A grassroots football club say being turfed out of their home to make way for a Premier League side’s youth scheme is a “real kick in the teeth”.
Epsom & Ewell Colts FC claim they are facing “an impending crisis” that leaves 170 girls as young as eight with no place to train and play the sport they love.
Blenheim High School decided to cancel their booking and gave slots to Chelsea FC Foundation, who run a development programme for young footballers in London and Surrey.
The school had provided training facilities for Epsom & Ewell Colts for over 20 years.
But in a show of strength, youngsters gathered outside the academy’s gates to give bosses the thumbs down and flash a combination of red and yellow cards.
Chelsea said the club knew nothing of change. Blenheim told the Standard its decision wasn’t profit-led and the school looked forward to supporting both teams in the future.
Nicola Brown, head of women and girls development at Epsom & Ewell Colts, said: “It’s hugely frustrating.
“Having run every single initiative to encourage girls to play football, to then have to undo all of that hard work because we have lost our training venue to Chelsea, it feels like a real kick in the teeth.
“It is not the kind of comradery that we need in girls and women’s football.”
Mary Sheard, whose daughter plays for the under-8s team said: “Caitlin was really looking forward to getting back after the summer, so we are really upset that their training venue has been lost.
“The girls in the team have formed such a great supportive bond, and they are all so worried about what will happen to the team.”
Manager and parent Steve Luff added: “This decision undermines the very essence of community sports.
We have lost one of our major training venues, Blenheim School, which we have used for around 20 years. 170 girls left with without training facilities. The School have let it to Chelsea FC Foundation, at the expense of grassroots.Please sign our petitionhttps://t.co/xqVsKwTa4D
— Epsom & Ewell Colts Girls Football (@EpsomColtsGirls) August 6, 2024
“Grassroots football is the lifeblood and future of the sport, nurturing young talent and fostering community spirit.
“It’s a grave mistake to prioritise commercial interests or go for the cachet of a professional club over the development of local athletes, who represent the true future of football.”
Chairwoman Pauline Russell said “the decision to displace our players in favour of a professional club’s pathway after so many years has been hard to take”, adding: “It does not feel like the school has considered the needs for their facilities by the local community, which would have improved the lives of local inhabitants as noted in their trustees’ report.
“We’d also welcome further conversations with Chelsea, to see if they could support us with our venue crisis.”
Epsom & Ewell Colts, which has been in existence since 1971, actively campaigned for additional facilities and funding to meet the growing demand in the local area.
When contacted Blenheim School, were apologetic but steadfast in their decision, Ms Russell said.
An offer was made to reinstate a two-hour Tuesday slot until Christmas, but Epsom & Ewell Colts say that only helps four teams that will face the same issue in the new year.
A school spokesman said: “Blenheim made the decision to offer their 3G pitch to Chelsea FC on Tuesdays and Thursdays to further develop their existing relationship with Chelsea FC and in support of the work they are doing to develop grassroots youth football opportunities in the local community, particularly with girls.
“This change was not the fault of Chelsea FC or Chelsea Foundation.
“Blenheim have offered several alternative days and times for Epsom & Ewell Colts to move their Thursday booking to and are delighted that they have made additional bookings on Mondays, Saturdays and Sundays to use the newly installed 3G pitch which has seen unprecedented demand.
“This was not a profit led decision and the sessions that Chelsea FC will run are development pathway sessions for youth players aged six - 12, many of whom play for local clubs, including Epsom & Ewell Colts, alongside these sessions.
“We look forward to supporting both Chelsea FC and Epsom & Ewell Colts develop their work in grassroots, youth and girls football in the upcoming season along with continuing to grow the football opportunities offered at school for Blenheim students.”
