Sport returns to Stanley Field

By David Melsome
Football was played once more at Stanley Road Playing Field when scores of people turned out to reclaim the open space as a recreational facility for the community.
After more than three years of lying unused and neglected, the field once more enjoyed the sight of striped shirts and the sound of cheering from the touchline as the Stanley Road Challenge Cup was played out.

The 2.4-acre site is under threat from development. Barnet Council, owner of the land, wants to use two thirds of the open space for housing and keep the rest for sporting use.

Finchley Community Development Trust (FCDT) says that the remaining land would not be big enough for a single football pitch and wants to retain the whole site to enable provision of a full range of sports pitches and youth facilities.

Action plan: use it or lose it
The FCDT organised the friendly match on Saturday 12 April and launched a ten step action plan urging supporters of the sports plan to use the field as much as possible, to write to council leader Mike Freer and local press, and to join an action committee. There are plans to make the kick about a regular Saturday event.
Sisters Alice and Tilda Donnachie were two of the young people who turned out to watch the football. “We both went to Holy Trinity School and we were never allowed on the field because it was full of broken glass,” said Alice. “It’s a big space and it’s being wasted,” said Tilda.

MP’s support
Finchley and Golders Green MP Rudi Vis said at the match: “People complain about the behaviour of young people but make nothing available to address their boredom. It’s not good enough to get part of the land and use the rest for housing. We need the whole site.”
Councillor Alison Moore said: “I think it’s fantastic that so many are here today. It shows the support there is from local people for sports facilities in this part of East Finchley.”

If you want to support the Stanley Road Campaign, hear future news about the site or join in a regular football game, contact Rob on 020 8883 4916.

The Archer

Any views published here are those of the original authors, and not necessarily representative of REEF or east-finchley.com

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