{"id":68437,"date":"2022-11-29T14:46:53","date_gmt":"2022-11-29T14:46:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/?p=68437"},"modified":"2022-11-29T14:46:56","modified_gmt":"2022-11-29T14:46:56","slug":"how-cardiffs-messy-parks-pitches-are-a-real-problem-for-grassroots-football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/2022\/11\/29\/how-cardiffs-messy-parks-pitches-are-a-real-problem-for-grassroots-football\/","title":{"rendered":"How Cardiff’s ‘messy’ parks pitches are ‘a real problem’ for grassroots football"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Holes, overgrown grass and slippery surfaces have left some residents asking for more to be done as council blames<\/strong> financial squeeze<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

CONCERNS have been raised over the maintenance of some football pitches in Pontcanna Fields and across Cardiff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Locals have called some of the pitches unsafe and at times unplayable for grassroots football teams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cardiff council says the issue has to be viewed in the context of massive financial pressures facing the authority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One individual who has expressed concern is Nigel Bircham of Pontprennau, Cardiff, whose grandson often plays on the fields as part of a local U14s club.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a real problem for the future of grassroots football in Cardiff,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere are holes in some of the pitches, someone could easily fall and turn their ankle.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWherever you turn it\u2019s a mess, they should look at sport in general and fund it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Bircham says that Pontcanna Fields aren\u2019t the only ones that lack maintenance and that he\u2019s come across the same issue in Pontprennau where he lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He says that a lack of funding and action from the council is partially to blame for the issues, which include overgrown grass and slippery conditions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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