Moresby RUFC at risk after pitch floods due to drainage pond

The eight-foot deep hole next to Moresby Rugby Union Club’s pitch was dug without planning permission by parish councillors Kyle and Ian Thornley, in the hope of draining water from the nearby allotments.

But the pond is now full and spilling on to the rugby pitch, forcing Moresby Rugby Union to cancel games and lose up to £1,000 each time from bar takings.

Lee Richardson, Moresby RUFC committee member, is now demanding that someone takes responsibility for the loss of earnings, amid fears that the club could become bankrupt.

Moresby Rugby Union pitch is now waterlogged (Image: Lucy Jenkinson)

Speaking at Moresby Parish Council’s latest meeting, Mr Richardson said: “We are getting concerned about the financial implications of this pitch being in the state that it is.

“We’ve had to cancel six games now. The takings over our bar is £600 to £1,000 per game.

“We can’t afford that. We haven’t got a rugby team now. We rely on the likes of Bransty using the pitch. Eventually these guys are going to get sick. They are going to take their football elsewhere then we lose our monthly fee.

“We spoke to someone from the council who said it may take up to six months to get it sorted.”

Chairman Nick Troughton said the parish council was trying to get it sorted “far quicker”.

Mr Richardson said: ”There’s nothing in this village to start off with. This club will shut those doors, without doubt. We simply cannot afford it.

“We spoke to the council who stated that the first discussion before that was dug should have been with the rugby club first.

“We’ve spent thousands on drainage and it’s never been like that. It’s never, ever held water like that. It’s near enough in six inches of water.”

Gordon Smith, chairman of Bransty Rangers Football Club, said: “We are a small club. We’ve got 190 players. Half of them play up here. We charge them and we pay to play up here. I can’t use this facility.

“It’s costing me to put matches on elsewhere, which aren’t cheap.”

The area around the pond at Moresby is completely flooded (Image: Newsquest)

Cllr Troughton said: “We are trying to get a scheme to get water away from there. We are trying to get this sorted as quickly as we can.”

Bransty Rangers FC have contributed £6,000 to drainage works on the pitch while Moresby RUFC have paid a total of £15,000, which has included a grant from England RFU.

But this has not stopped the pitch from becoming waterlogged since the pond was created.

Mr Richardson said: “We are actually seeking legal advice about receiving compensation. That pond has been done illegally. Who is going to be responsible for the financial implications it is having on the club? It is crippling.”

A member of the public said that a consultancy firm had examined the pond and rugby pitch last month and concluded that the pond had raised the ground water level in the surrounding area, which would degrade the condition of the pitch and prevent it draining.

He said this would cause “dire financial consequences” for Moresby Rugby Union Club.

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