Spartan Rangers leave The Leys in Witney due to unsafe pitch

Spartan Rangers are unable to play at The Leys this season, with Football Pitch 1 at the recreation ground no longer fit for purpose.

A report blamed the 'continued use' of the field for 'alternate events' throughout the year, including fairs and festivals.

But with Witney Swifts Cricket Club also relocating from The Leys, renewed calls have been made for better sports provision in the town.

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Spartan Rangers' first and second teams will play at the Witney Artificial Turf Pitch in Gordon Way for at least one year, a move that has 'devastated' the team, according to club secretary of 35 years Alfie Saunders.

He said: "As far as we're concerned, the club hasn't gone away from The Leys - we're on a one-year sabbatical.

"Our aspiration is to remain there. It's the closest pitch to the town centre and one we want to carry on using."

The ex-Rangers player and manager added: "The town is bereft of decent sports facilities.

"There wasn't a ready-made replacement for us.

"As a football club, we're no way against any of the other events, but The Leys needs some serious TLC, for everyone's benefit.

"I've used the changing rooms for 39 years as a player, manager and coach - apart from the odd lick of paint, they haven't changed."

Rangers' third team will play home games at King George's Field, Newland, after the issues with the pitch at The Leys were highlighted in a report by Witney Town Council's sports turf consultants.

The report, which followed an inspection of all sports grounds the council is responsible for, included the results of a Clegg Hammer reading, which measures the hardness of a surface.

One test of a goalmouth recorded a value of 315 gravities, when the typical value expected for a football pitch is between 70 and 90 gravities.

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The report suggested this could have been affected by the use of a stage at one of the events on The Leys, stating: "The area designated for football pitches at The Leys is deemed unsafe for use following continued use for alternate events throughout the year prior to the football season.

"The surface has become severely compacted during the installation and take-down of a stage during inclement conditions, when no protective boards were employed to spread weight and wear to the area."

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It added: "As such, it is recommended that the site is no longer used for natural sports pitches as it presents a genuine Health & Safety risk with regards to significant injury to players and officials alike.

"With the provision of a sound and permanent irrigation supply, extensive renovations and the reservation of the field solely for sports pitch use, the area could be restored to provide a playable and safe surface but this will deteriorate significantly if other events resume."

None of the other sports pitches at The Leys are affected, but the council confirmed Witney Swifts have moved to the West Witney Sports Ground.

The cricket club declined to comment, but a town council spokesperson said the cricket pitch at the recreation ground 'doesn’t meet the standard' Swifts need to expand after winning Division 1 of the Oxfordshire Cricket Association this year.

Meanwhile, youth football club Witney Vikings will play on the recreation ground's other pitches, while Henry Box School and other teams will continue to use the cricket pitch occasionally.

Spartan Rangers are in continued discussions with Vicky Gwatkin, chair of the council's Halls & Green Spaces committee, who said improving sports provision in Witney is a long term target.

She said: “It is a massive and complex task which we need to get right.

"There may be some short term adjustments required to meet long term goals but we truly hope, in collaboration with all interested parties, that we will be able to build a clear plan with community buy in, which we can work collectively towards achieving."

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A council spokesperson added: "Witney Town Council is strongly committed to improving its sports provision in the town.

"Some of our teams have grown and become more skilled and have need of more space or different standards on their traditional home grounds.

"We will be seeking involvement and input from all of our teams to help build a plan for the whole of Witney that will meet the needs of our teams now and future-proof our pitches as much as possible."