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Club's third flood 'more and more of a challenge'

Football goalposts sit in the middle of flood water. A white building with a black roof is inaccessible due to the water.Ross Juniors FC

Gavin Kermack

BBC News, West Midlands

Matt Hutchinson

BBC Hereford & Worcester

A grassroots Herefordshire football club has said the continued flooding of its home is presenting "more and more of a challenge".

Members of Ross Juniors FC are used to the club's home at Ross-on-Wye Sports Centre on Wilton Road being flooded once or twice a year.

But this season alone, they have had to deal with a waterlogged pitch three times.

"We've had flooding in October, flooding in November, and now flooding in December," said committee member Paul Flitney. "So we're estimating… we've probably lost seven to eight weeks of the season for home fixtures."

Mr Flitney said dealing with the aftermath of Storm Darragh meant the club's 30 teams - ranging from 2-year-olds to a veterans' side, who between them play up to 15 home games each weekend - would be unable to host any matches before Christmas.

"We're having to postpone games, we're having to ask opponents if we can play them at their place," he said, "or look for expensive facilities in the local area that haven't flooded."

A single-story white building with a black roof sits in the middle of flood water. Several trees can also be seen emerging from the water.Ross Juniors FC

The club is funded by grants and members' fees.

"If there's anything little left over we try to improve the facilities, but over the last few years it's become more and more of a challenge with the flooding," said Mr Flitney.

"We have a groundsman, who's the only paid person we have in the organisation… And instead of him working to improve the pitches, it's always repair now.

"So there's no progression in the facilities, it's just repairing."

Mr Flitney said the town really needed its own 4G pitch away from the river.

"We're just not playing games, and there doesn't seem to be any immediate solution.

"It's very disheartening."

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Floods

Ross on Wye

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