Ilkley AFC and local rivals Pool were bitterly disappointed when their Harrogate League Division One fixture was called off 20 minutes before kick-off at Denton Road on Saturday.

Knaresborough official Mr. J. Cooper deemed the ground at West Holmes field as very poor and decided that one goalmouth and the centre spot was dangerous for the players, and stopped the show.

This after the Ilkley team had worked to try and improve matters for two hours before kick-off was a sad end to the day.

Standards will have to improve at the cpuncil-owned ground if Ilkley AFC are to continue their remarkable progress.

The ever increasing demands of the Leagues to provide grade A facilities is proving very difficult.

Ilkley AFC manager Stuart Forrest has played football for Addingham, Burley Trojans and Ilkley and over the many years playing has seen no improvements to local grounds.

Now as a manager he feels it is time something is done to make it better for the players.

He said: 'My assistant Walter Lambert has been a stalwart in local football and over 25 years he's seen that nothing has been done to improve matters.

'The good players need to play on a decent ground where they can improve and maybe advance to a higher level.

'Grass roots football in this area has been ripped off and will continue to be unless players past and present stand up and be counted,' said Forrest.

He added: 'The game on Saturday against was called off because the goalmouths were just a sea of mud inches deep.

'People were looking forward to a great game between two in form sides and my lads worked like mad to try and get the pitch fit but we were battling in vain.

'The council have done no work on these goal areas despite us constantly badgering them over the last few years.

'There have been deep holes in the goalmouth for years

'We pay rent for the pitch and we are having to pay out money to use Ilkley Cricket Club to change in as the council provide no changing facilities on the football pitches. It is the same down in Burley.

'We have also had to spend about £50 on sand to try and keep the pitch playable and that is £50 we have not got.

'We go out of our way to provide football for young men in Ilkley - just as other clubs do - but we get no help from the council. They just take our rent money and council taxes and run', said Forrest.

'We try to provide a decent level of football both for the people of Ilkley to watch and for the lads to play but over 20 years there has been no improvement in the football facilities in this area.

'The football clubs are keeping young lads off the streets,' he added.

If there is anyone wishing to help the club or football in general, they can contact Ilkley AFC on Ilkley 604384.

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