A DIRTY donation by Wolves FC to help young footballers could cause some less-than neighbourly mud-slinging in Gornal.

Trouble is brewing after Dudley Council approved plans to build two children's football pitches on overgrown tennis courts at Baggeridge Social Welfare Centre.

The centre, which is also known as Baggeridge Miners' Club, will construct the pitches using high quality top soil worth £100,000 donated by twice-relegated Wolverhampton Wanderers FC.

However Gornal ward councillor Tim Wright, who stood down as a trustee of the centre so he could object to the plan, says the decision has sown the seeds for a row.

Cllr Wright said: "When I had my last surgery I heard a considerable amount of concern from residents. I was not against the facilities, it is the time they are being used - it seems a little bit over the top."

Planners gave permission for the pitches to operate at the centre, which is on The Straits, from 10am to 8pm Monday to Saturday and 10am to 6pm on Sundays.

Cllr Wright argues nearby residents who are worried about noise and nuisance from players and supporters will not hold back if their peace and quiet is disturbed.

He said: "There is a little bit of ill-feeling, they have told me if anything at the club annoys them they will complain to the council. The club could have been a little bit more neighbourly.

"I am sympathetic to the neighbours, they haven't done anything wrong, some neighbours feel ridden roughshod over."

Gornal councillor Dave Branwood, a trustee of Baggeridge Social Welfare Centre, said: “Every couple of years Wolverhampton Wanderers replace their own pitch and in early April they offered Baggeridge Social Welfare Club 600 tonnes of top soil free of charge.

"The topsoil on offer is Premier League quality soil which is mixed with tiny synthetic fibres of elastic."

Cllr Branwood says the pitches will be among the best in the country and the club understands residents' concerns.

He said: "The pitch will be on private land out of sight of the road and the club itself is a private members club only open to members or their guests.

"The pitch will only be used for organised children’s football matches at approved times."