76134-17A YOUTH football club say they need to find a new training ground after being fined nearly £700 for parking near their current place.

Stratton Football Club, which runs teams for youngsters aged seven to 16, usually trains on council land near the Swindon Rugby Club.

For the past 12 years they have used the rugby club's private parking facilities on Greenbridge Road with the rugby officials turning a blind eye.

But last Saturday seven of the nine volunteers who run the football teams were clamped, costing them £90 each, a total of £630.

Kevin Peart, 48, coach of the under 15s said: "We have been parking there for nearly 12 years and it's never been a problem before.

"But now we're going to have to find somewhere else to train. It's a sad situation.

"We need to be able to park near the pitch because it's not just the people, it's all the equipment too. If we can't park there where can we train?

"As individuals it's upsetting because it's £90 each but it's more annoying for the club.

"We volunteer our time. We're not doing any harm, we're looking after up to 90 kids a week.

"It's disappointing because we're doing it for the community and then something like this happens.

"We find it hard enough to raise funds and find places to train.

"We're just trying to do something for the community and we get this done to us. Where's the community spirit in that?"

But Glyn Barrett, a committee member of SRC, said: "It's a private car park and there are signs there stating that.

"The football club have been invited to join the club in the past which would allow them to use it but they never have.

"The state of the car park meant that we needed some action.

"We don't want to see the football club close. We don't want to see anything happen to any sports clubs in the area but if they had paid and become members this wouldn't have happened.

"All this grief and aggravation, which is unfortunate, could have been avoided."

Gareth Bethell