THE atrocious summer weather has left foot-ballers in Darwen facing an uncertain season.

Incessant rain has meant a £750,000 revamp of Black-snape playing fields remains unfinished.

The drainage system, changing pavilion and improved 11-a-side pitches are ready, but an irrigation system has been delayed and waterlogging has left some pitches unplayable.

Last week all matches, involving 13 local teams, had to be cancelled.

Members of the clubs said council bosses told them initially that the pitches would be unavailable all season.

But they have now been told they will be assessed on a month-by-month basis.

Coun Michael Law-Riding, executive member for leisure and culture said: “Most of the football pitches at Blacksnape are available, subject to acceptable ground and playing conditions, mainly weather.

“Two pitches will not be available until next season due to the installation of an irrigation system.”

The general manager of Darwen Rangers Junior Football Club, Bill Stemp, said: “The reports I get from people who have been up there are that it’s a real mess, especially with the wet weather we’ve been having.

“It doesn’t fill us with any confidence going on a month-by-month basis.

“For the past few years we have had to play ‘home’ games on away grounds because Blacksnape has been closed.

“There are now lovely changing room facilities up there, but they are useless without pitches.

“A lot of my managers are very disappointed.”

Other teams using the pitches are Blue Star, Crown Paints/Akzo Nobel and Darwen Spartans.

The Football Foundation gave £525,600 to the revamp project, which was topped up with £100,500 from Section 106 funds from housing developers and £130,800 from Blackburn with Darwen Council.

In the first two weeks of August, a month’s rain fell in East Lancashire, while July saw almost double the amount as normal.

As a result, many summer festivals in East Lancashire had to be cancelled, including the Royal Lancs and Trawden shows.