'Rising cost of football pitch hire is pricing children out'

An investigation by the Telegraph has revealed a growing number of local amateur clubs are finding it hard to afford the booking fees charged by Inverclyde Leisure, which are among the most expensive in Scotland.

One outfit closed last October, citing the cost of pitch lets as the main reason.

Most clubs now need to hire more expensive 3G synthetic pitches rather than cheaper grass versions to ensure that games go ahead in bad weather.

A report last year found Inverclyde had the third highest charges in Scotland for 3G pitch hire, even though it is one of the country's most deprived areas.

Clubs were paying £156 to hire an artificial pitch for two hours for 11-a-side adult game, compared to £96 in Glasgow, £83 in Edinburgh, and £103 in neighbouring Renfrewshire.

Only Aberdeen and Midlothian were higher than Inverclyde, at £200 and £175 respectively.

The same picture emerged for juvenile teams (under 16) where a full pitch hire was £98 compared to £72 in Glasgow, £41.75 in Edinburgh and £51.50 in Renfrewshire. Only Aberdeen and Perth charged more at £100 per hire.

In the last year, the prices have increased to £175 for an adult team and £109 for a youth team.

Clubs must also pay for the cost of a match referee which can be around £50 per game.

Additional funds need to be found for away travel, strips, shorts, boots, and training equipment.

Alex More, who managed Greenock Mount Kirk FC, announced last October that the club had folded, with the cost of pitch hire playing a major part in that decision.

Greenock Mount Kirk folded last year (Image: Greenock Mount Kirk FC)

Players and parents were having to pay for hires out of their own pockets, which could be up to £15 a week.

The club had players aged from 16 to 35 and played in the Glasgow Colleges League, with home games at Greenock's Battery Park.

Alex said: "It costs a lot of money to run a football team and at the end of the day it proved too much.

"We were asking boys to fork out more than £10 a head each week just to play a game of football.

"I do not understand why the fees are so high given that Inverclyde is one of the most deprived areas of Scotland and Inverclyde Leisure is supposed to be a non profit making organisation."

Over the years working class communities of Greenock and Port Glasgow have produced a regular stream of Scottish internationals like Neil McCann, Joe Harper, and David Hopkin.

Alex feels there is a danger of football now becoming an elite sport and children from low income families and possible future stars being priced out the game.

He added: "When was the last time you heard of a boy from Greenock that went on and made a career for themselves?

"I would like to know where all the money is going from the pitch hire. It is not going back into the clubs that is for sure.

"Hopefully something will change in the future but I am not holding my breath."

John Murphy, chair of Port Glasgow AFC, runs two teams and pays £350 a week just to hire pitches for their weekly training sessions at Parklea.

He said: "We try and play as many games on the grass as possible, but you can never guarantee the games will go ahead because of the weather.

"We have an obligation, like other teams, to fulfil our home fixtures, so we take our teams on to the astroturf which costs more money."

John believes the council is using the pitch hire fees as a "cash cow" to the detriment of the clubs and aspiring young players.

He added: "They are raking in the money. The people in charge are not football people.

"Their attitude seems to be if you don't like it go elsewhere. It shouldn't be like that."

The 61-year-old says there needs to be more pitches provided by Inverclyde Leisure, which should be for the exclusive use of local clubs.

At present teams from outwith the council area can make bookings, which he believes is pushing the price up.

John added: "There is a lack of space. I have heard of 40 kids from Port Glasgow crammed on to a seven-a-side park.

"Priority should be given to Inverclyde teams. Gradually we are being pushed out."

John's club organises fund-raising events and sponsorship deals so cash strapped parents don't pay more than they have to.

He added: "We are one of the poorest areas in Scotland and parents have to dig deep.

"We would never turn away anyone because they can't afford their £10 a week."

John doesn't believe clubs are getting value for money from Inverclyde Leisure and says facilities, such as nets and goal posts, are poorly maintained and understaffed.

He knows of a number of teams in Port Glasgow with young players who have stopped playing because they can no longer afford the cost.

In 2022 The Price to Play Report commissioned by the energy firm Utilita said grassroots football in Scotland was under threat because of the soaring cost of living.

A third of parents said rising prices of essentials like food and electricity were leaving them unable afford boots, strips and even shin pads for their children to play the game.

Twenty-three per cent were unable to pay the monthly subscriptions to their child's local football team.

While a fifth said they were only able to pay for their son or daughter to play football, because they had made other sacrifices.

Former Scotland international and past Morton favourite Andy McLaren, 51, fears the traditional working class sport will only be affordable in future for middle class families due to the prices being charged for pitches.

Andy McLaren pictured front right teaming up with police for football project in 2021

Andy, who also played for Dundee United and Kilmarnock, was a fans' favourite at Cappielow, playing 49 games for Morton in 2005 and 2006 and scoring 10 goals.

He said: "People are struggling to fed their kids and heat their house, never mind pay for football.

"These pitches should be an asset for the community, and not just a way of making money.

"In my day we played all the time for free. That was how we improved our skills and became better players.

"We could be missing the next Andy Robertson because parents can't afford the cost of a pitch hire."

Inverclyde Leisure is a charity and non-profit company established in 2001.

It operates the region's community centres, parks and pitches, sports centres, swimming pools, golf course and the Ravenscraig athletics stadium.

The company has four members from Inverclyde Council on its board.

An Inverclyde Leisure spokesperson said: "In April 2024, Inverclyde Leisure services were subject to a small annual price increase, in an environment when we are subject to an annual increase in operating costs.

"With regards to the football facilities on offer within Inverclyde, the majority of surfaces are fully accredited and of a high standard.

"We work closely with all clubs and partners when booking facilities."

Matthew Quinn, MSYP has called for publicly-owned pitches to be more accessible to young people (Image: Duncan Bryceland)

Elsewhere, Inverclyde's Member of the Scottish Youth Parliament has called on local politicians to improve the availability of publicly-owned football pitches for young people, as the Tele previously reported. 

Matthew Quinn brought forward a motion at a meeting of the youth parliament urging the Scottish Government and councils to provide free-of-charge access to sporting facilities and pitches. He is now seeking the support of representatives to move the proposals another step forward.

Stuart McMillan, SNP MSP for Inverclyde, said: “This issue is raised with me on an annual basis and I share the concerns of local clubs that these costs could prevent children and young people from accessing sporting activities.

“I have regular dialogue with Inverclyde Leisure, who are mindful of people’s feeling about local pitch hire costs, but their position is that the money they receive from Inverclyde Council is one of the lowest in Scotland. As such, they have no option other than to pass additional costs on to customers.

“The cost of living crisis continues to affect all aspects of people’s lives, and sports organisations are sadly not immune to the impact of rising costs.

"If any group has specific concerns, I’d encourage them to contact my office to see if we can find funding streams for them to apply to which might help.”