PARENTS living in the Moss Side area of Leyland have pitched a battle with council bosses in a bid to net a football field for their children.

Dozens of parents and friends of the newly formed Robin Hey Rangers FC have joined forces and pledged to back the fight for a pitch and goal posts at the back of Robin Hey, off Dunkirk Lane.

Hundreds have signed a petition and raised more than £200 for the club which currently trains on the playing fields at nearby Moss Side CP School, in Paradise Lane, Leyland.

The striking campaign has been spearheaded by local mum Janet Fulton, of Robin Hey, who has lived in the area for more than 20 years.

Now the mum-of-six is calling on kind-hearted locals to join her sporting crusade and to come up with donations of football kits and tackle. As well as footballs, the lads need shin pads, goalie gloves, football boots and blue or white strips and socks. And they are looking for people with a good knowledge of the sport and time to spare each week to come forward and help teach the youngsters a few tricks of the trade.

Janet said: "Moss Side is an area where families live and yet there is nothing here for the children.

"There used to be a few swings for the little ones but they got taken down years ago and they were not replaced.

"There is a lot of open land and fields around the estate where goal posts could be built for the children to play football and to keep them off the streets.

"The council has spent money building play parks on the Broadfield Drive Estate, in Leadale Road, and in Peacock Hall Road, yet there is nothing done here."

Moss Side councillor Anne Brown said: "We will back them in any way we can but there is a long list for sports facilities and we cannot condone queue jumping."

To join Janet's fight for a football pitch or to make donations to Robin Hey Rangers FC call her on 07901 724221.

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