MORE than 100 football coaches from across the Vale of Glamorgan have urged the council to reconsider plans for a 3G pitch at Barry Town United's home ground Jenner Park.

An online petition, that gained close to 1,000 signatures in less than two days, has been launched by organisers of the Vale of Glamorgan Football League minis section.

The petition's mission statement argues that instead of installing a £500,000 3G all-weather artificial pitch at Jenner Park, the pitch should be built at Colcot Sports Centre, which they say is the real community hub of football in the Vale.

In response to water logging pitch problems that have dogged Barry Town United for several seasons, a feasibility study was launched by the Vale's Cabinet Member for Sport Development Gwyn John into the possibility of building a state of the art 3G pitch to Barry.

The idea gained support from politicians across the Vale, with the general consensus being that it would not just benefit Barry Town United but the Vale as a whole.

With the finished report expected to go before Cabinet early next month, junior team coaches have argued that it would be of far greater benefit to put the pitch somewhere where it will truly benefit the Vale.

Organisers behind the Vale's mini football league, which brings together children aged seven to 12, explained that - much like Barry Town United - they too regularly see a spate of cancellations through the winter months due to poor pitch conditions.

At a meeting last week more than 100 coaches co-signed a letter which will be sent to every Vale councillor.

Wes Drew, one of the organisers, said: “The amount of coaches at our meeting shows how much disillusionment there is with the idea of spending this money on one club at Jenner Park.

"Minis coaches volunteer their time to get these kids playing sport, but they need a bit of help from the council on this one.

"We have over 1,200 kids playing every week in the Vale, but we can’t sustain, or grow, these numbers without the facilities."

Fellow organiser Lee Saunders said: “Politicians of all colours talk all the time about needing to increase participation in sport, but it’s us on the ground who put the graft in.

"We’ve heard some of them say they haven’t heard any objection to the Jenner Park plan. Well here it is, with over 100 coaches’ signatures.

"And if you think of the parents of the kids who would back their kids’ coaches too, then this is a significant objection.”

The pair have invited Vale councillors to attend a meeting on March 4 to hear their objections.

Some of the clubs who have signed the letter include Rhoose Athletic, Dinas Powys, Cowbridge AFC, Porthkerry Panthers, Holton Road AFC, Sully Tigers, Inter Penarth, FC Barry, Barry Vale Harriers, Cadoxton Imps, Cogan Coronation, Island Marine, Park Lions, Peterston-Junion, Barry Athletic, Llantwit Major and Sully FC.

The petition can be found at http://bit.ly/Vale3G