Dubbed the ‘Field of Dreams’, Tarvin Athletic Football Club have had some great moments on their home pitch.

But the cost of keeping the immaculate turf in shape means the youngsters might have to find another place to play.

Owner Johnny Walker, who used to coach the U11 Tarvin Rockets side, has put the site up for sale.

He said the financial drain of maintaining the pitch had become too much as he approached retirement.

Mr Walker said: “I’m getting to that age and it just takes up all my time, I’ve done it all my life.

“My son played on the pitch and it holds a lot of great memories for me.

“It’s upsetting to sell it, but I’ve got to take the tough decision sometime.”

Johnny was the coach of the team when he put his own money into buying the land off Ashton Lane in Ashton back in 2009. For years before the Rockets had no home turf to call their own.

But the 62-year-old said for every £5 he put in to maintaining the pitch he got £1 back.

Johnny said: “I’ve spoken to the club and I felt awful telling them, I would love it if they could get a consortium together to buy it.

“At the very least it would be nice if whoever buys it could keep it within the club.”

A staunch Manchester United supporter, Mr Walker called in former United striker Brian McClair to the grand opening of the pitch. His brother even built the clubhouse.

The former coach said his ‘field of dreams’ was named after Old Trafford, known as the Theatre of Dreams, but also because of what it represented for the Rockets.

The site has been listed for £150,000 on Rightmove by the estate agents Wright Marshall.

'It will be a great shame if we have to move away'

Tarvin AFC said they ‘would love’ to keep the ground as there is already a shortage of pitches for teams across the borough.

Club secretary Mark Staker said: “For the last few years, we have been fortunate enough to use the Field of Dreams as one of our home pitches and training venues.

“We firmly believe that this is one of the best pitches in the area and it will be a great shame if we have to move away from there.

“There are limited pitches within the Cheshire West and Chester area, and we are already stretched.

“Tarvin AFC would love to keep the pitch within the club, however we are not run as a business, and operate through the effort of a small number of volunteers.”

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