THE FUTURE of amateur football in Evesham could be in jeopardy because of a proposed rise in ground hire charges - by more than 60 per cent.

Town councillors at a meeting on Monday vowed to do all they could to stop the rise, after four clubs wrote to them appealing for help.

If Wychavon District Council's proposals go ahead, from April 1 clubs playing on the Davies Road ground would be paying £20 per match and £10 for juniors - up by £8 and £4 per game respectively.

On top of that they must pay for changing rooms at a cost of £29, pushing up the price to £49 or £35 per junior game

Secretary of the Red Horse football team, Robin Heaney said: "We play in the Birdseye Sports Sunday League at Davies Road on a shoestring. We already find it difficult to raise the fees, but if the proposed charges go ahead, with our referee's fees, it will cost us about £60 per game. We could run into financial problems next year."

Secretary of the League, Martin Malin said: "Wychavon is making a rod for its own back. They want the use of the pitches maximised, but are putting the prices up so much that it will be impossible for some clubs to carry on, especially the children's."

Leisure officer, Sue Healey informed the town council that the district spends £3,450 each year maintaining the pitches on Davies Road and needed the revenue to recover the costs. A number of repairs had also been necessary due to vandalism.

Town councillors heard, however that the players were being asked to clean up the pitches strewn with litter, dog mess and syringes on Sunday mornings before they could play.

Councillor Ron Stowe said: "Davies Road is a public open space - what is Wychavon paying out all this money on.

Councillors John Stych said: "The district council said it has been subsidising the clubs and it cannot continue - why not? They subsidise other physical sport." Coun John Smith said: "I have sympathy with the football teams. If the players are being asked to pay for vandalism then this is below the belt. We need to get a breakdown of its costs as soon as possible."

The charges for the Davies Road pitches and Corporation Meadow - which is increasing £3 to £15 per match and from £6 to £7.50 for juniors - is due to go before a full council meeting on February 24.