The V Festival has hit a bum note with local sport as clubs face a weekend of player shortages.
The two-day festival is held at Weston Park in Staffordshire, proving popular for hundreds of Welshpool area residents that make an annual pilgrimage to see the world’s biggest rock bands live.
But this year, more than ever, local sport has been affected with team numbers depleted across the football and cricket leagues, with one team even cancelling their match.
Six Guilsfield first team footballers are attending, however manager Mike Barton has convinced two – Ross Frame and Gareth Jones – to join up with their team mates after they have played Rhos Aelwyd on Saturday. The problem is such in the village that the Reserves made a request over a month ago to cancel their season opener this weekend as seven are attending V.
“To be honest, we face this problem every year but not as bad as this year,” said Barton. “Maybe next year clubs should look at kicking off on a Friday night on the V weekend or something?”
Llanfair and Four Crosses are another two of the many local football clubs without players, and cricket has been hit too.
One not affected by the V Festival though is Montgomery who are in FAW Trophy action this weekend.
Manager Clive McNamee joked: “V Festival? We should be so lucky! But I am missing one for Montgomery Show if that counts?”