Club’s plea for answer

9:12am Tuesday 11th December 2007

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A FOOTBALL club is fearing for its future because of the redevelopment of a neighbouring estate.

Greenwich Borough Football Club, formed in 1928, has been based at Harrow Meadow in Eltham Green Road, Kidbrooke, since 1937.

But Greenwich Council has earmarked the land for housing as part of the Ferrier Estate redevelopment.

The £750m revamp of the estate is due to be completed in 2018.

Around 2,000 homes are being demolished on the 1970s estate and 4,398 new ones will take their place.

The 270-acre redevelopment will also include a shopping centre situated around a new transport network.

Now club president Tamer Hassan has issued a plea to the council to resolve the issues surrounding the club's future, which he says have been ongoing for the past 10 years.

The club, which is run by volunteers, currently has a tenancy agreement with the council which it says can be cancelled at any time.

Mr Hassan, an actor who has appeared in films including The Football Factory and Layer Cake, says the club has offered to buy the freehold from the council.

As an alternative it is seeking some compensation from the council to enable it to go somewhere else or for the council to provide another ground for the club to use.

Mr Hassan said: "At the moment we're just sort of hanging in there waiting.

"We had a meeting with officers at the start of the season but still nothing has been resolved."

Mr Hassan said the club's new chairman, actor Danny Dyer, was hoping to put together a number of celebrities to back the club and raise its profile in the coming year.

He said: "We've got a hell of a lot of support and we're not going to run away from this without a fight.

"All we're saying to the council is make us an offer'."

Mr Hassan says he has put in £250,000 of his own money since becoming chairman 12 years ago.

The money has gone towards floodlights and the upkeep of the club's three pitches.

On Saturday, around 300 spectators turned out to watch the club, which is in the Kent League and has one team.

Mr Hassan says this shows the strength of support for the club.

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

Mr Hassan says the facilities are also used by people from outside Kidbrooke as well as the local community.

He said: "The ironic thing is loads of council workers use this club - the builders, the black cabbies, the dustmen.

"The councillors don't realise how this will affect the community.

"They're going to throw out a facility which thousands of people use just to house more people.

"I don't have a problem with affordable housing but don't make us victims."

A council spokesman said: "The land used by the club will be developed as part of the overall proposals to create a new and vibrant mixed-tenure community. The club has been aware of this for a considerable time.

"The council has kept the club informed and had a number of discussions with it to consider its circumstances.

"As part of these discussions, the council has stated it will be willing to assist with relocation."