FOOTBALL players have been leaving a Penhill pitch strewn with litter every weekend.

People living in North Swindon have complained about the state of the perimeter of a full-size pitch next to Seven Fields Nature Reserve, where bottles, beer cans and other rubbish are routinely left behind after matches.

But after the Adver approached the two major Swindon adult football leagues for comment, the teams did take their rubbish home last weekend.

Tom Crinkle Chappell, who has lived in the area for nine years, said: “Thankfully the message has got through to the local football club as there was no rubbish left after this weekend’s matches.”

The Asda delivery driver walks his dog around the field every day and said the problem had been going on for years.

“It’s an ongoing occurrence every single week when the season starts,” he said.

“We’ve had a dog for the last three years and its always been like this every weekend. I’ve just had enough of it and something needs to be done.”

Johnny Fox, who has lived near the nature reserve for 14 years, added: “I used to walk my dogs there every day.

“This issue with the football teams leaving ungodly amounts of plastic bottles and rubbish strewn all over the place has been going on for years.”

The car salesman said he would typically find about 40 plastic bottles and beer cans left behind after each match.

He said: “The level of arrogance that somebody else is just going to come round and clear up their mess for them is astonishing.

“It shouldn’t be left like this. They should respect what’s there. Green spaces are important and that is an incredibly well used space that is there for everybody.”

Johnny added: “It’s completely disrespectful for whoever is running the teams to let them do this.

“It’s the sheer amount of rubbish left, it’s terrible. Seven Fields is a nature reserve.”

Tom said on one occasion he picked up 18 bottles and cans after a match.

“It’s just taking the Mickey,” Tom said.

“Why can’t they just take it back home with them?

“When the grass is cut and the lawn mower goes over a glass bottle, it’s going to break and could then injure any dogs or kids running around on the football pitch.”

Tom added: “Take your rubbish home with you. It’s not a hard thing to do.

“If you’ve had a drink there and you’ve got the excitement of the game, at the end of the game just pick your rubbish up.”

Swindon Borough Council owns the land and Central Swindon Parish Council has a maintenance and management agreement, hiring out the fields to local football teams from the Swindon and District League and the Swindon Sunday League.

Principal officer for the parish council Andy Reeves said: “From last week we’ve introduced a fine system.

"Despite countless informal warnings the teams leave bottles and rubbish which either us or kind local residents have to pick up. These are just left games so now we have no choice.

“If it doesn’t improve after this action then we will identify teams and they will be banned from using our facilities.

“This is disappointing but we’ll do what we can first to work with league secretaries and clubs to resolve the issue of litter.”

The Swindon and District League and the Swindon Sunday League were approached but declined to comment.