Football coaches have lamented the lack of suitable pitches after a washout winter in the city.
Youngsters have been left going weeks without being able to compete for football sides – which junior football coaches say is due to the unusable football pitches and a lack of 3G football pitch alternatives.
‘Matches cancelled this weekend due to the wet weather’ has become a weekly occurrence on the Preston City Council social media feeds, and one football club coach say the council’s climbdown over the Ashton Park Sports Hub is in part to blame.
Read more: Play parks across Preston set for substantial upgrades in years ahead
A new facility had been earmarked for Ashton Park but was scrapped by the council’s Labour administration in 2024 after a backlash by the local community along with fears over rapidly escalating costs due to inflation in the city’s Levelling Up Fund schemes.
Money due to be for the sports hub was put towards other schemes, such as the replacement tram bridge, instead as well as improvements to other parks such as Moor Park and Waverley Park.
Arj Naik, who coaches Myerscough Juniors under-7 and under-10 sides, has written directly to the city council urging them to look at improving access to 3G pitches in Preston due to the inclement weather. He’s been a junior football coach in the city for five years.
Mr Naik from Fulwood told Blog Preston: “Every year between November and March, we lose huge numbers of fixtures due to weather and poor pitch conditions. Grass pitches simply cannot cope with the rainfall — drainage is not adequate, and games are constantly called off. This has a massive impact on kids, parents, and volunteers who give up their time every weekend.
“At the moment, Preston has almost no suitable seven-a-side 3G provision. The only ones I know of are Withy Grove and Penwortham Priory, and that’s simply not enough for a city of this size. Because of this, we’re regularly forced to travel to Blackburn or even further, which really shouldn’t be the case for Preston-based teams.
“I was genuinely gutted when the Ashton Park development was not granted. I remember that there was opposition, particularly from older residents, but I feel the bigger picture has been lost. Now more than ever, children need access to sport.
“In my teams, I coach children with ADHD, children who have been bullied, and children who struggle in school. Football gives them a place where they can enjoy themselves, build confidence, and forget their problems for a while. Taking that away due to lack of facilities is heartbreaking.
“Private providers like PlayFootball are not the solution either — they are very expensive and only offer one 7-a-side pitch, which limits access even further for grassroots clubs.
“If we don’t address this, I honestly believe that in 10–15 years we’ll be facing even bigger issues with obesity, poor mental health, and anti-social behaviour — and people will wonder why. The foundations are being laid right now.
“Last week, I played at the Westway Sports Hub in Chorley with our grassroots team, and it was outstanding. It showed me exactly what can be done when councils invest properly in community sports. Preston should have something like this in the heart of the city.”
Blog Preston put Mr Naik’s concerns to the city council and to the cabinet member responsible councillor Freddie Bailey.
Cllr Bailey, who is cabinet member for environment and community safety, told Blog Preston: “Preston City Council recognises the ongoing shortage of artificial football pitches, an issue that becomes even more evident during the winter months when poor weather restricts access to grass pitches. Without funding and appropriate available sites, addressing this shortfall remains a significant challenge.
“Our current priority is improving the quality and resilience of grass pitch facilities so they can be used consistently throughout the football calendar. The Levelling Up Fund refurbishment projects on Moor Park and Waverley Park will greatly help this with refurbishment of 8 grass pitches.
“We understand how vital these facilities are for the physical and mental wellbeing of our communities, and our updated Playing Pitch Strategy aims to identify local needs and help close this gap for future generations.”
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