A FOOTBALL club chairman who says his team’s facilities are “decrepit” and “embarrassing” is urging residents to vote in favour of a new community centre.

Sean Qualter, chairman of Rose Hill Football Club, told the Oxford Mail his team would benefit from new facilities and an improved centre would give the potential for other teams to be set up.

The 42-year-old said that although his team won its league, the dilapidated facilities prevented them from progressing.

His club plays in the Oxford City Premier League and has just one adult team.

It has 25 players and up to 50 people support them at games. Last season, the side won the league and cup double, winning the county junior cup for the first time in 60 years.

The club should have been promoted to the Oxfordshire Senior League, but did not apply due to its facilities.

Mr Qualter, who grew up in Rose Hill, said they were not equipped to have any youth or girls’ teams.

He added: “We have just had a regenerated housing estate, we need a regenerated community centre too.

“We won the league last year – we could have gone up – but the facilities are not up to scratch.

“We have got cold showers, no heating and brown water coming out of the taps.

“Our changing rooms are decrepit.

“It should have been done a long time ago.”

He added: “I am embarrassed to invite teams down.”

Rose Hill residents will vote on Saturday, November 17 on whether they would like a new community centre or refurbishment of the existing one in The Oval.

A new community centre would mean new changing rooms and changing facilities for referees at the proposed site in Ashhurst Way beside the Cooperative Nursery, next to the club’s pitch.

It would bring several services under one roof including the social club, advice centre, sports pavilion and youth club and could be built by 2015. The existing community centre could be used to provide housing, including affordable homes.

The other option is to refurbish the existing community centre, which would mean the pavilion and advice centre would remain where they are.

Mr Qualter said: “If the refurbishment went ahead we would be stuck with a pavilion and God knows how long the refurbishment will take.”

He added: “For me a new community centre is ideal. I understand people’s fear, but that fear is based on change.

“Change is what it is crying out for.”

Oxford City Council sent surveys to 1,663 Rose Hill homes and the feedback has informed plans for the proposed new centre.

Councillor Ed Turner, deputy leader of the city council and ward member for Rose Hill and Iffley, said: “The responses are being used to reflect the design of the proposed new building and will help inform the council’s decision regarding a new building or refurbishing.”

Residents can make their choice at Rose Hill Fun Day on Saturday, November 17, from 10am to 8pm.

The council has organised a series of public exhibitions this month for residents to view plans of the proposed new community facility.

WHERE TO SEE THE PLANS

Residents can view the plans on:

Monday, November 12

5-8pm, Rose Hill Community Centre

Tuesday, November 13

3-5pm, Rose Hill Community Centre

Wednesday, November 14

9am-noon,Rose Hill and Donnington Advice Centre

Thursday, November 15

11.30am-2pm, Rose Hill Children’s Centre