Grassroots teams urge West Dunbartonshire Council to rethink 10 percent rise in pitch costs

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Grassroots football coaches are urging West Dunbartonshire Council to rethink plans for a 10 percent rise in the cost of hiring pitches.Currently community teams face bills of up to £350 a month for three hours a week on Astroturf parks, with a warning issued that a further price hike could be “catastrophic.”Coaches from across Dumbarton and the Vale have now united in showing the price rise the red card, amid fears spiralling costs will force kids to hang up their boots – and sound the final whistle for many grassroots teams.Dumbarton United 2009s coach Andy Walls explained: “I don’t think the council fully understands the impact this will have on youth football in the area.“As it stands my age group has 18 kids.

The monthly dues have remained the same for the last five years thanks to sponsorships from local businesses and kind donations from a few larger companies.“In the current climate of everything costing more I have made a conciliatory effort to keep our subs low as families have more to think about than paying for their son to play football.“But with costs going up our age group will not be able to financially cope, and either costs go up or the team folds.“I fully appreciate that costs go up for everything, however the impact this will have on kids from five-years-old to 18-years-old is potentially catastrophic.“When boys and girls get to certain ages it’s hard enough to keep them involved and interested in football without the added burden of increasing costs.“I’d ask the council what they would do if it directly impacted on their own kids.”Vale of Leven 2006 coach Gary Mullen said it had already cost more than £5500 to run the side this season, and fears other clubs will be forced out of operation.He said: