It’s the story that everyone has been talking about.
Last week’s column was part of extensive media coverage regarding the spat between Clenchwarton Football Club and the village’s parish council that saw the former locked out of their home ground.
It has left more than 200 children unable to play football while a resolution is found.
On top of the print articles in this paper, television coverage with ITV Anglia heaped more embarrassment on a situation that has seen the local authority widely criticised for its approach.
One visit to Facebook’s Clenchwarton Village: News, Discussions, Ideas, etc group tells you almost everything you need to know about public opinion on the topic.
Sadly, with emotions running high, a few posters went slightly overboard but now it’s time for calm heads and clever solutions that benefit all involved.
We can only hope that yesterday’s emergency meeting – set to take place after this newspaper had gone to print – found a way to move forward and end the lockout.
But in the meantime, it’s only right to share some of our readers’ letters as they gave their view on the hot debate dominating the local sporting scene.
I write as an impartial observer to the dispute between the parish council and the football club.
I have no connection at all with either organisation. It seems to me that the parish council is there to serve the interests of its parishioners.
Has the PC considered a referendum of its parishioners to get their views?
I feel sure that the majority of them would happily pay a few pounds more each month to facilitate an increase in the PC’s precept to cover the cost of subsidising the rental income from the football club.
Let common sense prevail!
Derek Patience
This dispute is about far more than back-dated rent arrears, which appear to have been invented. Your article makes no mention of the outrageous behaviour of the parish council towards the bowls club. If councillors have exceeded their powers they should be suspended by the borough council and an election called to find replacements.
Peter Curle
Thank you for your excellent and even-handed, report on this issue.
By any measure it is a ridiculous situation for a local community to allow to become a national news issue.
It is difficult to understand what the ‘bottom line’ is, but I found the publicly available information on the parish council website interesting.
1. Their income has risen very significantly in the last financial year, finishing with circa £100,000 in the bank.
2. Their staff costs have risen by circa 80% in the year.
3. Their Internal audit, submitted late June, states that there is no outstanding income due.
Somewhere these pieces don’t fit.
Yours sincerely
Mark Weston
I’ve always loved almost every sport – especially football.
But it’s fair to say I’m finding the wonder in the simple things again through my two boys. And I’m sure it’s something most parents, or grandparents, will relate to.
Playing three-sided games with a four and eight-year-old have reminded me that the beautiful game can provide so much fun and joy.
Like most things, I often took it far too seriously. Yet playing, being present and witnessing the joy in my ‘opponents” faces when they score (ok when I let them) is a genuine pleasure.
I’m sure we can all remember our first experiences of partaking in the sport that became our lives or watching our first live action.
Now I’m watching the wonder unfold right in front of my eyes through two small humans.
So many questions, so many opinions, so much to learn but a lifetime of memories to create.
A first full 90 minutes of watching a game for my oldest was a particular treat at the weekend as he cemented his growing fondness of football.
Tricking him into running down the hallway thinking he’d missed a goal during a trip to the toilet was almost a rite of passage.
Watching his pained reaction at a defeat was another good lesson; so many are to be learned through sport.
Everything I am, and learned, was through sport and trying to be the best I can be.
Sometimes it doesn’t always pay off. It feels unfair, but so is life – and what better way to learn that?
You don’t need to tell me that there’s more to football than the Premier League.
After all, I spend plenty of time, and money, watching non-League football thanks to being a fan of King’s Lynn Town and a monthly groundhop.
But I must admit I enjoyed the return of the top flight this weekend, probably because I watched three games in full.
Liverpool v Bournemouth, Wolves v Man City and Man United v Arsenal were the matches I managed to take in and there was plenty to enjoy.
Having just partaken in our lads’ annual ‘predict-a-league’ I was intrigued to see if opting for the Gunners to pip last season’s champions to the title was a sensible shout.
And with what I witnessed at the weekend, it might not have been a bad prediction after all.
Second best for huge chunks of the game at Old Trafford, Mikel Arteta’s side found a way to succeed.
Some superb defending, goalkeeping and grinding out a result clinched arguably the most impressive win of game week one by the title hopefuls.
Liverpool looked terrible defensively on Friday night and will need to improve no end if they are going to secure back-to-back top spots.
Their firepower will, no doubt, mean they go close.
And what of Man City? A side that many are tipping as outsiders after a campaign of regression.
Pep Guardiola’s summer business looks smart and the performance of Tijjani Reijnders suggests that a replacement for the mercurial Kevin De Bruyne has been found quickly.
Yes, it was only Wolves, but it was the way City went about their business that suggests they will really be in the mix come May.
