‘It’s absolutely everywhere’: Dog owners urged to pick up waste after football coach’s poo patrol near Horsham

Dog owners are being urged to pick up after their four legged friends after a village football coach said his team had to carry out a ‘poo patrol’.
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Assistant coach of Broadbridge Heath under 16s, Julian Smith, hit out at ‘selfish and lazy’ dog foulers in the village.

He said poo was ‘absolutely everywhere’ and had blighted not just the village pitch but also the two pitches at Broadbridge Heath FC’s new ground.

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The 52-year-old added: “It’s ridiculous. It’s all over the place.

Secretary and coach Matt Wright, who Julian said is the main poo collectorSecretary and coach Matt Wright, who Julian said is the main poo collector
Secretary and coach Matt Wright, who Julian said is the main poo collector

“It’s awful. Out of control.”

Players and coaches spend five to ten minutes before each training session searching for poo and keep an eye out for any dodgy droppings during matches, Julian said.

He added: “You’re constantly on patrol right through the session picking up as you go. It’s just not on. It’s pretty appalling.

“This is not the 70s. If you can’t clean up after your dog then you don’t deserve to own one!”

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Julian said it is a growing problem and is impacting Broadbridge Heath FC’s new ground which was opened last year.

He called for the council to install dog waste bins to encourage people to pick up after their pets.

A Horsham District Council spokeswoman said: “The Council takes reports of this nature very seriously, thank you for bringing it to our attention.

“We will inspect the areas in question in order to assess the need for additional bins as a matter of priority.”