WORCESTER City Council has revealed that it has bought new goals and is currently renovating its football pitches. 

The update came after it was revealed that council-owned football pitches had gone up by 15% since 2019. 

Revealed in a freedom of information request to Worcester City Council, the price for a senior team to play on a council-owned pitch has gone up from £47 in 2019 to £54.80 in 2024. 

A Worcester City Council spokesperson said: “Fees & Charges are approved each year by Council and are increased in line with inflation to ensure that where appropriate the increased costs of providing a non-statutory service such as the provision and maintenance of football pitches are met from the additional income it generates.

“The Council has recently invested in new goals and are in the process of renovating the pitches over the summer ready for the start of the new season.”

Whilst many football teams we spoke to did understand why the prices had gone up, some had said the quality of the pitches no longer justified the price.

Josh Jones, player and club secretary at DC United who play at Perdiswell Sports Centre said: "Sadly the prices to play football have been going up which is not ideal. 

"We have to pay around £60 a game and that has had a knock-on effect for the players as we have had to increase the subs."