Kicked off!

Carl Worrall inspects the mess

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Footballers KO’d over pitch mess
A POPULAR football club could fold after it was slapped with a £1,500 bill for damaged pitches — and banned from playing a tournament there.

Chaddy End FC has been ordered to pay the money by Oldham Council after the club kicked-off its annual six-a-side knock-out last weekend.

Around 60 teams, from as far as Stoke and Liverpool, attended the tournament at Shaw’s New Barn Playing Fields to help raise funds for the club.

However, cars drove across the hired pitches after heavy rain leaving deep tyre tracks and ruts.

The tournament was due to continue this weekend but Oldham council has cried foul.

The council says the event cannot continue at New Barn and is billing the club £1,500 for repairs.

Steve Smith, head of parks and open spaces, said the pitches were perfect beforehand and branded the damage as irresponsible.

He added: “They have made a right mess. They have allowed people to drive all over it, virtually getting stuck looking at some of the ruts. We have an obligation to try and get the pitches ready for the start of the football season and it is going to be a struggle bearing in mind the weather forecast.

“I have taken the decision that we cancel this weekend’s event and concentrate on trying to reinstate the pitches when the weather is good. The organisers were told they would have to pay for any damage, it states that on the booking form.”

Around 200 children play for Chaddy End FC as well as adults.

Devastated committee member Carl Worrall had told people not to drive on the pitches, but said one idiot had done so. The club is unable to trace the culprit.

Parents are desperately trying a find an alternative venue for this weekend.

Carl added: “We’ve already bought all the food and refreshments. If the tournament does not go ahead this weekend and we have to find £1,500 — it will bankrupt us.”