Wednesday 4 October 2017 23:39, UK
Sheffield Eagles will return home to the steel city after a four-year exile in 2018, the Kingstone Press Championship club have announced.
The Eagles, who famously beat Wigan in the 1998 Challenge Cup final at Wembley, have led a nomadic existence since their inaugural Don Valley Stadium home was demolished in 2013, playing most recently at Wakefield's Belle Vue ground.
However, from next season, Sheffield say their new permanent home will be the 3G pitch at the city's Olympic Legacy Park on the original Don Valley site, as long as it satisfies the requirements of the Rugby Football League.
The announcement follows the outcome of extensive talks between representatives of Legacy Park Ltd, Sheffield City Council and the Eagles.
"There has been a massive effort from everyone concerned to get us over the line," Sheffield chairman Chris Noble said.
"It has been extremely hard to bring to fruition but we have succeeded. We are back in the city where we should be."
Former Sports Minister Richard Caborn, who is the project lead man from Legacy Park Ltd, said: "We have been involved in many discussions which have led to this positive outcome for the Eagles, the city and the Olympic Legacy Park. I am delighted for the club and the city."
Cllr Mary Lea, a cabinet member of Sheffield City Council, said funding is in place to develop a new multi-purpose pitch.
"We are delighted that Sheffield Eagles will be back playing in the city, we have worked with Richard Caborn and the Olympic Legacy Park to secure funding for and develop a new multi-purpose, state of the art pitch for professional, community and educational use, which will be a great asset for Sheffield," Lea said.
Sheffield say arrangements will be made which will satisfy the RFL in respect of the required number of temporary seats and other match-day facilities.
"In the longer term, we will see the development of a stand with a capacity of 3,000 on one side and other semi-permanent stands on the other three sides," said Noble.
"We are so happy to be back in the city of our birth after what has been an extremely difficult and worrying time."
