A JUNIOR football club says it fears for its future if it cannot use changing room facilities to store equipment.

Officials at Bleak Hill Rovers say the club is in jeopardy due to the club not being permitted to store equipment in unused changing rooms on Ecclesfield.

The changing rooms and fields are leased by St Helens Borough Council to Eccleston and Windle Parish Councils.

Bleak Hill Rovers, which has been in existence since 1976, consists of around 400 boys and girls from ages four upwards, with 28 teams, including girls and mixed sides.

However, Eccleston Parish Council says it fully supports the club having storage space at the site.

Club chairman Cyril Barratt said: "We have stored all our equipment, goals and nets, in a private garage about 200 metres from the field.

"Last summer we were asked could we find somewhere else so we said yes.

"I went back to the councils and asked if we could use the changing block for storage, the reply came back no.

"We are stuck, we also asked during last year if we could put a container on the field and were told no."

He added: "There isn't anywhere else for us to go. We're stuck and we've got 400 children playing football.

"We take in children of any ability, up to a certain age, and give them a chance to play.

"A campaign has started on Twitter and Facebook and we have asked our parents to write to each parish councillor."

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A Facebook post by the club said: "The future of football for over 400 youngsters is in jeopardy due to the decision of Eccleston Parish Council not to let us store equipment in unused changing rooms on Ecclesfield.

"We have been asking the Eccleston Parish Council for help for over two years and they have always refused our request."

St Helens Council leader Cllr David Baines says he has met with the club virtually, along with Cllr Anthony Burns, cabinet member for wellbeing, culture and heritage to discuss the problems faced by the club.

Cllr Baines said: "The changing rooms and fields are leased by St Helens Borough Council to Eccleston and Windle Parish Councils and myself and Cllr Burns have now asked council officers to investigate every option available to us in order to save the club.

"Together with Cyril, club officials and everyone who cares about Bleak Hill Rovers we'll do whatever it takes to help make sure 400-plus children can continue to play football at the site."

However, a spokesman for Eccleston Parish Council said the matter is an ongoing process and is set to be discussed at a parish council meeting today (Tuesday).

They added: "Eccleston Parish Council fully supports the club having storage space on Ecclesfield."