University News Last updated 28 June 2010
Doug Ellis OBE, life president of Aston Villa Football Club, has officially opened Birmingham City University’s latest facility - a state-of-the-art sports centre which proudly bears his name.
The new £7m centre is based at the University’s City North Campus and is open not only to staff and students but the wider community, including a full range of local sports teams. The centre has already hosted the Birmingham Paralympic and Disabled Sports Exhibition, held in association with Birmingham City University.
Doug Ellis, an honorary graduate of the University and passionate supporter of community-based sports development, officially unveiled a plaque in front of invited guests including Professor David Tidmarsh, Vice-Chancellor of Birmingham City University, and Pro-Chancellor and Chair of the University’s Board of Governors, Alex Stephenson CBE.
“We’re very honoured to have a champion of sport such as Doug Ellis lend his name to this prestigious facility,” said Professor Tidmarsh.
Doug Ellis, President Emeritus of Aston Villa FC, replied: “It’s with real pride to see my name on the side of this sports centre. But what really impresses me, is the fact as well as serving staff and students this University facility will also make a real difference to local people and sports clubs in the city.”
The new sports centre is adjacent to the University’s campus at Perry Barr, north Birmingham, and about 1.5 miles from Villa Park, home to Doug Ellis’ beloved Aston Villa football club where he was their long-serving chairman.
As well as being an architectural landmark, the impressive Doug Ellis Sports Centre boasts an 80-station fitness suite, an eight-court sports hall, and workout and spinning studios. The centre also offers state-of-the-art fitness training equipment and plenty of room for team sports, including five-a-side football and cricket that can be played on all-weather pitches.
The fitness suite boasts a range of hi-tech equipment designed to work on different areas of the body or to build up stamina. For example, the Octane is a state-of-the-art cross-trainer preferred by American footballers and the first of its kind to be installed in the UK.
There are also spinning machines that can be set to a fat-burning programme based on age, weight and height, and which have headsets allowing users to follow an automated training session.