But St Peter's Celtic's junior teams returned from a seven-week winter lay off to find their pitch in Kenilworth Road covered in mole hills.

Determined to get their season's back up and running the players, parents and coaches came out in force on Saturday to flatten the ground so the Under-12 Junior team could play their next match against Kenilworth Wardens Colts.

Ian Fletcher, the Under-12 Juniors and academy manager, said: "We are a grass roots club with a community spirit and a lot of good will from parents who help out.

"We rely heavily on the support of volunteers and without that help we couldn't run the teams.

"But the moles have made it difficult to sustain the pitch and good will only goes so far."

The club has a 100-year lease on the ground, which allows four of the junior teams to use it for free rather than pay to rent other pitches.

But if the mounds keep appearing the teams may have to move elsewhere to avoid health and safety issues.

A mole catcher has been hired to solve the problem in a humane way but the creatures can be hard to scare off.

Mr Fletcher said: "We aim to be one of the cheapest clubs to play for and to keep our costs low.

"We are looking to improve our facilities as much as possible but any money for that is being diverted into mole damage.

"It would be a shame to stop playing on that pitch, it is our home ground."

Despite the concerns Mr Fletcher's team are top of the Mid-Warwickshire Junior League Division Two with a goal difference of more than plus 70.
Their match was played on Sunday and they won 4-1.

Mr Fletcher said: "I'm chuffed to bits, we're playing brilliantly.

"We've got great support, at least one member of each player's family comes to the games."

St Peter's Celtic's junior teams are always looking for new players.
Call 07743 212025.