Sunday, May 23, 2021

FOOTBALL'S COMING HOME TO BRIGG PLAYING FIELD

 

It's game on again at one of the parks in Brigg - reminding us of the Three Lions song, Football's Coming Home.
One set of goalposts was removed from the Davy Memorial Playing Field between Bigby Road and Kings Avenue, having developed a significant backward tilt.
However, within a few days, frames were again available to local youngsters in search of an enjoyable kickabout.
Protective safety fencing around the holes in the ground was erected until normal service resumed.
Brigg Town Council provided these posts last year to replace an earlier set declared life-expired by the North Lincolnshire authority which runs the park.
There's another set of posts on the Bigby Road side of the field (unaffected by the recent issue) so football matches can be played by local kids on a decent grass pitch.
Brigg Urban District Council did things very differently in the 1960s and early 1970s on the other side of town.
Football-mad children living on, or near, the Springbank council housing estate were allocated a small area of grass near South View Avenue but without goalposts (kids' coats and jumpers had to be put down instead).
Metal link fencing, topped with barbed wire, was erected to deter youngsters from using the two adjoining grass pitches on the Rec which had goalposts used by adult teams.
How many pitch hire fees did Brigg UDC have to collect from weekend clubs like Brigg Amateurs, Wrawby Athletic and Brigg Servicemen's Club before it clawed back the cost of the fencing and sharp wire?
This fence was removed long ago but many Brigg residents will remember it today.

PICTURED ABOVE: The period when posts were temporarily unavailable to youngsters and the all's-now-well-again scene a few days later on Thursday (May 20). Below - the protective barriers.