THE mayor of Caldicot has called a special meeting to discuss the closure of a town football club’s ground.

Cllr Alan Davies hopes bringing town council members together will help to solve issues of anti-social behaviour at the King George V playing fields, which had to be shut.

An ambulance was called there on July 27 after a player from Caldicot Town football club suffered a serious cut to the knee fromglass left on the pitch.

Club officials said the plan was for the ground to be open again for their first league game on August 17.

The special meeting on Monday is the next step in that procedure.

Cllr Davies said: “We are all anxious to resolve the matter.

I think all parties are satisfied we can make progress. We intend to work closely together to address the issues.”

After a health and safety inspection, Caldicot Town Council, the trustees of the playing fields, made the original decision to shut the pitch until members could be sure it was safe.

Club members described a persistent problem of young people hanging around at the club, leaving bottles and cans and smashing glass in the stands before throwing it on to the pitch.

Matches have had to be played on alternative pitches as the club and council try to decide the best course of action.

A statement on the club’s website stated: “The club are very disappointed not to be playing on the fields but the welfare of its playing members is of paramount concern first and foremost and we wish the injured player a speedy recovery.

“Meantime there is obvious concern for the mindless actions of some very idiotic few who think that smashing empty beer bottles in the stand and then throwing the shards of glass onto a football pitch where both senior and junior sides play football is hard to comprehend.”

The club’s home friendly against Porthcawl was cancelled, while a home match against Bristol side Hallan had to be played at Portkewett’s pitch, also home to Blackrock Rovers.

A match against Porth AFC also had to find an alternative venue.

The club’s statement said other clubs in the Welsh League have suffered similar problems, with Bettws, Croesyceiliog and Caerau Ely installing electric roller shutters or gates across the stand entrance as a preventative measure.

Members of the public can attend the meeting, at the town council’s offices on Sandy Lane at 6pm.