The indefinite closure of a South Oxhey football pitch has left a local club in disarray as they search for replacement training grounds.
The Sir James Altham 3G Pitch in Little Oxhey Lane remains closed after Three Rivers District Council shut it in April citing health and safety concerns.
While the district council has said no long term decisions have been made, its website states that it is not feasible to bring it back into use before it returns the lease for the entire site to Herts County Council in April 2025.
Oxhey Jets FC founder John Elliott said the loss had badly affected the club as their 14 teams have been “scattered” around the area.
“The loss of the MUGA (multi-use games area) has absolutely crucified the youth set-up, " he said. “All the kids have found themselves with nowhere to train and we’ve got people scattered everywhere playing their matches.”
While Three Rivers District Council has helped the club find a replacement training pitch for the adult first-team in Harrow, the Jets have not yet been able to find a suitable replacement for the youth teams.
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John said the council have offered a replacement lease for the clubhouse and main pitch, where they play their home games, but the future of the smaller all-weather pitch where they train remains unclear.
A Three Rivers District Council spokesperson said: “The council will continue to support Oxhey Jets Football Club with their lease negotiations with Hertfordshire County Council.
"We want to ensure this leisure facility is retained in South Oxhey.”
The district council has said vandalism over years had damaged the surface, including arson damage in June 2023 which was patch-repaired.
Fixing it properly would require “considerable” money, which would not be possible before the lease is returned. The council said it is working with the Jets and other affected pitch users to find a suitable replacement where possible.
The Jets chairman said the club had been offered the chance to take on the all-weather pitch next year by the county council, but they have declined the offer.
He explained: “We’re a volunteer club and we would be taking responsibility for something that is open 24 hours a day to everyone.”
The Jets youths have done "really well" despite the disruption, John said, as three teams reached the West Herts League finals and the u10s won their match 2-1.
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