A TEAM of young footballers fears it may be forced to disband because of council charges for the use of a playing field.

Ainslie Wood FC was formed in 2007 by Robin Philpott, of Cranston Gardens, Chingford.

The team, whose players' average age is 19, has been holding its summer training sessions on public playing fields behind Salisbury Hall, in Chingford.

But council officials have now told the team it has to pay to use the fields, which do not even have any goal posts or markings on them.

Mr Philpott said: “We don’t want to have to waste fuel and increase the Co2 in the atmosphere, in having to drive out of the borough to find somewhere to play football on a Wednesday night and on top of it not all our players would be able to attend training.

“It is odd that this borough is going against many of the government's goals, such as decreasing pollution, and improving health and youth activity.

 “We aren’t bothering anybody; we aren’t swearing or being rude, dropping litter or anything else anti social.

“We are simply training, getting fitter and improving our skills, it’s something I thought the government and this borough would approve of, especially with the London Olympics not far away.”

The team already pays to hire an astro turf pitch in the winter and a pitch on Wanstead Flats for its matches.

Mr Philpott said: “In the current recession and due to the age group of our team, we don’t have endless amounts of money and get by on a shoe string budget.

“We are just looking to use the public playing fields in summer for pre-season training.

“With kit fees, equipment fees and league costs, there wouldn’t be a team if we have to pay every time we set foot on a local field.”

The Guardian is awaiting a response from the council.