Saintfield charity event is axed due to lack of pitch

Saintfield charity event is axed due to lack of pitch

22 August 2012

ORGANISERS of a charity football match in Saintfield say they have been forced to cancel their event because of the dearth of community playing facilities.

Friends of Rowallane Inn in Saintfield had hoped to host a tournament on the local playing fields on Sunday, raising money for Chest, Heart and Stroke and Action MS.

They had invited players from across the community to participate in the event, which they had planned to hold on pitches belonging to Saintfield High School.

But one of the event’s organisers, Mr. Jonathan Marks, says he has been forced to cancel the event after Saintfield High School declined to allow the use of their facilities, which are the community’s only playing fields.

He said an eight foot fence had recently been erected around the pitches, meaning the community could not use it without prior permission.

Mr. Marks said he had sought permission from the school to use the fields, for which they were prepared to pay, but was informed the Board of Governors would have to make a decision about whether the game could proceed.

He claims the school informed him the event was unlikely to be approved because it was scheduled to take place on a Sunday. He believes this is for religious reasons and as a result he said the event had been cancelled.

“Although the charity football game is our first concern at the moment, the main issue is local children have nowhere to go kick a ball now,” he said.

“I understand people have their own religious views but surely when you are on a Board of Governors it is not about your own personal opinions or faith but the greater good of the community whose children attend the school and whose parents are past pupils also.

“You also wonder how much notice a school needs to decide if it will allow its fields to be used for a charity event. They appear to be saying they need two months notice.”

Councillor William Dick, chairman of the Board of Governors of Saintfield High School, said it had been impossible for governors to make a decision about the match because of the late request for the playing fields.

He said the request had only been received this week and governors were not due to meet again until the end of September, meaning a decision before Sunday was impossible.

Although Mr. Dick accepted he has his own religious views about hosting events on Sundays, he said the final decision would be taken by all governors and would not rest with him alone.

He also explained that the decision to erect an eight-foot perimeter fence was a decision taken by the South Eastern Education and Library Board because of recent investment in the facilities.