Editing Crawley (section)

== Sport and leisure ==
[[File:Crawley - K2 Leisure Centre 01.JPG|thumb|right|Entrance to the K2 Leisure Centre]]
[[File:Bewbush Leisure Centre, Crawley.jpg|thumb|right|Bewbush Leisure Centre]]
[[File:Crawley - Memorial Park.JPG|thumb|right|The Memorial Gardens]]
[[Crawley Town F.C.]] is Crawley's main [[Association football|football]] team. Formed in 1896, it moved in 1949 to a ground at Town Mead adjacent to the [[West Green, West Sussex|West Green]] playing fields. Demand for land near the town centre led to the club moving in 1997 to the new [[Broadfield Stadium]], now owned by the borough council.<ref name="ctfc">{{cite web|url=http://www.crawleytownfc.net/page.php?pageid=37|title=Crawley Town Football Club – past and present|access-date=2 August 2007|year=2007|work=Crawley Town Football Club website|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070917171914/http://www.crawleytownfc.net/page.php?pageid=37|archive-date=17 September 2007}}</ref> As of the 2024/25 season, Crawley Town F.C. are playing in [[EFL League One|League One]], the third tier of English football.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/fa_cup/9401072.stm | title=Football - Man Utd 1-0 Crawley | work=[[BBC Sport]] | date=19 February 2011 | access-date=25 August 2019 | author=McNulty, Phil | archive-date=1 December 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201114327/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/fa_cup/9401072.stm | url-status=live }}</ref> Since 2018, Broadfield Stadium has also been home to [[Women's Super League]] team [[Brighton & Hove Albion W.F.C.|Brighton & Hove Albion]].

[[Three Bridges F.C.]] play in the [[Isthmian League|Isthmian League South East Division]], the eighth tier of English football, while other lower-league clubs include [[Oakwood F.C.]] and Ifield Galaxy F.C. [[Crawley Rugby Club]] is based in Ifield,<ref name="crfc">{{cite web|url=http://www.crawleyrfc.co.uk/ |title=Welcome To Crawley RFC |access-date=17 March 2008 |year=2008 |work=Crawley Rugby Football Club website |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080313062920/http://www.crawleyrfc.co.uk/ |archive-date=13 March 2008 }}</ref> and a golf course was constructed in 1982 at [[Tilgate Park]].<ref name="golf">{{cite web|url=http://www.crawley.gov.uk/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=229|title=Tilgate Forest Golf Centre|access-date=2 August 2007|year=2006|work=Crawley Borough Council website|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070719123652/http://www.crawley.gov.uk/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=229|archive-date=19 July 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> Crawley Hockey Club plays their home matches at [[Hazelwick School]], [[Three Bridges, West Sussex|Three Bridges]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.crawleyhockey.org.uk/ |title=Crawley Hockey Club home page |publisher=Crawleyhockey.org.uk |access-date=4 September 2013 |archive-date=28 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130828183449/http://www.crawleyhockey.org.uk/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Cricket has been played in Ifield since 1721, and Ifield Cricket Club was formed in 1804. Three Bridges Cricket Club is a founding member of the [[Sussex Cricket League]]<ref>{{cite web | url=http://threebridges.play-cricket.com/ | title=Three Bridges CC | publisher=[[England and Wales Cricket Board]] | access-date=25 August 2019 | archive-date=24 August 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190824214918/http://threebridges.play-cricket.com/ | url-status=live }}</ref> and in 2018 were promoted back to the Premier Division.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vxz5Nzu10nE | title=Top 5 Moments of the Season 2018 (#1) | date=17 April 2019 | publisher=Three Bridges Cricket Club - [[YouTube]] | access-date=25 August 2019 | archive-date=21 April 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200421202542/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vxz5Nzu10nE&gl=US&hl=en | url-status=live }}</ref>

