A ROW has broken out on social media in Wiveliscombe over an informal group of footballers regularly using the town’s war memorial recreation ground.
The players are loosely organised twice a week by a ‘Wivey Kick About’ community founded in 2022 by Matt Davis, who is also a member of the recreation ground management committee.
Mr Davis has accused fellow committee members of attacking the group and making a ‘clear attempt to remove us from the rec’.
He said the ‘kick about’ footballers had faced a number of challenges during the past three years, including fighting for space to play on the recreation ground, a lack of support from other clubs and organisations because the group did not charge to play, and a lack of suitable lighting which meant members could not play during the darker months.
Mr Davis said: “It has felt like a battle trying to keep people happy so that we can play our two sessions a week, fending off unjustified complaints and demands left right and centre.
“I felt we were starting to get somewhere though, that we had become an established facility at the rec, and people were finally seeing how much people young and old in Wivey enjoy football and how much it has helped them with both their physical and mental fitness.
“I have, however, received a letter which is a further attack against the community we have created.”
The letter from management committee secretary Roger Wilson said the number of players attending the kick about sessions was ‘becoming overwhelming and is starting to become an issue which needs addressing’.
Mr Wilson asked if the group could help to meet the cost of recreation ground maintenance as the area the footballers used was ‘quite badly damaged and potential work will be required to drill and re-seed the area’.
In a follow-up letter, Mr Wilson said the committee tried to support all positive activities on the recreation ground, and had a duty to ensure safety and welfare guidelines were followed.
He said: “All of the other sports clubs using the recreation ground pay ground rents and charges for the use of the pavilion.
“They all provide volunteers who assist in the upkeep of the recreation ground.”
But Mr Davis said: “This is clearly an attempt to remove us from the rec, which I suspect is driven through a fear that we are turning children away from cricket and rugby and selfishly not wanting to share the space.”
He said he was due to speak to the town council, of which Mr Wilson is chairman, and other local organisations ‘to agree the best way forward’.
Mr Davis said: “I know we have a lot of support from the local community, so rest assured I plan to keep the sessions running one way or another, as I know and appreciate just how much joy they bring.
“I will take a lot more convincing that this whole debacle is on the grounds of safety and welfare.”
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