WITH the great British bank holiday weather being predictably wet, you would have thought the last thing footballers needed was something to make the pitch more slippery.
Grey skies and drizzle may have been the order of the day on Good Friday, but players in one Southampton park had to cope with damp conditions underfoot too.
After seeing hundreds of youngsters larking about on a sun-soaked waterfootball pitch in the Cypriot resort of Ayia Napa, businessman Daniel Smith and his friend Darren Weston decided to bring the fun to his neighbourhood in Millbrook.
As its unveiling in Mansel Park yesterday, scores of footballers of all ages took the chance to try out the inflatable arena, the first of its kind in the UK.
Slipping and sliding all over the place, the players spent more time on their backsides than on the ball.
Darren Weston, left, and Daniel Smith
Crowds of supporters surrounded the 20ft pitch to cheer on the players from Bush Hill Football Club, who were enjoying a water-soaked game of football.
Daniel, 26, said there were opportunities to get the game set up in other parts of the country but chose instead to do it here.
“We chose to put something back into the community where we're from. It's about getting the children active and out of the house away from the TV.
“We thought it would be something good for the community,” he added.
Despite the inclement weather Ryan Biffin, 26, from Barters Close had roped in some of his friends to take part.
“To be fair I think it's a bit more fun with a bit of rain. Every single one of my mates loved it. They were all laughing and joking about it. We will definitely be doing it again.”
Eugene McManus, landlord of The Saints pub, said: “It's a great bit of fun, a fantastic addition to the facilities. From a spectator's point of view there's a lot of entertainment if you like slapstick and seeing people fall over.”
Shane Dawson, from Lordswood, was with his wife Kellie watching their son Charlie on the pitch.
He said: “It's brilliant. There's bodies all over the place. It doesn't hurt because it's soft ground. They're really getting into it.”
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