A football team has cried foul after it was booted off its home ground for not spending enough in the clubhouse bar.

Eager players at Weston St Johns FC turned up for training on the first day of the season only to be told they could not use the ground because they had not downed enough pints.

The side has played at the Coleridge Road ground in Weston-super-Mare for 50 years.

Club chairman Gary Beacham, 45, said the news came as a bolt out the blue.

To add insult to injury, Toolstation Western League bosses fined the club £1,000 after it pulled out of the division at short notice.

Mr Beacham, 45, said: "I'm still in shock. The players and everyone associated with the club is absolutely gutted and just can't understand why this has happened.

"As far as I'm aware there was no obligation to spend a certain amount to qualify for using the ground and we had a gentlemen's agreement we could continue to use the facilities.

"All the boys enjoy a pint or two after the match and we must take in about 30 people, including fans and opponents after every game."

Weston St Johns FC's first and reserve teams have used the facilities since the club was founded in 1962. The pitch is owned by the Regency Group, which is run by Grand Pier owner Kerry Michael, who lease it out to Weston St Johns AFC Sports and Social Club.

The club then pays £20 a match to use the ground and the two teams take it in turn to play at the ground at 3pm every Saturday.

Toolstation Western League rules insist the first team must have adequate facilities, including a turnstile, hard surface and fenced area for fans to watch the match.

But Mr Beacham said the ban forced the first team to pull out the league and left most of the players in search of a new club.

The first team has now folded and the reserves, who play in the Somerset County League, have moved to a temporary pitch at the nearby Wyvern Community School. Mr Beacham added: "We've had no explanation other than we're not spending enough.

"We turned up for a match on the first day of the season at the end of August and were told to collect our kit because we hadn't been spending enough in the bar.

"With 30 or so people, we must be spending about £300 in there every week.

"They just said the decision was purely business and nothing personal but we were gobsmacked.

"The league has fined us £1,000 for pulling out which we don't think is fair. By paying the fine it's going to pretty much wipe out all our money."

Weston St Johns AFC Sports and Social Club declined to comment on the row.