10s game ruined by conditions

The U10 colts soccer sevens game at home to Currie was ruined by the local authorities inability to maintain the playing areas. The length of the grass and bizarre site of blue paint being used for the pitch markings were a sight to behold. All credit to both sets of youngsters for struggling on with the game, but the 50 minutes were ruined for everyone involved, including spectators as the lads struggled to plough through the surface conditions. The grass was so long in some areas that the smaller players were unable to pass the ball more than a few metres. If it wasn't so serious it would be laughable. The triple whammy of the long grass, "artistic" blue lines, added to the tonnes of dog mess the club has to remove from the playing areas, is a sad indication of this cities civic leaders failure to back sport in this city, especially football. At an annual cost to the club of £300+ for the use of the playing areas at Pilrig Park, added to the £2K+ annual let charges for the adjoining school for changing facilities it is a sad indictment of their abdication of responsibility and their duty to maintain local amenities for the cities council tax payers. The time and wasted energy speaking to the local authority about these conditions, and at times being reassured that they will rectify the situation, is a constant concern. When will someone listen and take the issue seriously? Visiting clubs are quick to comment, and rightly so, and the embarrassment felt by Redpath Albion is wearing thin. The SFA, SYFA, SPL and local football associations can push out as many soundbites as they like about developing the game in this country, but until local authorities buy into the national propaganda, the powers at national and local level can talk themselves hoarse. How many coaches and young players are being lost to the game due to their ineptitude?. Why would a youngster part with his game subs to use playing conditions more suited to the third world when he could spend it in McDonalds instead? Why would an U19 lad (their game the previous day was equally marred by these conditions) when he could use his weekly game subs to buy alcohol instead? Our U16 home game also had to contend with the triple whammy? If the council persist in their failure to meet their obligations to maintain the playing surfaces at Pilrig Park, and its been like this for years, should Redpath albion say enough is enough and close its doors to the local children and young people in our area?. Its a radical move, but with club officials and Albion's coaching volunteers getting weary of the constant battle with the local authority, the situation is now critical. The clubs social responsibility to the local community is being seriously hampered by the failure of the local authority to even meet minimum maintenance standards of the playing surfaces at Pilrig Park. The promotion of healthy lifestyles and the clubs social commitment to offering children and young people the choices to pursue health and fitness pathways, which will, or should benefit them in adulthood, are not being matched by the local power brokers. We can only only commit to the promotion of healthy lifestyles if the authorities are prepared to at least meet us half-way. We have the "tools' to fulfil our social commitment to the local community, but without the support of the local authority, the fast food joints and the alco-pop sellers may be the only winners.