MUDDY footballers have complained about the amount of money they pay to use a Wycombe District Council pitch when the showers don't work and the general upkeep is "shabby".

Cressex Football Club has to pay £43.50 a game to use the field in Booker for the Sunday Combination League and says this is much more than other councils in South Bucks charge.

The council has given the team a £6 rebate because of the showers and said the club can have their last game of the season free.

But Cressex FC's Greg Whitford said this isn't good enough. "If you play up at Beaconsfield you pay £38.50 or if you go to a ground in Slough and Maidenhead it's only £25," he added. "It's getting to be a very expensive sport and the council aren't helping anybody."

On February 3, all three pitches were being used at Booker, which meant there were 90 muddy footballers trying to use the three working showers out of 15.

Mr Whitford, a 34-year-old school caretaker, added: "Apart from the unfair prices from Wycombe District Council, we are not getting what we pay for.

"They seem to look after the cricket pitches more than the football and they even charge the little kids' teams £20 to play on the small pitches on The Rye, and they have to provide their own goal posts.

"That's the worst thing: the council, as well as ripping off the adult teams are ripping off little kids."

Mr Whitford said the Government wants to promote sport but Wycombe is charging too much for grounds and teams could fold due to debts.

A spokesman for Wycombe District Council said: "Wycombe District Council would like to report that its pitches have always been well maintained.

"The cost of the service provided compares very competitively with other pitches in the area. In the case that weather conditions cause concern with the use of the fields, a full decision to play is given to the game referees.

"The council is aware of the shower problem and is currently involved in resolving the matter with Thames Water."