A LOCAL football team which supports dozens of youngsters has been handed a ‘formal warning’ by Barnsley Council after using pitches during the off-season - much to the annoyance of their manager and a local councillor.

Worsbrough Bridge’s under-eights, managed by Darryl Jones, has been using the pitches on Genn Lane for three years now - maintaining the site themselves and making it one of the best pitches across the borough.

There are six young sides who use the site - totalling more than 60 kids - but they’re now unable to use the area.

Darryl told the Chronicle: “We’ve used that area for the last three years and every year we’ve used it in the off-season.

“We do that because a lot of the players don’t play other sports.

“A lot of our parents can’t afford for their children to be playing sports like cricket which are really expensive to get into.

“We maintain the pitches and cut the grass ourselves while also doing litter picks - it’s probably one of the best pitches in Barnsley and that’s down to us.”

Darryl says that each year he has to apply to the council to use the pitch - but having turned up to the site recently he was met with a men’s team from Silkstone using the site.

He added: “I contacted the council who told me that the deadline for applying was on that day.

“We’d already cut and marked the pitches ourselves but we were told that if we were to use those pitches ourselves during the off-season then they’d go to the league to complain.

“It was really stressful.”

Darryl is hoping to reach a similar conclusion to the ones taking place at North Gawber and Wombwell Main, whose teams recently secured leases to play on their pitches.

“Wombwell Main have done it and so have North Gawber - but we’ve got nothing,” he said.

“We ask for support from the council but every time we’re told no.

“Our men’s team is one of the highest-placed non-league teams in Barnsley are we’re in an area that has some of the most deprived families.

“But we’re just not getting the support.

“We’re being told to go and play at Parkside of 5ives but we’ve got six team so it’ll be £600 a week - we just can’t afford that.”

Coun Jake Lodge has been supporting the club with their concerns.

He has praised the club for keeping their subs low and says that allowing them to train on the pitch has a number of benefits - including reduction in antisocial behaviour while also working towards the council’s goal of a ‘Healthier Barnsley’.

He added: “It’s incredibly frustrating that the council have taken this stance, when we have willing volunteers that are trying to deliver an offer for children across Worsbrough and beyond.

“The team have done so much to maintain Genn Lane and I’ve had some incredibly feedback from residents about the work that’s been completed.

“I’m urging the council to reverse this decision, sit down with the club and let the kids play.”

Coun James Higginbottom, cabinet spokesperson for environment and transport, said: “The growing demand for football pitches across Barnsley, up nearly 40 per cent this year, is a testament to the continued success of grassroots football in our borough.

“We’re actively addressing this through our Playing Pitch Strategy and long-term investments in facilities like Parkside, which are designed to meet the needs of our growing football community.

“We remain committed to working closely with clubs to support them wherever possible and ensure that football continues to thrive in Barnsley.”