Pitch and Splash

Published 7 Apr 2010 14:16 2 Comments

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Broomfield drainage angers coach

By Alistair Neil

An ameteur football team has blasted East Ayrshire Council over the state of their playing surface.

The club's coach has hit out after seeing his side play only ONE game at Cumnock's Broomfield playing pitches in the last six months.

The coach, who has asked not to be named for fear of reprisals against his team, insists his complaints over the last three years have fallen on deaf ears.

However East Ayrshire Council says they have no plans to invest in drainage improvements.

The coach said: "l have complained for the last three and a half years and keep getting told it will be sorted.

"Many clubs have complained to the council with regards to this happening, to which the council keep brushing it under the carpet.

"Broomfield has always been a show case for Ayrshire with many events put on there but it has now become second class accommodation and is a laughing stock in Boys club and Amateur football."

The coach also hit out at the maintenance of the pitches. He added: "These pitches never get cut, rolled or spiked regularly and the lines marking out the pitch are never done properly, indeed they are still burned out, which is not looking after the ground. "It costs £27.50 for a game and we seem to get nothing done for the up keeping. Yet at night amazingly the floodlit park is hardly put off unless there is hard frost."

The coach added: "Many young people are kept off drinking and getting in to bother through football, with the hard work put in from the people running the clubs.

"All everyone wants is the pitches kept to a standard where games will be on or at least given the chance."

John Griffiths, Head of Leisure Services explained: "Unfortunately the period of very bad weather with ice and snow followed by heavy rain has meant that many of our pitches have been unplayable for a prolonged period. The Council does not have the resources available to protect pitches from freezing conditions, and there are no plans to invest in drainage improvements at Broomfield."

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David Sloan
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Apr 8, 09:47
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SO!! The Chronic ill is at it AGAIN!

Bad pitch buit don't ask "our" lovey dovey SNP Councillors who are responsible for the disgraceful lack of maintainance and drainage in most football park.

Why was an OFFICER interviewed and NOT the "Spokesperson" responsible. SPOKESPERSON, SPOKESPERSON, those who speak on behalf of.

OH I forgot, your WONDERFUL SNP can hardly string to sentences the gither.

Bring Back Dave Sneller, he would tie these non-events in knots.

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june
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Apr 18, 05:22
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Bring back Dave Sneller.

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