Posted By John Lawlor Hi Everyone I am in a bit of a predicament and wondering if someone can help me get out of it please I do some voluntary work for the local parish and the parish manager has asked me to look at a 12 foot high granite stone wall which is approx 3 foot from the edge of the side line of a football pitch the parish has rented this pitch for the last 23 years to the same football club and in this times there has been no claims or reported incidences he asked me to write a report saying that it is too dangerous for the club to continue playing on the field as someone is going to get seriously hurt I agree with him but these guys are playing for the last 23 years with no issue can you please advise on the best route to take Running away would be a good option but I cant really thanks in advance

Posted By Stefan Daunt Hi John, 3 feet does seem very close to the edge of the pitch, how do they take a throw in? Would it be possible to move the pitch markings so it is further away from the wall? It will need re-lining before next season anyway and depending on the pitches current size as long as it reaches the FA's mininmum spec would still be playable. If the proximity of the wall was an issue, indoor 5 aside would not be playable. Although I can see why he is concerned, sliding tackles, wet pitch into the wall and a possible claim on our cotton wool, nanny state.

Posted By GeoffB4 Have to agree with Stefan =- it's good sense to move it if possible. Wrong speed, wrong angle and there could easily be a serious injury.

Posted By john thos 147 It sounds to me that the priest just doesnt want them playing footbal there. if this is the case i would not just write an RA that states the slab is dangerous as if it is it will need repairing and making safe.

Posted By Phil Rose The 'devil is in the detail'! "..he asked me to write a report saying that it is too dangerous for the club to continue playing on the field as someone is going to get seriously hurt..". Why ask someone to write a report but give them the conclusion that they should reach? How can yu be objective? As others have suggested, I reckon that there is some other motive other than purely health and safety. Other that that, cover the wall if a foot of sponge rubber, flashing lights' PIR activated alarm and hazard warning tape! KIDDING

Posted By Phil Rose I may well be wrong, but at least two other people above have suggested that there may be another motive! I have been doing the job long enough to know that as well as legitimate health and safety concerns, people also 'use' health and safety as an 'excuse' to 'legitimise' some other agenda. I have seen that first hand time and again. If someone asks me to do a report or a risk assessment and also tell me what the conclusion or outcome has to be, then it is difficult (impossible) to be objective. If someone has already reached the conclusion, I am left asking myself why the need a report as they must have already have evaluated the risks etc to come to their conclusion. Unless of course they have reached that conclusion for another reason. As I say I may be wrong but 23 years no incidents and now a request for a report that MUST reach a specific conclusion! Sounds a bit fishy to me (and I aren't talking about the contents of Baldric's apple crumble!)

Posted By Steve M Granger We differ, I frequently tell people what to find in their conclusions..... .... because I know who the reasonable man really is and he dosen't live in Clapham anymore, and he certainally doesn't travel by pubic transport anymore.... ..... he's gone upmarket because of all the claims he has collected... ;-( Steve