Travellers' camp mess causes football club disruption

Huge piles of rubbish have been dumped on the grounds of a women's and girls' football club, forcing matches to be cancelled after travellers set up an illegal camp.

Household and human waste has been left on the Downend Flyers FC's grounds at Pomphrey Hill Playing Fields near Bristol after travellers camped there for five days.

Steve Poole, the club's facilities officer, said their 350 players will have to find alternative places to train until their grounds can be professionally cleared.

Chiefs at South Gloucestershire Council said they are organising the clean-up after the travellers left the site on Friday.

Poole added that the biggest impact to the team has been missing training.

A club spokesperson said a significant amount of waste had been left behind, including garden waste, building materials, concrete and wood, with up to 15 skips potentially needed to clear it.

They have urged residents and dog walkers not to walk on Pomphrey Hill until the rubbish has been cleared.

The spokesperson added that the club is "incredibly grateful" for all the support from players, parents, volunteers and Emerson's Green FC.

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