FC Groningen, GRC and Groen Geel are no further forward with the redistribution of space at Corpus den Hoorn sports park. This new season will also make do.
That is an ugly setback for the amateur clubs who hoped for more field capacity in the evenings. It happens that training sessions are canceled because FC Groningen has the right to claim space. Tensions have risen in recent years over the shared use of the sports park.
‘More space for recreational sport’
As the owner of the Corpus den Hoorn sports complex, the municipality spoke to all parties. Several parties in the city council are disappointed with the outcome. According to CDA council member Jalt de Haan, the amateur clubs already assumed in their training schedules for this season that priority rules would apply to them in the evenings. “Earlier this year, the municipality indicated that it is opting for more space for grassroots sports on ‘Corpus’, but FC Groningen is not ready. It comes back to the same thing. Take control and then FC Groningen can jump high on low. Priority rules will have to apply.”
VVD member Rik Heiner also believes that recreational sport should have an edge as agreed. “Now all of a sudden the rules of the game seem to have changed. We don’t understand why this is happening.”
Alderman Inge Jongman (ChristenUnie) calls a new division of the fields ‘a very complicated puzzle in which things also turn out slightly differently than expected. We thought that the Caribe baseball and softball club was ready to leave. We could have freed up some space with that. On reflection, the club does not want to leave. We are looking for solutions, but that takes a little more time. Do you believe me. We’re on top of it. We are also working on this this summer.”
“Don’t break iron with your hands”
The alderman emphasizes that FC Groningen cannot break iron with hands. The club is investigating with the municipality the possibility of finding another training location and leaving Corpus den Hoorn. Meanwhile, the club and municipality are also looking for study space near the sports complex for youth football players. If it is found, they will spend less time traveling. In that case, training can be done faster and the fields may be available sooner.
D66 councilor Jim Lo-A-Njoe reminded the alderman of the municipal hearing earlier this year with all users of the sports park. ,, Here and also during other sessions, expectations have been raised among the amateur associations. A new priority scheme would be used in the new football season. That is not happening and that is very disappointing.”
Jongman promises to return to the matter in September. The amateur associations will express their disappointment in a letter and what is needed to improve the situation for them. At the moment they do not feel the need to make public statements about this.