The ‘San Siro’ cage in Hackney is set to be closed as the area undergoes essential redevelopment to bring more housing to the area
A football cage, considered a ‘safe space’ for Hackney kids to come together and play, is set to be closed as houses are built around it.
The Keith Miller sports pitch or the ‘San Siro’ as it is known to local kids, has been a part of Regents Court Estate in Hackney for decades.
Located a short walk from Broadway Market in London Fields, artist Tara Darby believes the cage provides teenagers with a space to express themselves.
The cage is set to remain closed for up to 18 months as Hackney Council builds much-needed social housing on the surrounding estate as part of its New Homes Programme, which is set to deliver more than 400 new homes. Tara understands that need, but also thinks more needs to be done to safeguard a pitch where kids can be free to express themselves without being told ‘to be quiet’.
She said: “This is just a free cage, but it’s life-changing for kids to be able to have a space that’s not massively overseen, where they can just go and make loads of noise. I think especially teenage boys, they’re so policed – where can you go and just make loads of noise without people telling you to be quiet or calling the police? It’s so important.”
Tara saw firsthand what the cage can do for the kids after she visited the kids who organised a football tournament between themselves, which allowed them a space to express themselves. Her own children even grew up playing football there.
“This is a space for people to practice for their dreams,” she says. “Some of the kids were sad when they found out it was going to be closed but I don’t think they truly understand where they’re going to go. I get that Hackney needs more housing, but there needs to be a conversation about factoring these spaces into any developments.
“Where are kids meant to go if you take these spaces away? It’s a place where you can be yourself and not be judged, which teenage boys have to deal with. It’s a free space, and the kids respect it. These kids call it all different names, ‘The Cage’, ‘Broadway’ or ‘The San Siro’. I think that shows that it’s not just a pitch for these kids, it’s something bigger than that and gives them a reason to dream.”
The San Siro name pays homage to the iconic AC Milan and Inter Milan stadium, which is considered one of the best in the world. Social spaces and cages such as this provide grassroots football a space to exist.
Tara’s ‘White Cage’ photography project will showcase the vital role free public spaces play in the community. It’s displayed at Homerton Library from June 4 to June 14 as part of Hackney Art Week. There are efforts to find a temporary alternative for the pitch during development work, but it will need to be local and accessible, and even a short distance away might mean it is a no-go for some of the kids who need it most.
Hackney Council has said it will offer nearby facilities for official programmes and sessions to continue. However, the space will not be open to the wider public.
Hackney Council plans to redevelop the garages and car parks in Orwell Court and Welshpool Street. This is part of Hackney’s wider plan to build 400 new homes on 15 Hackney estates, focusing on underused garages and car parks. Three-quarters will be for social rent, with the rest for private sale to help pay for the programme.
“I understand we need more social housing in Hackney. I understand they need to balance the conflicting demands of the 10,000 people needing social housing in Hackney with the everyday needs of young people who have such limited options of places to go.
“When the pitch finally reopens, it will most likely be smaller – I think there needs to be conversations about factoring these kinds of spaces into development, which is so key”, Tara added. Hackney Council has said the new pitch, when it reopens, will be 515 sqm, down from its current size of 700 sqm. They state that this reduced size will be due to making space for new homes, as well as bringing improvements such as seating, lockers, netting to keep balls inside, and a third space for young people to socialise.
A Hackney Council spokesperson said: “We are providing a brand new all-weather sports pitch as part of the proposals to build much-needed new homes at Orwell Court and Welshpool Street. This project is an integral part of our wider New Homes Programme, which is set to deliver more than 400 new homes across the borough, 75% of which will be council homes for social rent.“We know the existing Keith Miller sports pitch is an important community asset for local young people, which is why we are re-providing an improved astroturf pitch as part of our plans.“To ensure the community’s voice is at the heart of the development, we hosted three public engagement events, established a dedicated residents steering group, and held three targeted engagement sessions specifically for young people who use the pitch. We updated designs in response to their feedback. This included modifications to improve safety and visibility, sinking the pitch to mitigate noise, and creating space for young people to socialise outside of physical activity.”
Hackney Art Week runs from June 4 to June 19. Tara’s ‘The White Cage’ project will be displayed at Homerton Library throughout this period.
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