Midweek football league forced to find new home
A MIDWEEK community football league has been forced to find a new home after being blocked from booking pitches at its normal venue at Charnwood College.
James Ockelford had been running community leisure league at the college since 2016 but was informed by the college in November 2018 that they would have to find another venue for the 12 team Tuesday night league which involved more than 100 players and match officials.
Although the league was given a reprieve until the end of January, which allowed the completion of a league season, Mr Ockelford was forced to start the new season on February 5 at a temporary home at the Charnwood Golf Complex.
He said: “Leisure Leagues have been based at Charnwood College for the past three years. As such, we have provided community football for local residents and students, all ages above 16, including all genders and standards.
“This has been at an extremely affordable price as our ethos is to raise participation rates of grass roots football in Loughborough. We know our leagues give individuals the opportunity to achieve something on a weekly basis, all whilst socialising with other people in the community.
“Additionally, Leisure Leagues employ referees in Loughborough, providing a weekly income for local people in the area, whether that be a local resident or students from Universities or Colleges.”
A petition against the ban has got more than 100 signatures and has been passed to Nicky Morgan MP who is backing the leisure league and has written to the Government’s sports minister to oppose decision.
In the letter Mrs Morgan said: “The importance of Leisure Leagues to the local community cannot be overstated.
“Their main ethos is to raise participation rates of grassroots football by providing community football for local residents and students.”
A spokesperson at Charnwood College said: “We are very proud of our sport and community facilities which attract 2,000 people a week to Charnwood College. Following our annual meeting with the Football Foundation we were reminded of our obligations to continue developing grass roots football - an initiative that we are committed to.
“Working with the Football Foundation, we identified opportunities to increase grass-roots football, girls football, and the growth of partner club teams, as set out in our Football development plan and grant application.
“We have seen an increase in local demand of such groups, since the appointment of our new football development manager, who is working well within Loughborough community to provide opportunities for the young people in the local area.
“We are seeking to build sustainable player pathways from school teams to local football clubs.
“We are working with two new potential partners Desford FC who are working with our sixth form team and Sporting Loughborough FC to forge sustainable player pathways from school teams to local football clubs
“With this in mind, we rotated some of our bookings, including some of Leisure Leagues’, so that prime slots during the week are accessible to everyone. We continue to host Leisure Leagues at weekends and also gave them two months’ notice in relation to their mid-week booking.
“This came to an end on January 31 when their league finished. Needless to say, if opportunities become available during mid-week, Leisure Leagues are very welcome to request a booking.”