Dry weather conditions are leaving football pitches "like concrete" - and could put players at increased risk of injury, Yorkshire clubs have warned.
They said pitches were left waterlogged in winter and then baked hard in summer, and called for more support from sports bodies.
A report by non-profit group Round Our Way, which examines the impact of climate change, said the cost of making pitches safer was putting "significant financial pressure" on grassroots clubs.
Tadcaster Albion FC chairman Andy Charlesworth said: "Last year we ran sprinklers 24 hours a day for six weeks, costing around £2,000 in water alone, yet the pitches were still rock hard. It's like playing football on concrete."
Charlesworth said clubs were paying a rising price to keep pitches playable.
They said pitches were left waterlogged in winter and then baked hard in summer, and called for more support from sports bodies.
A report by non-profit group Round Our Way, which examines the impact of climate change, said the cost of making pitches safer was putting "significant financial pressure" on grassroots clubs.
Tadcaster Albion FC chairman Andy Charlesworth said: "Last year we ran sprinklers 24 hours a day for six weeks, costing around £2,000 in water alone, yet the pitches were still rock hard. It's like playing football on concrete."
Charlesworth said clubs were paying a rising price to keep pitches playable.
2 months ago
