SUNDAY League side Staverton FC are playing home fixtures six-and-a-half miles away from their village after a row with the parish council over the use of Staverton Sports Ground.

The club, who won Division Four of the Chippenham & District Sunday League last season, are now playing at Atworth Recreation Ground in the wake of the bust-up, with chairman Pete Lavis claiming they were forced out after the authority double-booked their pitch.

However, the parish council, which also hires out the facility to local youth and girls’ sides, has insisted the adult club did not uphold its commitments over use of the Cygnet Way ground.

Lavis said: “We made a block booking back in May but now we’re being told that we’re the ones who have to move when there are fixture clashes. We’ve already reversed one fixture and we can’t keep doing that.

“We only formed at the start of last season but we won Division Four last year and we want to play on our own village pitch.’’

But Staverton Parish Council chairman Steve Figures said the club had upped sticks to Atworth after being hit with a fine for the state in which they left the changing rooms.

“If it became obvious there was a clash (of fixtures) on some days, we could then deal with that situation,’’ he said.

“We’ve had to fine the club for the state that the changing rooms were left in – which is what I think Mr Lavis took umbrage with. Basically, he hasn’t honoured his side of the agreement and he’s taken his bat home.’’

The Chippenham Sunday League declined to comment on the issue.

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