Legal action considered as weekday football leagues firm gets red card
Powerplay lose Islington contract as pitch deal is handed to PlayFootball
Monday, 28th November 2016 — By Koos Couvée
Referee Leo Nieta, centre, with Paradise Boyz and Inter Mynan teams at Paradise Park football pitch
A COMPANY providing weekday football leagues is considering legal action after losing its contract with the firm running sports pitches in Islington.
Powerplay, which runs six-a-side leagues at Market Road, Holloway School and Paradise Park, in Holloway, sent emails to the 130 teams on its books in Islington saying bookings on pitches run by social enterprise GLL will end next month.
GLL, which operates sports facilities on behalf of Islington Council, said it is switching to PlayFootball, which is accredited by the Football Association, and “more closely aligned to GLL’s ethos and values”.
Leo Nieta, who referees the Tuesday and Thursday leagues at Paradise Park, said: “I’m shocked. I have been here 10 years. It’s not going to be the same without the teams.”
Powerplay head Craig Davies said: “Without any due process or consultation with us or the teams, they have taken this decision. It’s taking away the choice of the customer.”
The firm is considering legal action over what it says could amount to breaches in procurement and competition law.
But GLL said it is not required to undertake a competitive tendering process as it is not a local authority. A spokeswoman added: “Leagues operated by PlayFootball will continue at the same venues. We will also be improving access to football at a grassroots level through additional community and coaching programmes.”
PlayFootball urged teams in existing leagues to sign up in the coming weeks.
