Bill Bridge: Otley will keep on digging in hope of settling issue of allotment ownership

Otley Rugby Union Football Club, founded in 1865, nine-times winners of the Yorkshire Cup and hosts of the famous match in 1979 in which the North of England beat the touring All Blacks, contest that a plot of just over two acres behind the goalposts at the end of their Cross Green ground, now occupied by small-holdings, belongs to them but Otley Town Council insist that the land is owned by the local authority.

Retired commercial barrister John Walton, an Otley RUFC member who lives at Rotherham, has been investigating the question of ownership on behalf of the club and believes that the confusion has arisen because of the incompetence of council officials.

"Otley bought the ground which houses the playing surface, the club house and car park and the land beyond the far posts with the help of a grant from the Rugby Football Union in 1922. According to the Land Registry the land remains ours," he said.

"In May 1940 our ground was requisitioned under the Emergency Powers Act for the growing of food for the war effort. The pitch was maintained for use in rugby matches involving the Army and Royal Air Force but the land beyond the posts was used as allotments, most of them worked by members of the club.

"At the end of the war, the vast majority of football grounds which had been taken over by the government – including Elland Road, Bradford Park Avenue, Hillsborough and Bramall Lane – were returned to their clubs but, for some reason, the old West Riding County Council took control of the strip of land which should have been passed back to the rugby club.

"I don't think the WRCC ever did anything to assert ownership, I do not think they considered it at all. Perhaps all the allotment holders in 1945 were members of the club and thought it had already been returned."

Since 1945 local government has undergone several changes with first the West Yorkshire County Council then Leeds Metropolitan Borough Council taking over the Otley land. Leeds later delegated authority to Otley Town Council.

Today the site is the only allotment in Otley where livestock is permitted; it consists of 29 livestock plots plus nine non-livestock units and is home to chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese and homing pigeons.

"We have asked to meet a representative of Otley Town Council to resolve the ownership issue," said Walton. "We have no plans to do anything with the land once it is returned to our ownership; we would not seek payment of back rents, give anyone notice to quit or anything like that.

"We are not out to embarrass anyone, we simply want to ensure we have what is rightfully ours and that we are not punished for supporting the wartime government."

Otley have written to Coun Jim Spencer, a member of Otley Town Council, suggesting a meeting between club officials and the councillor with a view to resolving the problem.

Coun Spencer responded: "I would be more than happy to meet the rugby club people. Otley RUFC is a great ambassador for the town, the spin-off for the local economy from people who come to Otley to support visiting clubs is important and we certainly don't want to get involved in a row with them.

"We think they have simply got it wrong about the land; it will be fascinating to know why the rugby club is suddenly taking an interest in it after 80 years."

A spokesman for Leeds City Council said: "The council does not have any records to show that it owns the allotment land next to the Otley Rugby Club but is happy to work with Otley Town Council to resolve who is responsible for it."

THOSE of us involved in sport like nothing more than a party and a special day is almost upon past and present members of Hull Zingari Cricket Club who will celebrate the centenary of their arrival at the Chanterlands Avenue ground on July 11.

Zingari are the oldest cricket club in the city, having been formed in 1896 and played on Cottingham Road before moving to their present home in 1910. They field teams in the York Senior League, the East Riding Independent League, the York Intermediate League, the Newland Tuesday Evening League and have five teams in the East Yorkshire Junior League.

In addition they have three coaches working in six local primary schools under the ECB/Cricket Foundation's Chance to Shine initiative.

That represents massive commitment to cricket and to mark the anniversary they will play against an Old England XI managed by Jim Parks whose line-up is set to include, among others, Derek Randall, Jim Love, Roger Tolchard, Arnie Sidebottom, John Lever and Monte Lynch.

Zingari are aiming for a festival atmosphere with a brass band, an all-day barbecue and, of course, a beer tent. There will also be a pre-match lunch at the nearby Hull University Staff House when each table will be hosted by an Old England player. Tickets for the lunch are 25.

Entry to the ground and car park will be strictly by pre-purchased ticket with a limit of 350; contact Mike Ulyatt on 01482 657200.

and another thing...

PANIC at the Football Association over Lord Triesman's embarrassing asides about Spain and Russia quickly settled under a veil of silence, the official view apparently being on the lines of least said soonest mended.

That way, those clinging to the wreckage of the 2018 World Cup bid reckon, Sepp Blatter and his high-and-mighty colleagues on the FIFA executive committee will accept the apologies of Geoffrey Thompson, Lord Coe, the man with the flag and the bloke selling the pies.

The national rage at Lord Triesman was encapsulated, or so we are led to believe, by the great and good Gary Lineker, a true pillar of footballing society. Self-righteous Gary was so indignant at Triesman's treason he withdrew his services from the Sunday newspaper which unveiled the FA chairman's folly.

Gary has a high regard for his writing, one that is not shared by all those who have bought his organ for years and have been disappointed in recent times by its inclination towards the "personality" end of the market.

The upshot of Gary's tantrum was that yesterday morning's paper was much more enjoyable; the sports pages, a coffee and a packet of Seabrook crisps made the perfect breakfast.