UPDATE 2pm: The travellers have now departed the site.
Hundreds of young footballers could see their annual end-of-season presentation disrupted after travellers moved onto Salisbury Fields in Broadheath just 48 hours before the event.
Around 15 caravans, vans and other vehicles were occupying the council-owned site when Altrincham Today visited at lunchtime today after the group moved from other sites in Altrincham - including Thurlestone Road Play Area - earlier this week.
Broadheath Central FC is due to welcome several hundred children to Salisbury Fields on Saturday for its annual presentation day, having already spent thousands of pounds on food, drinks and other supplies.
The club says it has been advised by the authorities not to postpone the event for now because legal action to remove the encampment is underway, but admits it is "desperately sad and angry" that months of planning could be lost.
The latest encampment comes despite additional security measures being installed after a previous visit by travellers. Residents say a speed hump had been created near the entrance to prevent vehicle access, but the latest group is understood to have removed part of a fence and broken locks to gain access to the field.
Ward councillor Ulrich Savary visited the site yesterday afternoon, speaking with residents, liaising with Greater Manchester Police and contacting Trafford Council, which owns the land.
He said bailiffs were expected today and that he would continue pushing for the eviction process to move as quickly as possible. A Greater Manchester Police van was seen at the site at lunchtime today.
In a message sent to parents, Broadheath Central FC said the travellers had gained access by "breaking the locks and removing part of a barrier", allowing vehicles to bypass the speed hump.
The club added that officials attended the site alongside police, but claimed tensions escalated after a neighbour refused access to a flatbed van, leading to the cancellation of training.
It told parents: "My biggest concern is we have our end-of-season presentation on Saturday.
"I've been asked by the authorities not to postpone it today. Legal action is underway and bailiffs are hopefully appointed, as our event carries more weight than if it was simply just training.
"I'm desperately sad and angry to think our plans, hard work, not to mention over £4,000 spent on BBQs, alcohol and refreshments for the day, may be lost, but above all it's such a wonderful day to celebrate our fantastic players."
Organisers told Altrincham Today that they were still optimistic that the travellers would agree to leave the field to enable the presentation to go ahead as planned.
Trafford Council's published policy states that when gypsies and travellers occupy council-owned land without permission, it can seek possession through the courts. Before applying for an eviction order, however, the authority must establish that the occupation is unauthorised, assess welfare issues including health and children's education, and ensure its duties under the Human Rights Act have been met. The timescale for any eviction depends on the circumstances of each case and how quickly a court hearing can be obtained.
At the time of writing, Trafford Council had not confirmed whether an eviction order had been secured or whether the presentation would be able to go ahead as planned.