The new town's original leisure centre was in Haslett Avenue in the Three Bridges neighbourhood. Building work started in the early 1960s, and a large swimming pool opened in 1964. The site was extended to include an athletics arena by 1967, and an additional large sports hall was opened by the town mayor, Councillor Ben Clay and Prime Minister [[Harold Wilson]] in 1974.<ref name="wilson">{{cite web|url=http://www.crawley.gov.uk/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&ssDocName=PR1579&ssTargetNodeId=99|title=End of an era|access-date=3 August 2007|year=2005|work=Crawley Borough Council website|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928092131/http://www.crawley.gov.uk/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&ssDocName=PR1579&ssTargetNodeId=99|archive-date=28 September 2007}}</ref> However, the facilities became insufficient for the growing town, even though an annexe was opened in Bewbush in 1984.<ref name="leisure">{{cite web|url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/sussex/vol6/pt3/pp81-83|title=Crawley New Town: Social and cultural activities|access-date=2 August 2007|publisher=[[Victoria County History]]|year=1987|first1=A P|last1=Baggs|first2=C R J|last2=Currie|first3=C R|last3=Elrington|first4=S M|last4=Keeling|first5=A M|last5=Rowland|editor-last=Hudson|editor-first=T.P.|work=A History of the County of Sussex: Volume 6 Part 3: Bramber Rape (North-Eastern Part) including Crawley New Town|pages=81–83|via=[[British History Online]]|archive-date=7 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150107233114/https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/Sussex/vol6/pt3/pp81-83|url-status=live}}</ref> Athlete [[Zola Budd]] had been asked to take part in a 1,500-metre race as part of the opening celebrations, but her invitation was withdrawn at short notice because of concerns raised by council members about possible "political connotations and anti-apartheid demonstrators".<ref name="NYT-Budd">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/04/19/sports/sports-people-miss-budd-withdraws.html|title=Sports People; Miss Budd Withdraws|date=19 April 1984|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=30 October 2009|archive-date=16 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016221051/http://www.nytimes.com/1984/04/19/sports/sports-people-miss-budd-withdraws.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2005, Crawley Leisure Centre was closed and replaced by a new facility, the [[K2 Leisure Centre]], on the campus of [[Thomas Bennett Community College]] near the Broadfield Stadium.<ref name="K2">{{cite web|url=http://www.crawley.gov.uk/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=580|title=K2 Crawley|access-date=2 August 2007|year=2007|work=Crawley Borough Council website|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070830014047/http://www.crawley.gov.uk/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=580|archive-date=30 August 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> Opened to the public on 14 November 2005,<ref name="wilson"/> and officially by [[Sebastian Coe|Lord Coe]] on 24 January 2006, the centre includes the only Olympic-sized swimming pool in [[South East England]].<ref name="Seb">{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/southern_counties/4640402.stm|title=Lord Coe opens K2 sports complex|access-date=3 August 2007|publisher=BBC News website|date=24 January 2006|archive-date=22 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122234119/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/southern_counties/4640402.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> In March 2008 the centre was named as a training site for the [[2012 Olympics]] in London.<ref name="Olympics">{{cite web|url=http://www.crawley.gov.uk/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&ssDocName=PR2164&ssTargetNodeId=99|title=K2 Crawley makes Olympic training camp guide|access-date=31 March 2008|publisher=Crawley Borough Council|date=3 March 2008|work=Crawley Borough Council website|url-status=dead|archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20111115001415/http%3A//www.crawley.gov.uk/stellent/idcplg?IdcService%3DSS_GET_PAGE%26ssDocName%3DPR2164%26ssTargetNodeId%3D99|archive-date=15 November 2011}}</ref>

