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Burgess Hill Football Club face eviction from Leylands Park

4:24pm Tuesday 15th April 2008

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By Tom Gurney »

The future of Burgess Hill Football Club has been plunged into serious doubt after they were given six months' notice to leave their home.

The 125-year-old Ryman League club has been ordered out of Leylands Park by Mid Sussex District Council for breaching the lease on the ground.

The Hillians could now be forced to fold as they cannot give assurances to the football authorities that they can complete next season.

Club chief executive Gary Croydon said: "The whole club is in a state of shock and confusion. It beggars belief.

"We should be trying working with the council not against them because surely we have some value to the local community.

"If we can't use Leylands Park next season, we would have to have a groundshare in place by May 31 and that would be very difficult to sort out in time."

Burgess Hill have been accused of failing to pay rent and not making repairs on the ground.

The only way they can save themselves from eviction would be to challenge the notice and take the council to the High Court.

What do you think about this shock news for Burgess Hill?

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tommy, wivelsfield says...
4:52pm Tue 15 Apr 08

disaster !!! come on mid sussex have a heart ...

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JS, Brighton says...
5:42pm Tue 15 Apr 08

2 points: 1) Mid Sussex Council don't give a stuff about BHTFC but the club's small crowds give the council an 'excuse' to trample all over the club. 2) Lloyd Cotton and Kenny Hewitt are fit as. Perhaps they can get their kit off to raise money for the club, like Lewes and Bognor's players did for calendars. Even better if this includes former players such as Dean Cox, Ryan Bradley and Mark Price.

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Frank Graham, Hove & Worlds End says...
6:18pm Tue 15 Apr 08

Absolute disaster how one Council like e.g. Crawley appear to support a club in financial problems and another don't appear to care is a shambles. Mid Sx have a duty to support the most senior local sporting club in its area. With the Brightonj Bears folded and the Cougars not appearing at the Triangle, what better stage to promote sport and leisure htan through its football club. Missed opportunity and the peole of BUrgess Hill should be consulted bfore hte Council once agqain makes its personal decision on one that will affect many others. BHT have done marvelous and bent over backwards to accomodate local residents demands the whold town should hang its hea din shame if the lcub goes to the wall for not supporting it. I urge the Hillians to urgently look into ground sharing, but what will the council do with the ground? More housing in an area already over poppulated? I know kids have come up through the youth clubs and with the accademies the club has been trying to build this news is a disaster that should never happen. Tis has far reaching consequences for local football. Support it or lose it. That support right now needs to be led by the MSDC.

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Paul, Town Centre Business in Burgess Hill says...
7:30pm Tue 15 Apr 08

This is a shock... and an aoutrage! Fair enough if they havent abided by the terms of their lease but to impose the most severe option available is frankly ridiculous. However, as a small business owner in the town, it hardly surprises me; MSDC has been the most pig ignorant, heartless, thoughtless and totally out of touch group of unhelpful and thoughtless people I have had the displeasure of coming up against. MSDC think nothing of the stature and success of the town in any of their decision making; no wonder we never make significant strides towards making Burgess Hill what is should be; a successful and proud town capable of holding its own with its local (and better supported) neighbours in Sussex.
MSDC should pack their bags, get out themselves and hold their heads in shame in a dark corner!
quote

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Bob, Burgess Hill says...
8:13pm Tue 15 Apr 08

As a resident of Burgess Hill I am ashamed of MSDC for their actions.I have never believed that MSDC have supported the football club and will only be happy when they have built houses on the site.

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Sarah Wild, Slaugham says...
10:41pm Tue 15 Apr 08

How right you are Bob all the Council care about is making a fast buck and thats probably because htey messe dup in past with concerts that lost them money. MSDC are a disgrace. Nothing less.

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The Wombat, Zog says...
11:03pm Tue 15 Apr 08

When you have all got off your high horses, look at the report. Non-payment of rent is cited as a cause of eviction.

The great god of football does not have a divine right to exist at the expense of all other considerations.

