{"id":72332,"date":"2023-01-27T16:30:21","date_gmt":"2023-01-27T16:30:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/?p=72332"},"modified":"2023-01-27T16:30:23","modified_gmt":"2023-01-27T16:30:23","slug":"children-football-training-radyr-pitch-repairs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/2023\/01\/27\/children-football-training-radyr-pitch-repairs\/","title":{"rendered":"Children to return to football training as pitch gets repairs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Radyr Rangers will be back at practice soon but coaches say the club has been ‘left behind’ <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

RADYR Rangers are hoping to move back to their training ground next week, having had nowhere to train for the past few months following pitch safety issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The football club faced \u201cfrustration\u201d over the winter when the pitches at Radyr Comprehensive School were deemed unsafe due to flooding and drainage issues and closed indefinitely.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The club aims to provide children with opportunities to “build friendships and bonds that contribute to the local community\u201d. It has over 300 junior and youth members, most of whom are from Radyr and Morganstown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Local newsletter the Radyr Chain<\/a> reported that heavy rain in November and December had led to the pitch being deemed unsafe and unusable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Children from Radyr and Morganstown were left with nowhere to train,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the club says maintenance has now been resumed on the school pitches and Radyr Rangers are hoping to return to training next week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe pitch is apparently being repaired but it\u2019s taken so long,\u201d said\u00a0John Lunney, 50, who coaches one of the under 14s teams. “I am a bit angry and frustrated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFootball is such a popular sport and good for physical and mental health. The kids haven\u2019t been able to play a sport they love,\u201d said the 50-year-old software applications consultant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of the coaches managed to book temporary venues for occasional training sessions, but parents have had to travel further than usual to get their children to the Powerleague pitches in Whitchurch or the Gol Leisure League pitches in Canton.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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