very much more expensive to run. Mr Ford struggled on but in 1949, the Central Council of Physical Recreation were seeking a second National Recreation Centre to serve the North of England to complement Bisham Abbey in the South. In 1949, a sale was agreed for £30,000 for the Hall and , made possible by a financial gift from the people of South Africa to Clement Attlee's government. Mr Ford then gave another on condition he and his family could stay in residence for at least another ten years or until his death. The sports centre was opened in 1951 by Queen Elizabeth II (then the Princess Elizabeth). Jim Lane, a member of the Marylebone Cricket Club became the first warden. He started a number of cricketing courses and the first Conference of cricket coaches was held there in December 1951. Annual summer schools were held from July until September for the governing bodies of many major sports, including cricket, archery, athletics, fencing, judo, weightlifting, basketball, soccer, netball, and tennis. In 1974 the centre was handed to the Sports Council by the Central Council of Physical Recreation. Sports centre Following the success of the summer schools, sports' governing bodies came to look upon Lilleshall as their own national and regional coaching or squad training centre. In twenty-one years as a National Recreation Centre, the English governing bodies of cricket, Rugby League and Rugby Union, lawn tennis, badminton, hockey, lacrosse, netball, the Professional Golfing Association and Association Football selected Lilleshall for its facilities and convenience for players meeting up from around the country to train: The field purchased in 1949 was extended by a further and developed as a playing field. Prince Philip opened the Pavilion built with a grant from the South African charitable trust in November 1954 Originally a gymnasium, movement and dance studio, King George VI Sports Hall was a square multi-purpose hall. Funded by a grant of £56,000 from the King George VI memorial foundation, it opened on 31 October 1955 During the 1950s and early 1960s, a new hall of residence was built. It was refurbished in the 1990s to provide ensuite accommodation The 1966 England team trained for two weeks prior to their success in World Cup of 1966. Sir Alf Ramsey returned in 1967 Funded by B.A.G.A, a pitted area for gymnastics was added in 1979 The Sutherland Hall, with the opening of the