A FOOTBALL school for children may have to close after being kicked out of a community facility.

Steve Trickett runs Kick Start Soccer School – a club for children aged four to 14 with a range of abilities. Up until recently he was using Colehill Sports and Social Club to run his sessions during school holidays.

The father-of-two set up the club for youngsters who, for a variety of reasons, are not playing for a team.

However, last week he was informed by the sports club, which is predominantly a cricket venue, that he would no longer be able to use the ground as they did not want the field to be “spoiled” for the cricket season.

“The soccer school was all very well-supported by the club until Monday – they said following their committee meeting, a decision had been made to stop the football club due to the wear and tear of the outfield," he said.

“The weather has been extremely bad recently so we’ve been very mindful about looking after the field. Obviously, if we’re to play football on any grass area, it’s going to get torn up, but the club has a groundsman, and it doesn’t take long for the ground to repair.”

He added: “It’s disappointing for the children. I set up the soccer school last year for children who haven’t been able to join a team, whether that’s because it’s too full or they’ve been told they’re not good enough to play.

“I’m not looking for superstars – I take people with confidence issues or mental health issues. Everyone plays an equal part and is treated equally.”

Steve, who has been a coach for five years, said over 70 children had joined the school since it opened - but unless he could find a new venue, it would have to close.

He ran three soccer schools during the summer - one in October half term, and one at Christmas. The sessions planned for February half term and the Easter holiday will be cancelled unless a new venue can be found.

Shane Blackley, secretary of Colehill Sports and Social Club, said the decision to stop the football club “had not been taken lightly”.

“We’ve supported it fully up until now, but the recent soccer school held just before Christmas has led to quite a deterioration in the ground.

“We’re trying to prepare the club for the coming cricket season, and we don’t want to see that spoiled.”

He added: “When Mr Trickett approached us about the soccer school, it was always going to be an informal arrangement. We could possibly review it in the summer.”