Five-a-side vision for FB kicked out for final time

Friday 03 December 2021

A former Muratti footballer’s bid to transform unused netball courts at FB Fields into football pitches has come to an end.

James Scott, the Manager of the Parishes of Jersey Football Club and owner of JsFives, had hoped to transform the netball courts at FB Fields, which were resurfaced in 2015 and haven’t been in use since.

Mr Scott was hoping to lease the facility from the Government with the facility being made available for free for local schools, with islanders and sports club able to hire it.

More than 3,000 people signed a petition backing his bid, but Planning was not supportive, stating concerns about noise impact on neighbours and overuse of the already pressured car park.

Yesterday, the application came before the Planning Committee – a panel of politicians tasked with reviewing major and more contentious development proposals – who refused it.

Explaining on social media that this was the “end of the road” for his FB Fields vision, he stated that Jersey is still in “desperate” need of a five-a-side facility and said he would do “all I can to make it happen”.

2/2 Sorry football community. I honestly done all I possible could.

Jersey is still in desperate of a 5-a-side football facility.

I will continue to do all I can to make it happen, even if it’s nothing to do with me.

Thanks to you all for the unbelievable support from day one.

— JS (@JamesScottJS) December 2, 2021

“Thanks to you all for the unbelievable support from day one,” he added.