'Pitches are churned up and muddy'

Kidderminster's footballers are having to play on "awful" pitches when they travel to Dudley, according to league officials. Complaints have been made about waterlogged, overgrown pitches.

Secretary of Kidderminster and District Football League Ernie Pyke said pitches at Homer Hill, Cradley, Dudley Wood and the Withymoor pitch are water logged, turf is churned up and the grass is not cut often enough.

He said pitches managed by Wyre Forest District Council were in an "excellent state".

But around a dozen teams from the league had complained about the pitches they have to use in the Dudley borough.

"They are in an awful state at the moment," he said.

"It was a perfect summer for them growing wise with the weather so no-one can understand why they have been left like this. There are diverts in the grass and and they are very churned up.

Mr Pyke added: "I would expect the pitches to have been better maintained than that really and I hope that the council will look into that."

Dudley Council spokesman Phil Parker said: "Following a wet summer grass growth was quicker than usual which did cause issues during August, but all of our pitches are cut on a fortnightly basis and we are not aware of any existing problems."