College’s anger at trespassing teams

HATHERSHAW College is asking the police and Oldham Sunday League to clamp down on football teams illegally using its pitches.

Holes have been cut in the fence at the Bellfield Avenue school — which players and spectators also climb over. In the latest incident, a local team had a match there complete with referee and linesmen.

Lorna Philip, assistant principal at Hathershaw, said: “It has been going on for the past few months. People keep coming and professionally cutting a hole in the fence. Last Sunday one of our staff saw a game on the pitch with a referee and linesmen.

She asked the spectators how they got in and they said over the gate or through a hole.”

The school is looking at improving security but Ms Philip added: “The quote we have had is £25,000 to put up a new fence. The school can’t afford that.

“People can hire the facilities and they are very well used by the local community. These people are just spoiling that, they would rather cut in and cause damage. They do this because they do not want to pay the money.”

The Oldham Sunday League’s website reports the college’s official complaint to the league and the police about clubs playing without permission.

“The Oldham Sunday League committee has told Hathershaw School that we will inform teams in our league that the school and police are now aware of them using the pitches without permission.”

Local clubs contacted by the Chronicle denied playing on the pitch. However, David Roberts from the Famous King George team said: “Since I have been young, clubs from Oldham, parts of Bardsley and Fitton Hill have always played at Hathershaw School throughout the summer, probably because it is free. There has never been a problem about it.”