A ‘FULL and unequivocal’ apology has been issued after a football club was banned from using a council-owned playing field.
Hunmanby Football Club, based near Filey, has welcomed a council U-turn on the club’s eviction from using the local playing fields.
“We are proud to announce that the motion to evict the club from Hunmanby Playing Fields has been rescinded,” a spokesperson for the club said after a meeting of the parish council last week.
More than 800 residents and supporters had signed a petition to help save the club after Hunmanby Parish Council informed the club that its permission to use Hunmanby Playing Fields would end in January.
Cllr Michelle Donohue-Moncrieff, a parish councillor who also represents the area on North Yorkshire Council, said that a “full and unequivocal apology” had been issued via the parish council’s clerk “to the village over the handling of the Hunmanby FC situation”.
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The parish council had originally raised concerns aout “how the playing field is being used and managed, and reflects concerns raised about the impact on other long-standing users of the site”.
A spokesperson for Hunmany FC said: “We would like to say a massive thank you to Cllr Donohue-Moncrieff, Cllr Benson, and Cllr Pratt, all of the local businesses who supported the ‘Save Our Club’ campaign, and everyone who liked, shared and signed our petition and supported our posts over the past few weeks.
“Your support has made a huge difference.
“This decision secures the future of football in the village and provides a much-needed social opportunity for the players registered with our club, as well as the volunteers, families and community members who make Hunmanby FC possible.
“We are incredibly grateful to everyone who stood behind us and helped show just how important this football club is to Hunmanby. Now, it is time to get back to what we do best.”