TRADESMEN and football players keep getting a town's two football clubs mixed up.

A 30-tonne pile of road chippings has been left at the Abingdon Town ground, in Culham Road, Abingdon, even though they were ordered by Abingdon United who wanted to resurface their car park in Northcourt Road at the other end of town.

And, a few weeks ago, an away team arrived at Abingdon United and started stripping off in the changing rooms.

It was only then that they discovered they were at the wrong club.

John Blackmore, general manager of Abingdon United FC, said people were always getting the two clubs mixed up. Sand ordered by United was delivered to the Town ground and photographers have arrived at the wrong ground wanting to take team pictures. Mr Blackmore said: "We asked for the chippings and were waiting at our car park for most of the day but no-one showed up.

"They turned up at the Town ground.

"One of the clubs is in the north and one is in the south - they are miles away," he said.

Abingdon United has ordered another load of chippings and the two clubs are trying to sort out the problem. Phil Evans, chairman of Abingdon Town FC, said: "I went down to the ground early in the morning and, as I came in the gate, I saw the back end of a lorry up in the air and wondered what was going on.

"The driver gave me a delivery note with our name on it. Now we're left with about £80 of chippings that we don't need."

Story date: Thursday 17 February

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