Honiton Town Football Club manager hits out at the ‘lack of facilties’ in the town.

A football coach in Honiton has hit out at the lack of sports pitches in the town.

Garry Osborne, who is the manager of Honiton Town Football Club, feels the town lacks the same facilities compared to other smaller towns and villages in the area.

He said: “I have seen smaller towns and villages have synthetic turf pitches like Uffculme, Colyton, Ottery St Mary. I can’t believe that a town the size of Honiton with all the different sports has not got this kind of facility too.

“When we have to train in the winter, we have to travel out of Honiton.”

Mr Osbourne, who is also a youth coach, told the Midweek Herald that they have to pay to use the synthetic turf pitches.

He added: “I believe if Honiton had an synthetic turf pitch it would bring money into the town and also improve many sports as it could be used all year round.

“We have had local votes in Honiton for the Community Centre which had low turn outs and people voted against it but the plans are still going ahead. Wouldn’t the money be better spent on improving sports facilities including a synthetic turf pitches which many people could use and where we could teach sport to children?

“Local schools and local sports clubs could benefit from a facility like this.

“For instant Honiton primary school had to cancel its sports day twice this year because the school field was waterlogged and because of that it will not go ahead. If we want our children to get more active how can we do this when the children have nowhere to go.”