An Edinburgh dad claims his neighbour of 25 years has confiscated his 11-year-old son's football as she attempts to stop him from playing the national game. EdinburghLive reports Lionel Wilson, 61, went online to look for possible solutions after claiming his neighbour told off his son Nathan for having a knock about in his own private back garden.
The dad says he would like to let football-mad Hibs fan Nathan play outside in peace without being confronted by neighbours. He explained that Nathan isn't the best at football, but absolutely loves the sport and he does not want to stop him practising.
It is not the first time the dad-of-four has had issues with the couple who live next door. His other three sons had similar problems when they were growing up, the locksmith even claiming he was warned about the neighbours when he bought the Grange house.
Mr Wilson took to a local community group to ask for advice after his neighbour complained that Nathan's playing was destroying the flowers.
He wrote: "I need advice. I’m lucky to stay in EH9 with my own garden.
"When my son is round two days a week he loves to play football in the garden, as the Meadows is a mile away. He's not good at football but is getting better. My problem is my neighbour who is now keeping the ball that he kicks over by mistake.
"They have asked me to ask him to stop playing football as the ball is damaging their flowers. What should I do?"
Mr Wilson added: "I just want to do what's right. I know back gardens were never designed for football or flowers, they were for drying clothes but time has moved on.
"I’ve tried to explain but he is an 11-year-old boy. He loves football and is a big fan of Hibs. My reason for putting the post online was to try and gauge an opinion for the right answer."
He continued: "What I don't agree with is when they keep the balls. Our other neighbour breeds frogs in their garden and they don't like that either - they can’t stand frogs."
Mr Wilson is going to continue to allow his son to play football in the garden for now and said he may give the neighbours a bar of chocolate as a peace offering.
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