Calls for football goalposts to be erected on The Heath have been made by Petersfield Cricket Club.
The club complains that youngsters damage the outfield at the club while kicking a ball about and use their sightscreens as makeshift goals.
It would like to see a goal mouth installed on The Heath to give the footballers the chance to play in a s
pecified facility away from the cricket pitch.
However, Petersfield Town Council have rejected the proposal, saying the Heath is no place for goalposts.
Club secretary Dee Salmon, said: "There are a number of youths that are meeting on our pitches to play football, as it is a nice flat area.
"Unfortunately for us this is not ideal, especially as they are then using our sight-screens as goals.
"This is causing damage to our property."
She added: "It is with this in mind that we are making the request for the council to consider mowing another area and putting up a goal so that these youths have an area to play football.
"We do not want to discourage them meeting and playing football in any way, we are just wanting to protect our property."
Councillors straight-batted the proposal at Monday night's Grounds Committee meeting.
Councillor Dave Bowers said: "I think the Heath should be left as a Heath and not become another playing field. I can appreciate the cricket club's problem with people damaging the outfield but I don't think putting a goal post up would benefit The Heath."
The council plans to erect goalposts on The Avenue playing fields in the future and hoped youngsters will move their game from the cricket club to this new facility in the future.
An idea to place a sign on the cricket pitches surrounds inviting football players to move to The Avenue was rejected.
The full article contains 312 words and appears in PP-Post Edition newspaper.