[[Crawley Development Corporation]] made little provision for the arts in the plans for the new town, and a proposed arts venue in the town centre was never built. Neighbourhood community centres and the Tilgate Forest Recreational Centre were used for some cultural activities,<ref name="leisure"/> but it was not until 1988 that the town had a dedicated theatre and arts venue, at the [[Hawth Theatre]].<ref name="hawth">{{cite web|url=https://tickets.hawth.co.uk/public/about_history.asp |title=History of the Hawth |access-date=2 August 2007 |publisher=Crawley Borough Council |year=2007 |work=The Hawth, Crawley website |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070730222303/https://tickets.hawth.co.uk/public/about_history.asp |archive-date=30 July 2007 }}</ref> Crawley's earliest cinema, the Imperial Picture House on Brighton Road, lasted from 1909 until the 1940s; the Embassy Cinema on the High Street (opened in 1938) replaced it.<ref name="Cole-Misc"/><ref name="VCH-Ifield">{{cite web|url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=18405|title=Ifield|access-date=4 August 2007|publisher=Victoria County History|year=1987|author=Hudson, T.P. (Ed)|work=A History of the County of Sussex: Volume 6 Part 3: Bramber Rape (North-Eastern Part) including Crawley New Town|archive-date=28 September 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928010447/http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=18405|url-status=live}}</ref> A large [[Cineworld]] cinema has since opened in the Crawley Leisure Park, which itself also includes [[ten-pin bowling]], various restaurants and bars and a fitness centre.<ref name="CLP">{{cite web|url=http://www.crawley.gov.uk/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=716|title=Leisure and Culture: Young People|access-date=4 August 2007|year=2006|work=Crawley Borough Council website|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070925000637/http://www.crawley.gov.uk/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=716|archive-date=25 September 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Moka nightclub on Station Way opened in October 2012 and closed in 2019.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.crawleyobserver.co.uk/news/what-to-expect-from-moka-1-4379448 |title=What to expect from Moka |work=Crawley Observer |date=22 October 2012 |access-date=26 August 2018 |archive-date=26 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180826214420/https://www.crawleyobserver.co.uk/news/what-to-expect-from-moka-1-4379448 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-27 |title=WATCH: Demolition work begins on site of former Crawley nightclub - Here is what you need to know |url=https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/news/people/watch-demolition-work-begins-on-popular-crawley-nightclub-4081198 |access-date=2025-01-13 |website=SussexWorld |language=en}}</ref>


Crawley is home to No6 detachment of the Sussex [[Army Cadet Force]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sussex Army Cadets |url=https://armycadets.com/county/sussex-acf/ |access-date=2023-09-10 |website=Army Cadets UK |language=en-GB}}</ref> a volunteer youth organisation, sponsored by the Ministry of Defence, which accepts cadets aged between 12 and 18 years of age.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-05-26 |title=The Ministry of Defence cadet forces |url=https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-cadet-forces-and-mods-youth-work |access-date=2023-09-10 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}</ref>

Each neighbourhood has self-contained recreational areas, and there are other larger parks throughout the town. The Memorial Gardens, on the eastern side of Queen's Square, feature art displays, children's play areas and lawns, and a plaque commemorating those who died in two Second World War bombing incidents in 1943 and 1944.<ref name="Cole-Misc"/> Goffs Park in Southgate covers {{convert|50|acre|ha|0}}, and has lakes, boating ponds, a model railway and many other features.<ref name="goffs">{{cite web|url=http://www.crawley.gov.uk/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=254|title=Parks and Gardens: Goffs Park|access-date=9 September 2007|publisher=Crawley Borough Council|year=2007|work=Crawley Borough Council website|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071021182815/http://www.crawley.gov.uk/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=254|archive-date=21 October 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Tilgate Park|Tilgate Park and Nature Centre]] has walled gardens, lakes, large areas of woodland with footpaths and [[Rights of way in England and Wales|bridleways]], a golfing area and a collection of animals and birds.<ref name="tilgatepark">{{cite web|url=http://www.crawley.gov.uk/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=256&strCSS=|title=Tilgate Park and Nature Centre|access-date=9 September 2007|publisher=Crawley Borough Council|year=2007|work=Crawley Borough Council website|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071017033329/http://www.crawley.gov.uk/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=256&strCSS=|archive-date=17 October 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>