Gloucestershire is unlikely to produce the next Wayne Rooney - or even the next Gary Doherty for that matter - any time soon, after residents were told to report kids playing footie in the streets to the rozzers.
Credit: Gloucestershire Police
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Police have been labelled 'ridiculous' by residents, after making a request to call authorities if kids are spotted playing football in the street. It isn't clear yet whether the same goes for futsal, football tennis, normal tennis or the Eton wall game (I've checked, and there are walls in Linden).
There were 172 reported crimes in Linden in August 2017, 39 of which were for antisocial behaviour, but whether football in the streets is responsible is less clear.
Credit: PA
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Though bound to raise the hackles of many, it's hoped the clamp down will help soften the numbers of anti-social behaviour crimes, and the local police force have sent a letter around to residents telling them to report 'street soccer' (actual street soccer, not the FIFA varieties) by dialling 101, the non-emergency police number.
The letter notes that street football can potentially damage cars, while also putting children in danger of oncoming traffic. It adds: "We will be increasing patrols and giving road safety advice to children we see playing in the road. This has been brought to the attention of the police and if this continues further action could be taken."
Credit: PA
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Linden resident Richard Mace, however told Gloucestershire Live: "I find this absolutely ridiculous and a sad confirmation of the time we live in. Parents spend half their lives trying to encourage their children to go out and play and as soon as they do, you get neighbours complaining to put them back inside again.
"These aren't drug dealers, or thugs, they are young children enjoying playing outside their house in safe distance from their home. The idea of a ball making a mark, or dent on a car is also ridiculous. A sad reflection of modern times."
Here is a video of Doherty (the early noughties' closest equivalent to Pele - ahem) scoring a frankly ridiculous goal at Wembley against Arsenal. Sorry, boys and girls of Linden. THIS WILL NEVER BE YOU.
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Words: Ronan O'Shea
Topics: uk news