Markinch youngsters might have no choice but to play with jumpers for goalposts, as Fife Council refuses to erect goalposts in John Dixon Park.
Almost a month into the new football season, the goalposts have yet to be returned to the park after their customary annual removal for the Highland games.
There is already an outcry, as hundreds of local people and visitors use the park to play football.
Prominent local sports figure Shane Fenton said: “Fife Council are depriving kids of the chance to play football. This will definitely cause problems without football kids will just hang around.”
Jim Leitch, team leader at Fife Council, said: “John Dixon Park has many facilities within it including a pavilion, multi-use games arena, playpark and grass football pitch.
“The multi-use games area has goal and basketball pitches marked out and are well used in all weathers by the local community.
“The council’s budget means we’re unfortunately in the position that we can’t automatically put up posts on all pitches across Fife.
“We have to balance use with cost. We’ve not reinstated the goal posts at John Dixon Park as we’ve had no applications from football teams to use the pitch this season. If a request is made then replacement posts will be put up.”
Several residents have voiced their opinion about the situation.
Lyall Chapman said: “That is a sad state of affairs, that there seems to be no interest in football these days.”
John Leitch said: “Put the goals up. The council should be encouraging young ones to play football in the park and not roam the streets.”
Mr Fenton added: “Fife Council are showing a total disregard and disrespect to the football-loving people of Markinch. I’ve stayed in Markinch all my life and can’t recall a year when the goals weren’t up for the start of the new season and that’s whether there was organised football on the park or not, and there has been many years when there has been no organised teams.”