FOOTBALLERS were struggling to find places to play matches a decade ago.

Among those affected were youngsters from Elderslie Wallace, as well as a team which used to be based at a Johnstone pub.

George Anderson, who coached both teams, told how being prevented from playing games on the pitch at the town’s McMaster Centre was causing real problems.

He was particularly concerned about the future of Millbrae FC, which had been asked to go straight into the Premier Division of the Renfrewshire Sunday Amateurs League after romping to the Second Division title in their debut season.

The team, which included former St Mirren captain Tommy Turner, had suffered a double blow when the Millbrae Inn, in Johnstone, closed and players were told the pitch at the McMaster Centre was out of bounds.

At the time, former Johnstone Burgh coach George said: “Millbrae won the league with five points to spare and we were asked to go straight into the Premier Division because we were so good.

“Now we are having to play our games in Lochwinnoch – but that’s not always possible if the weather is bad. We are having to play some of our home games at different locations.

"We haven’t been able to find a suitable park to call home and the pub has also closed down.

“We have been offered pitches in Paisley but we are a Johnstone side, so we don’t want to play in Paisley.

“It has been difficult to maintain the players’ morale at this time and we have lost three players to teams in the Saturday league.”