Football club eviction halted after council U-turn

The future of a football club has been secured after a parish council reversed a decision to evict it from its playing fields.

Last month, Hunmanby Football Club was told its permission to use local playing fields would end in January.

However, at a Hunmanby Parish Council meeting last week, the motion was rescinded, a club spokesperson said.

Michelle Donohue-Moncrieff, a parish councillor who also represents the area on North Yorkshire Council, said a "full and unequivocal apology" had been issued "to the village over the handling of the Hunmanby FC situation".

Based near Filey, North Yorkshire, Hunmanby FC has nearly 100 players and competes in the East Riding County Football League.

The parish council told the club in September to find an alternative venue.

More than 800 residents and supporters signed a petition protesting the decision, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

A club spokesperson thanked those who supported the campaign and promoted it on social media, saying it had made "a huge difference".

"This decision secures the future of football in the village and provides a much-needed social opportunity for the players registered with our club, as well as the volunteers, families and community members who make Hunmanby FC possible," they said in a statement.

"We are incredibly grateful to everyone who stood behind us and helped show just how important this football club is to Hunmanby.

"Now it is time to get back to what we do best."

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