Travellers have moved on to the football pitches at Aberdeen Gateway.
Picture by Kath Flannery.
Just days after causing controversy and throwing a youth team’s return to football into disarray, a group of travellers have left their temporary camp in Cove.
Cove Youth FC took the decision to move their players elsewhere after the group set up near their playing field.
They had waited for months to get together and practise their skills once again, but just over an hour before they were due to start, vans, caravans and cars began to move onto the pitch.
Ponies could also be seen grazing on the grass.
The group’s arrival at the site led to questions about the lack of provision for Travellers in and around Aberdeen.
On Monday, Cove Youth FC secretary Brian Johnston said he was worried about the mess that might be left behind and that months of hard work by the club to look after the playing surface might be undone.
Earlier today mounds of horse manure could be spotted on the pitch, while a nearby walkway was strewn with litter.
Some of the club’s 350 players, who were ready to lace up their boots and take part in training, with social distancing measures in place, have instead been making use of the pitches at Goals Aberdeen.
Travellers move on after setting up on football team’s training pitch
