Club could be kicked out of ground (From News Shopper)

Club could be kicked out of ground

2:43pm Thursday 3rd July 2008 in

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A FOOTBALL club is appealing against a council's attempts to seize the ground it plays on.

Greenwich Borough Football Club, based at Harrow Meadow, Kidbrooke, since 1937, was served with a notice to quit by Greenwich Council last month.

The notice expired on June 30 but club chairman and film actor Tamer Hassan says he is launching a legal appeal.

It is claimed by the council that the club's lease can be cancelled at any time but Mr Hassan says this is not the case.

And the council says the club also has outstanding rent arrears of nearly £150,000 and negotiations over the outstanding figure have failed to resolve the issue.

The land has long been earmarked for redevelopment as part of the council's Kidbrooke Vision Masterplan which will see thousands of new houses built by Berkeley Homes.

But Mr Hassan, who says the club is being supported in its fight by football stars Ian Wright, Jamie Redknapp and Harry Redknapp, claims the council is refusing to deal with him and has stopped taking his payments.

He said: "The lease also says the council are responsible for the maintenance of the pitches but the club has spent more than £200,000 doing that itself.

"I've got a legal footing here and they can't get me out.

"I've told them I'm not going away - I'm not moving."

The club, run by volunteers, draws up to 300 spectators and plays in the Kent League.

It is also used regularly for charity events, by schools and has a gym where the Eltham Warriors kickboxing club is based.

A council spokesman said: "The club has been aware for many years that notice could be served at any time.

"The club's inability, over many years, to pay a nominal rent gives the council no confidence that the situation would change if the club relocated to other premises.

"Any relocation assistance would be conditional upon the club clearing its rent arrears."