round and encourage more of them to take part in sport.

Work on the warehouse - a former printing studio - began in earnest this week after Joe was handed the keys last Friday.

Now he aims to have everything in place by the beginning of July. He said: "There is a lot to do but I am hoping to be able to show people what is on offer by that time. I have had this picture in my mind for months and now I can see it coming to fruition."

When opened, the centre will also provide an aerobics studio and floor markings for indoor sports such as badminton and netball.

Joe, 42, said: "A friend of ours made it particularly clear that there is nowhere around here for netballers to train indoors, so I thought we might as well provide that too."

All sportsmen and women using the centre will be able to take advantage of a multi-purpose floor which is ranked among the best in the field. "It is ideal for any kind of activity, from football to circuits," said Joe.

It will be matched by similar surroundings for the five-a-side area with rebound boards and nets flanking the pitch. "I want to impress the youngsters when they come here once and make them want to come back.

"The key to encouraging them is to stop them being bored and I think what we're trying to do here will definitely help with that," he said.

Joe's involvement in the game has continued since his days at Nethermoor as a player for Horsforth St Margarets and player-manager of Rawdon Old Boys. He is also a UEFA qualified coach.

His connections have served him well. "The centre has already generated a lot of interest and people are very keen to come along as soon as we're open. Schools have also been in touch to find out if they can use it during the day," he said.

"There aren't enough indoor facilities - especially not ones you pay for as you use - in Aireborough.

"Lots of kids want to get involved in football but don't necessarily have the opportunity all year round. This will fill that gap."

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