MSDC would certainly not have taken this course of action lightly, whatever football-lovers may think. The 'shock-horror' attitude of the football club should not be taken at face value. The club personnel involved would certainly have been aware of the implications of non-payment of rent and any other breaches of conract.

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David, Burgess Hill says...
11:12am Wed 16 Apr 08

What EXACTLY are the breaches of the lease we are talking about?

The floodlight tale is well recounted. Keeping them on for 10 minutes too long twice a year and getting fined £1000 after complaints from a small number of nimbys led by one particular district councillor.

There is no infomation from MSDC, a council well-renowned for cocking up a major money loser in Haywards Heath and trying to shut a the lesiure centre in E Grinstead. They cant run a bath!

Surely the best option is to help the club find its own land (by the new cemetary perhaps?), charge the club for its services, take Leylands Park back and hey presto!!

What a shower.

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David, Burgess Hill says...
11:15am Wed 16 Apr 08

The Wombat wrote:
When you have all got off your high horses, look at the report. Non-payment of rent is cited as a cause of eviction.

The great god of football does not have a divine right to exist at the expense of all other considerations.

MSDC would certainly not have taken this course of action lightly, whatever football-lovers may think. The \'shock-horror\' attitude of the football club should not be taken at face value. The club personnel involved would certainly have been aware of the implications of non-payment of rent and any other breaches of conract.
What does non-payment of rent mean?

One day, one month, one year. one day late or what? Fancy being kicked out of your house by missing one payment?! I think not.

Where is the information from the council?

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Garth, Petworth Drive says...
11:22am Wed 16 Apr 08

Sickening. The football club is one of the only decent things left in the town.

If the council can help pay immigrants and benefits to all the pikies in our town who contribute nothing, why can't they help out an institution that does contribute something?

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M, Burgess Hill says...
12:57pm Wed 16 Apr 08

I think it is time for a big petition plus (strong but non-abusive) letters/emails to MSDC council officers and every councillor. Councillors' email addresses are listed here: www.midsussex.gov.uk
/page.cfm?pageID=232
5

Petition forms could be made available at every senior and County League club in Sussex, supportive businesses, any supportive newspapers etc. I suspect Albion fans would be more than happy to sign it and some may take forms so they can get more signatures; there will be 5,000-8,000 fans at each of their final 2 home games of the season (this Saturday and May 3rd). Albion fans' petitions were signed by more than 32,000 (for Withdean) and more than 61,000 (for Falmer). Given all the campaigning they've done in the last 13 years (against Archer/Stanley/Bello
tti, for Withdean and for Falmer), Albion fans may have plenty of other ideas. Seems obvious to me to draw on their experience.

Perhaps also car stickers to remind the council about the strength of feeling.

The council think they can do anything because no-one cares. Time to show them that's not true.

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Graham Cotterill, Pagham says...
3:55pm Wed 16 Apr 08

Just another excuse for Councils to get rid of a valuable asset to the community, if they are not selling off local playing fields and getting rid of anything that is grass they are not happy. From a Bognor Regis Town F.C fan.

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Peter Chapman, Burgess Hill says...
5:51pm Wed 16 Apr 08

It appears that our elected MSDC councillors are not acting as the voice for the people.

At a time where the MSDC approval rating is rock bottom, they go and announce this. Idiots.

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Smurf, Burgess Hill says...
1:52am Thu 17 Apr 08

Having supported BHTFC for awhile now, i find MSDC actions appalling.They surely want the football ground for development,and as the recession sets in now, what a better time to give excuses for the club to be evicted from the ground.The attitude is get them out now while we can get a good price for the ground from developers.
Just another shamless act by MSDC, just like what they did to the Sydney West Centre.

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Bob, Burgess Hill says...
11:04am Thu 17 Apr 08

In defence of MSDC................
.No sorry can't think of anything!!
So BHTFC owe £1600 in rent this is just an excuse to clear the site for more housing which we don't need in Burgess Hill.

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terri, hassocks says...
12:11pm Thu 17 Apr 08

bob how much for a 3bed semi,i must ring redrow.best thing that could happen well done the council

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