Richard Baum

I have heard today from the Chairman of Marauders Football Club about an issue which seriously threatens the future of the club, and with which the Council are being decidedly unhelpful.

Marauders are a family club, giving the opportunity to play football to hundreds of local children. I myself have a trophy from 1989 when my team won the Marauders under 8’s 7 a-side league, and I remember the place as a fantastic way to get involved in youth football.

Now though the club is faced with problems because of a lack of facilities. Money has been raised for more, but the whole thing depends on a transfer of some land in Prestwich from Tesco to the Council. Marauders volunteers have been working very closely to get this transfer done, but for some reason there have been interminable delays in actually doing it, and it is looking more and more like the Council are to blame. I have asked them for an explanation as to why Marauders accuse them of unreasonable delays (of over a year) in progressing the transfer. It now may be too late, as Tesco have indicated that they are unwilling to part with the land whilst the Prestwich Regeneration plans are coming into fruition.

It is important that we get to the bottom of this, and work very closely with the Council and Tesco to get some progress. I know that Marauders have also approached Ivan Lewis MP, and any additional pressure he can bring will obviously be a help too. We should be working together to help community clubs like Marauders, and regardless of where the blame lies, we all need to work to do whatever it takes to keep this club going.

Rick