SPORTS clubs are being asked to re-locate for the upcoming season after St Helens Council cut the number of pitches it maintains.

The council has reduced the number of pitches available to various sports clubs for the upcoming winter season.

Playing fields at Bishop Road, Billinge St Marys, Vulcan and King George V playing fields at Newton, Sutton Manor and Thatto Heath/Broadway will not be available for the 2019-20 season.

Sports clubs, including a number of Saturday and Sunday League football clubs, affected by the change will be allocated a pitch, although the council said it may not be their first choice.

A St Helens Council spokesman said: “The council values its green spaces and recognises the role they play in the lives of communities, be this for formal or informal use.

“Reductions in funding from central government has forced the council to review the number of sites it maintains as sports pitches, all borough clubs requesting pitches will be allocated a pitch however unlike previous years this may not be at their first-choice location.

“Those sites not allocated for sport will remain accessible for informal recreation they will simply not be laid out for formal sports pitches.”

The pitches available for the 2019-20 season are playing fields at Parr Stocks, Ruskin Drive, Rainford Spinney, Vista Road Park, Park Street Park, Sutton Leisure Centre, Garswood Recreation Ground, Queens Park Recreation Ground, Mesnes Park and Haydock King George V playing fields.

One club that has chosen to move outside of the borough, due to the quality of the facilities offered, is Windle Labour FC.

The club’s teams were left homeless after its facilities at Bobbies Lane, Eccleston, were closed by St Helens and Knowsley College in May.

Windle Labour, which has been established for 21 years, was told they can no longer hire the facility and said they faced the prospect of having to move out of town.

From next season, the club will play at JMO Sports Park in Skelmersdale.

Club secretary Gary Bennett said: “The only council-run facility that was available to us was Parr Stocks playing fields, which don’t meet league requirements.

“There was no room at Sutton Leisure Centre and Ruskin Drive grass football pitch has no changing rooms due to water damage after a boiler broke.

“The council was in no position to fix the issues at Ruskin Drive to repair the changing rooms.

“It’s majorly disappointing we had to move out of St Helens.

“We are one of the oldest surviving adult teams in the town and now have to move out of the town to play our games.”

St Helens Rovers has agreed to move to Mesnes Park in Newton-le-Willows from Bishop Road, where it has resided for a number of years.

The Sunday League side feared the move would see it lose some of its players, but so far this has not been the case.

John Parry, St Helens Rovers club secretary, said: “It’s just disappointing that for a town where not so long ago it was announced that we had the highest suicide rate in young men in the UK, it’s a shame we have got to do this.

“We’re not the only ones affected, but it keeps a lot of lads occupied. Football keeps them engaged, socially as well.

“I’m not kicking the council, I know the money is being choked further down the line, but it’s just a shame.”