Football club to the rescue

A longstanding canoe club that was ordered out of its West Midlands base has had its future secured after being rescued by a football team.

The group, which has more than 100 members, feared it might be forced to fold after landlords of its base at Aldridge Marina trebled the rent demands. But after reading about the desperate plight of Sutton Coldfield Canoe Club in the Express & Star, kind-hearted bosses at Rushall Olympic FC offered them a new home at their canalside ground.

Club committee member Sarah Witheridge said she and fellow members breathed a collective sigh of relief when they were bailed out by the Dales Lane-based footie team.

"We are all so grateful," she said.

"Rushall Olympic saw the story about our situation in the Express & Star and got in touch to see if they could help.

"We held a meeting with people from the club and managed to get everything sorted out, so now we'll have a new home near a canal.

"Everyone was quite worried about what we were going to do, because obviously we didn't have much time to find somewhere else. But the club has been very generous and we can't thank them enough."

Last night Rushall Olympic secretary Pete Athersmith and steward Stuart Perry met with Sarah and fellow committee member Peter Jovicich to celebrate the news.

Stuart said: "We saw the story in the paper and thought we might be able to help.

"Obviously they were in a difficult situation, so we're really pleased that we're in position to do something."

Sarah added that she had received a series of offers of help from readers.

"We've even had people whose gardens back on to a canal calling to see if they can help," she said.

Landlords KR Hardy had previously told Sutton Coldfield Canoe Club the annual rent for its 60ft narrowboat mooring was due to increase from £1,300 to £4,000.