The football club where Vinnie Jones started his career says it has been forced to fold after a council “decided to close the social club”.

Bedmond FC, based at the sports and social club in Abbots Langley, said the “shameless decision” left them with no home and “has ended the future” of the club.

But the parish council, which owns the site off Meadow Way, said it offered the tenant Bedmond Sports and Social Club a lease, but it did not take it up.

In a tweet published on Friday, July 14, the football club said: “It is with enormous sadness we have decided not to run next year.

“The council have decided to close the social club leaving us with no home.

“A shameless decision by the parish and one that has ended the future of Bedmond FC. Thanks to all the teams/managers #grassroots.”

They added: “The now ex-tenant funded the football and the social club’s losses for five years. Without him we wouldn’t have run at all. He did it for the community.”

In another tweet, they said: “As you all know a guy/chairman like that is gold dust. And we need people like him in football not pushed away by a petty parish council.”

Bedmond FC have been contacted for comment.

It is understood that Bedmond Sports and Social Club, which also held private functions, previously did not pay rent, but the new lease required it to do so.

Abbots Langley Parish Council's chief officer and clerk, Isabel Montesdeoca, said: "The council will undertake a process to seek a new leaseholder in the coming months.

"The needs of Bedmond football teams that use the pitch at Bedmond will be taken into account as part of that process.

"Hiring of the football pitch at Bedmond is not affected. The annual pitch booking process is continuing as normal."

She added that the council has committed to ensuring the changing rooms and toilet facilities are made available to football teams that require them.

Watford-born Vinnie Jones started his youth career at Bedmond between 1975 and 1977, and previously helped towards refurbishing the social club in ITV show With A Little Help From My Friends.