Travellers' threat delays Hove cup match - Sussex

From the Argus

A football match was held up for 15 minutes after Travellers drove into a car park and threatened to block in the players' cars.

The Sussex Junior Cup game between Hove-based Racing Palmeira and Windsor FC from Eastbourne was disrupted after ten vehicles arrived at Greenleas playing fields in Hove as the team prepared to kick-off on Saturday afternoon.

The players quickly rushed off the pitch to remove their cars to park them in nearby Hangleton Valley Drive before returning to start their game.

After the incident, Brighton, Hove and District League officials have said they will not pay Brighton and Hove City Council the £80 costs to use the pitch and changing rooms.

League chairman Ian Farrell said: “One of the caravans was parked in such a position it was impossible for an ambulance to get in the ground.

“We approached both sides and said would you be happy to play under these circumstances, and the players, especially the Eastbourne lads who had driven all that way, said they would take that gamble.

“It's my biggest single embarrassment that they drove 25 miles from Eastbourne for a game of football and get messed about like this.

“It's not a good example of being in Brighton and Hove.”

Racing Palmeira were playing their first home game at the park having moved from the Nevill playing fields because of a fireworks event at that site.

Mr Farrell said: “Had they not removed their cars then, they would still be in that car park now.

“We're not going to pay for changing rooms the council only opened five minutes before kick-off and for the pitch when we have this embarrassment and we will fight the council over this.”

The unauthorised encampment is believed to have arrived at the park from land near Lynchet Close in Brighton.

Dawn Barnett, who represents Hangleton and Knoll on the council, said: “They stopped the football match because the players were told if they didn't remove their cars, they would block them in for as long as they liked.

“The players had to park their cars in the roads all around.

“That to me is anti-social behaviour and the police should be able to move them on for that.”