Football clubs criticise pitch rental price rise

Football clubs have criticised the decision to raise pitch rental prices by 52%.

Hiring a grass pitch at Plock Court in Gloucester for open-age football in the 2025-2026 season was £45.93, but has now risen to £70 for 2026-2027.

In a Facebook post, Rising Stars Youth Football Club said grassroots clubs were "never consulted" about the increase, adding: "We are deeply disappointed by the unprecedented city council price hike for hiring grass pitches in Gloucester."

Gloucester City Council, which owns the pitches, said: "A charge of £70 is in line with those levied by many other local authorities, and represents a reasonable and proportionate rate."

The city council added: "Average charges for hiring local authority managed sports pitches across England are significantly higher than the rates we have charged.

"It is important that our fees are fair both to users and to council tax payers, who ultimately help fund these facilities."

Charlotte Eakers, chairwoman of City of Gloucester WFC, told BBC Radio Gloucestershire: "We are going to have to up our fees by £8 per child just to try and cover, or have contingency pots for winter training. That is purely just so we can afford the pitches for the next season.

"The first we knew about it was when we got the renewal email through from Ubico - the company that acts on behalf of the city council."

Eakers added: "I'm all for having to increase [the prices], but to just throw it on us without any prior warning - without even saying here's a five-year plan, it's going to go up 10% next season then another 10% - you can kind of factor that in, can't you?"

Minchinhampton Football Club chairman Mark Cox has been involved with grassroots football for 40 years.

"I can fully understand why the costs have gone up," he said.

"From the outside looking in, it looks like the communication has been poor and probably would have been more effectively managed by a gradual increase over the years.

"We just need a joined up strategy for the authorities to keep the green spaces for sports - not just for football - but for all sports and then work together with the clubs to make sure that the cost is more manageable."

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