‘Sir Les’ Ferdinand at Finsbury Leisure Centre on Wednesday

ENGLAND football legend Les Ferdinand has joined the fight to save pitches from redevelopment as he told how the beautiful game helped keep youngsters off the streets.

After a kick-about at the Finsbury Leisure Centre on Wednesday evening, the former QPR and Newcastle United striker led excited ­children, parents and coaches on a march around the pitches to chants of “SOS” – “save our spaces, save our sports, save our sanity”.

The pitches have long been earmarked for redevelopment by Islington Council, but campaigners say they will fight to the final whistle to save them.

Between signing football boots and balls, Mr Ferdinand told the Tribune: “It’s vitally important that kids have this kind of space.

Young footballers join the fight to save the pitches from redevelopment

“I grew up in an area like this where we had a facility, and one estate would play against another estate.”

He added:  “Nowadays they haven’t got these facilities, and you’re seeing more and more boys standing on street corners looking for something to do, and that unfortunately gets them into violence.

“We talk about knife crime and I think that’s down to the fact that these facilities are closing down all over – not just here, but all over London.”

Mr Ferdinand, who also had a spell at Spurs, added: “Just look at look at these little kids. They’ll turn into teenagers, and they’ll still be playing here. That’s what you hope.”

Eamon Gately and Harsha Chavda

Plans to replace the pitches with a 20-storey block of flats, a GP surgery and new leisure centre – with smaller football facilities on the roof – are currently being considered by the council’s own planning experts.

The new development would include 100 homes at social rent, and 98 for private rent in order to pay for them.

There is desperate need for housing in Islington, where there are about 15,000 people on the waiting list, many of whom are currently living in temporary accommodation outside the borough.

The City of London Football Club is one major user of the pitches, with 14 teams and around 200 young players, many touting placards and marching with Mr Ferdinand on Wednesday night.

Eva Guerra of EC1 Voices at the event on Wednesday

Of Mr Ferdinand’s involvement, head coach Eamon Gately said: “For a person like himself to come down and support us, it’s massive. They’re pushing kids from these football pitches out onto the streets. The kids have a purpose here, they enjoy and believe in something, and the council are going to take that away – at least for two or three years. Where do they want us to go?”

Harsha Chavda, who lives in nearby Burn Hill House, has been opposing the redevelopment of this area for more than a decade. She said: “They don’t care about the football, they just want the flats up. I know they need housing, but it will put the existing social housing into fuel poverty.”

Ms Chavda was referring to the fact that the development will reduce the amount of natural light reaching surrounding flats.

Former Newcastle United striker Les Ferdinand was mobbed by young footballers

Francis, another neighbour, suggested that the council’s ability to demolish the pitches speaks to flaws in planning policy itself.

He said: “It’s worrying to see that they cannot protect this social infrastructure, even though every single policy that the council has says we need more of these green spaces, we need more playing pitches.

“And yet where we have it – in a place where it’s probably most needed – they say, oh, we could building housing on it.”

Mr Ferdinand was given an MBE in 2006 but is affectionately known as “Sir Les” by fans.

A before and after montage made by campaigners

WHAT THE COUNCIL SAYS

AN Islington Council spokesperson said: “Subject to planning permission, this project will deliver 100 new council homes, 98 homes for sale to help pay for them, an NHS GP medical centre and new leisure facilities.

“Residents are strongly encouraged to submit their comments on the planning application on the Islington Council website.

“As the applicant, we have carefully considered the layout of the new buildings to minimise the impact on our neighbours.

“The new 5/6-a-side rooftop football pitches will be high-quality, built to FA standard specifications, and include a spectator area.”