RECKLESS villagers have left a club with a heavy bill to foot after having barbecue on the pitch.

The field of Lawford Football club, which is used by hundreds of people in the area, was left ruined after some villagers decided to have a barbecue on the football pitch.

Apart from burning the field in around five different places, the careless residents have also left their rubbish behind for the club to clean.

David Gray, 50, of School Lane, Lawford, who is the club's U14 manager, said vandalising the pitches has now become an "issue of respect".

He added: " The club works so hard and spends thousands of pounds to provide something of a very high standard for the community and people are just not respecting it at all.

"Yes, it is council land but normally the council has the say what goes on that land and we pay the rent and do all the upkeep.

"We have got tractors, rollers, we seed the grass and cut it.

"We have done that for over 50 years so we have got a huge community following.

"It will be a cost implication as we have to pay around £150 to repair it."

Harwich and Manningtree Standard: The pitch was burnt in different placesThe pitch was burnt in different places

But it is not only the barbecue incident that has been making football coaches concerned.

Dog fouling is another major problem they are facing which only seems to be getting worse.

Mr Gray added:"It is disgusting – it is a lack of respect and a lack of understanding about the community and what the community offers.

"If you go on a Saturday morning you have 250 people training plus another 50 to100 parents watching.

"People are putting their effort and time to the future of children and other people really do not appreciate it.

"You have people walking across the pitch with dogs while we are training .

"It is massively disrespectful to the kids."

The club is now hoping to speak with Lawford Parish Council about installing more signs to prevent dog-fouling.

Mr Gray added: "Why would you have a barbecue on a football pitch?

"Why would you walk your dog when people are training?

"Some people think they can do and say what they want without repercussions."