Published: 30 March, 2013

• I AM the child welfare officer for Regent’s Park FC and The Heath FC.  

As reported (Row over kids frozen out by teams cap rule, May 23) the Camden and Regent’s Park Youth League has kicked 110 local children out of the league, a move which the league said was “regrettable but fair”.  

How can it be fair to say to children who play in a league, sorry, we cut your places so some other kids from some other clubs who don’t play in the league can have your places?

On April 23 the league wrote that it was imposing a cap of 18 teams per club.

Is it fair to say no club can have more than 18 teams, then cut Regent’s Park FC from 16 teams to nine and The Heath FC from nine teams to five? This isn’t a cap it’s a cut.

Is it fair for an unelected league committee which includes the owner of Pro Touch Soccer Academy, a large club that plays in the league, to decide on short notice it would impose a cap which badly affects rival clubs, with no consultation or a vote of all the clubs?

Regent’s Park FC and the Heath FC are well-run local clubs, providing employment to 25 local coaches and concessions to over 100 local children who do not pay full fees.

How can it be fair to give the teams’ places to other clubs?

Danielle Houliston
Child Welfare Officer
Regents Park FC and
The Heath FC