Travellers take over football pitches and park more than 20 vehicles after council blunder

Travellers take over football pitches and park more than 20 vehicles after council blunder

More than 20 traveller vehicles have taken over football pitches after the local council contractors failed to secure the gates following pitch maintenance work. Travellers descended on the grounds of Albion Rovers FC at Kimberley Park in Newport, Gwent. The initial group of caravans arrived last Wednesday, with further vehicles and occupants turning up over the weekend, showing no signs of leaving. Newport City Council staff and contractors had removed specialised padlocks from both low and overhead barriers to allow access for works but never replaced them, leaving the site wide open. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say The club, which is marking its 90th anniversary this season, now finds itself unable to use its own facilities and has been plunged into uncertainty. Albion Rovers has been forced to seek alternative venues for both training sessions and fixtures, paying £110 an hour to hire a 3G pitch at a local school. Club secretary Sarah Yemm, 44, expressed deep concern for the welfare of players and members, describing the situation at the ground as "too dangerous" given the continuing arrival of caravans. "It's been really stressful because we've had to cancel all the training, including the seniors," she said. "Obviously, we wouldn't want the children or the senior players down there training because more and more caravans were coming in. It was too dangerous." "Obviously, we wouldn't want the children or the senior players down there training because more and more caravans were coming in. It was too dangerous." Ms Yemm has also been compelled to call off girls' team fixtures and move friendly matches to other locations. The Welsh Cup is a particular source of anxiety for the club. "It's been worrying me because our first team is in the Welsh Cup, and I've been thinking, 'Where are we going to play?'" Ms Yemm said, noting that most council-owned pitches do not even have goalposts erected. The occupation has severed a vital income stream for

Travellers invade football club and park more than 20 vehicles on the pitch after council leaves the gates unlocked

Caravans rolled into Albion Rovers FC's Kimberly Park grounds in Newport in Gwent, Wales, last Wednesday, so the club - celebrating its 90th anniversary this season - is now stuck in limbo.