WITNEY United Football Club has been stripped of its right to sell alcohol after police took action over alleged violence, drugs and underage drinking.
West Oxfordshire District Council revoked its premises license today after Thames Valley Police sought a review over disorder from private parties. It now hopes to get a new license.
Officers listed 84 alleged crimes and incidents at the Polythene UK Stadium, Downs Road, in the last five years, with officers attending each. Officers warned it could lead to a death.
The review was sparked by a September 17 call out, where officers found a 16-year-old boy unconscious from alcohol and another semi-conscious from a ketamine drug overdose.
There was no licensed door staff and broken glass and vomit in the toilets, police said.
A fight involving four to five people was reported on August 14 and a caller alleged his daughter was assaulted on September 4.
Chairman Steve Lake said he was “disappointed” at police action and pledged to bid for a new premises license, which also allows recorded and live music.
The license is expected to expire at the end of the month but Mr Lake said he hopes to get a temporary license so alcohol can still be served in its club members’ bar for games.
Yet he said it will not apply for a temporary license for its function room, the centre of the controversy, meaning there will be no alcohol and music events in January and February.
Police and councillors backed the club applying for two licenses instead of one, for the bar and function room.
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