Former Arsenal and England star Ian Wright has slammed Colney Heath Football Club after they forced their own women's team to play in a park to make way for a bouncy castle on the pitch.

Colney Heath Ladies were set to play Bowers & Pitsea Ladies in an Eastern Region Women's Football League at the Recreation Ground on Sunday, but were shocked to find a bouncy castle on the pitch when they arrived.

Shock turned to anger when the team was informed they would have to play the game on a nearby park pitch, with the club's official Twitter account tweet: "We are genuinely upset to have to inform you that @ColneyHeathFC decided that a bouncy castle takes precedence over a women’s football match at tier five. 

"We were informed that we had to play on a park pitch today.

"We apologise to our opponents.

"We really thought that in 2023, women’s football would be treated with the respect that it deserves, especially by our own club. 

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"Obviously, this isn’t the case. Can’t believe we are having to even write this."

Herts Advertiser: Ian Wright was among those to question Colney Heath's decision.Ian Wright was among those to question Colney Heath's decision. (Image: PA)

Ian Wright was among those to slam Colney Heath, calling their decision "ridiculous" and "an embarrassment".

"What happening here @ColneyHeathFC. Absolutely ridiculous. An embarrassment," he tweeted.

Casey Stoney, who captained England and made more than 100 appearances for the Lionesses, called on the club to "do better", tweeting: "And yet we think the game has moved forward.

"So many positive strides at the highest level but yet these attitudes still exist in the game.

"DO BETTER @ColneyHeathFC."

Herts Advertiser: Casey Stoney called on the club to do better.Casey Stoney called on the club to do better. (Image: PA Images)

Colney Heath issued an apology following the incident, claiming there had been a "misunderstanding", and that the women's team were informed they had been allocated another pitch due to a community event being held for the Coronation.

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"Colney Heath Football Club would like to apologise to Colney Heath Ladies FC," read a statement.

"We would like to apologise for the unfortunate events that unfolded yesterday.

"This was all a misunderstanding, as we believed our communication with the ladies team was that they were allocated the second pitch, as we had a community event which had been scheduled since the Coronation weekend was announced.

"Colney Heath FC are fully supportive of everyone participating in all kinds of sports."

The news comes after it was announced that Colney Heath Ladies would become St Albans City Women and play at Clarence Park from next season, leaving the reserve team to become the first-team at the Recreation Ground.