SOCCER-mad kids can carry on playing the game they love after a Forest rugby club stepped in to help.

Lydney under-nines were faced with having nowhere to play after the Bathurst Park Trust imposed charges for using the facility.

But Bream Rugby Club came to the rescue with an offer to use their pitch free-of-charge for Wednesday evening training and weekend league games.

When Forest MP Mark Harper raised the issue of charges with the park trust, he was told they were necessary to help meet the cost of maintenance.

The team had its first session at Bream last Wednesday (August 22) with a friendly against Ellwood.

It plans to use the rugby club for training during the summer and for its Severn Valley Youth League games.

Under-nines coach Scott Hooper said: “We cannot thank Bream Rugby Club enough for what they’ve done.

“I had a message from (rugby club chairman) John Havers saying they had a big field which we were welcome to use.

“They just want to see kids playing sports and having big smiles on their face.

“The club has also allowed us to use their tea hut.

“We have 15 in our squad and more than 150 in the youth section at the club.

“There isn’t enough pitch space in Lydney when you also take into account clubs from outside coming in as well.

“We were using the park but then we were told we had to pay.

“We didn’t feel it was fair to ask parents to pay more for their kids to play football.We were being asked to pay because we are associated with a club and we were running around next to teenagers who don’t pay to use the park.

“There’s also a big thing at the moment about kids keeping fit and healthy.

“They can’t do that if they don’t have any- where to play.

“If they weren’t here they would probably be at home watching the telly or playing computer games.

“The kids love playing football and Bream Rugby Club has been fantastic in allowing to carry on playing.”

The youngsters are also delighted to have new shirts sponsored by MG Plumbing and training tops courtesy of JD Norman.