Network Rail has come to the rescue of a junior South Wales football club by returning 12 footballs to them that had been kicked from the pitch, which is next to the railway, and stuck in hedges on railway property.

The footballs were collected by a customer complaints team at Network Rail and returned to Portskewett and Sudbrook Junior Football Club in Caldicot, South Wales.

The club was established in 2019 and now has nearly 200 members. It makes no charge to play for children aged between three and eight and provides highly subsidised access for children aged nine to 16.

The club runs on a shoestring budget, with its coaches and committee members all volunteers. Recently, an arson attack destroyed hundreds of pounds worth of equipment so collecting the footballs and returning them to the club was a lifeline as each 12-pack of footballs cost £80, and the club spends £900 on footballs each year.

The club had previously asked Network Rail if the coaches could be granted access to the railway so that they could safely collect the footballs while being monitored.

However, safety is Network Rail’s number one priority, so the customer complaints team offered to collect the balls for them. They have also promised to continue helping the club every four months by collecting and returning any lost balls found within the railway boundary.

While the team were collecting the footballs, they also tidied up some hedgerows that were encroaching from the railway onto the football pitch and repaired a lineside fence that contributed to the pitch becoming waterlogged during heavy rain.

Barry Hadley, infrastructure maintenance protection coordinator at Network Rail, who organised the football collection, said: “We are really happy to have helped this junior football club in Caldicot. We had no idea that there were that many footballs stuck in the hedges!

“Our job is to maintain a safe and reliable railway and to also be a good neighbour; if that means returning footballs and trimming back some vegetation so a community can continue to play football, then I say that’s a job well done.”

Secretary of State for Wales and Member of Parliament for Monmouth, The Rt Hon David TC Davies, contacted Network Rail and stressed the importance of the club to the community. The MP also attended a visit to the club with Network Rail to see the balls returned.

Mr Davies commented: “I am really proud of the work carried out by Network Rail; it’s fantastic that they are happy to support the community by helping this junior football club.

“Not only have Network Rail helped on this occasion, but they have committed to returning three times a year to return footballs and help maintain the pitch by trimming back hedges from the railway.”

Michael Panacci, secretary at Portskewett & Sudbrook FC, added: “With the support of Network Rail, we have been able to make savings on match and training ball purchases. Last season the club spent over £900 on footballs, which for a grassroots football club, is a lot of expense.

“Also to note, that due to the pro-active work that has been completed by Network Rail, the condition of the pitch has improved by the new fence as it has helped prevent the pitch from becoming waterlogged.”