Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Footballs and neighbour

31 replies

figarooo · 10/06/2023 22:18

Whilst I get footballs coming into your garden is annoying and when they hit your house or car it isn't good - but when it happens to me and they haven't caused any damage (it's never caused damage) I just chuck them back.. my neighbour has gone nuts about my kids footballs, to try to stop it we have one of the ball stop nets and a large goal - but one bounced off the crossbar and over the net and hit his van roof - no damage but he thinks it's too often.. the last ball that went over was 2 weeks ago, the kids aren't out every evening playing football, it's generally at the weekend and usually one ball... he keeps messaging me telling me how unacceptable it is and it's too many

OP posts:

Original poster

figarooo · 10/06/2023 22:19

Posted too soon.. not sure how to handle it! I can't stop them playing football and we are a long way from any park or playing field

OP posts:

Original poster

figarooo · 10/06/2023 22:20

It's down to 1-3 balls a month

OP posts:

1of2 · 10/06/2023 22:53

We have neighbours who don’t throw the balls back over (unless asked but they moan their heads off) but instead let their dogs pop them ffs! My eldest son literally plays football once every blue moon so one goes over every month say. But rather than throw it back over, they just let their dogs pop them. Their garden has about 3 of his expensive Nike footballs in, which are now used as chew toys. Youngish couple too.
If we ever get any from other gardens into ours, i chuck it straight back over when I see it. It isn’t hard.
Some people.
I can’t see if the balls aren’t causing damage what his issue is? I would maybe suggest to him that if any damage is caused, he should feel free to let you know. But you are not going to stop them playing football.

JustGeorgie · 10/06/2023 23:01

You need to put a stop to footballs in the garden then

Make the effort to get them out to a field or something

If they go over and hit tables if eating outside or plants etc then it's going to make things impossible with them

They are literally telling you to control the problem

nationallampoons · 10/06/2023 23:06

@1of2 are you neighbours even aware that footballs are landing in the garden?

I leave my back door open all day for my dogs and I wouldn't have a clue if they had popped a ball

Original poster

figarooo · 10/06/2023 23:08

It's his drive which has no plants and no tables - no field to go to! I have 2 DS who play in football teams and a football mad DH - stopping football isn't an option and isn't going to happen and we have got the ball stop net I feel we have made all the reasonable adjustments we possibly can! He is still complaining and frankly I have dealt with many more unwanted football/tennis/cricket balls than he has from other neighbours!

OP posts:

UsingChangeofName · 10/06/2023 23:09

Some people are just miserable OP. there isn't really much you can do about it.

You've done what you can to limit any balls going over, but that really is just a normal neighbourhood thing when your gardens are alongside one another.

JustGeorgie · 10/06/2023 23:10

It's not a case if you thinking you've dealt with more balls than him!

Reign your kids in.... even more unreasonable if it's in the drive where vehicles are parked!

JustGeorgie · 10/06/2023 23:11

Your 'ball stop net' clearly isn't working

Original poster

figarooo · 10/06/2023 23:18

The net catches probably 95% of stray balls but doesn't cover the whole of the fence! The kids have been warned and do their best and its genuinely accidental when they do go over - he is a difficult character as neighbours go but it's a family area and these things happen!

OP posts:

NextTimeItsOver · 10/06/2023 23:52

Hmm, I'd find it annoying if balls hit my car.

I've no problem with the neighbours kids footballs coming into my garden. They are great kids and always say thank you when I throw the balls backs.
If the footballs were hitting my car I'd be pissed off.

I don't think it's up to you to decide whether it's ok or reasonable to let your kids football hit your neighbours van.

Ponderingwindow · 11/06/2023 00:02

if the balls are hitting cars, then you need another net or a larger net.

Original poster

figarooo · 11/06/2023 08:44

www.networldsports.co.uk/stop-that-ball-socketed.html

This is the net

It's not possible to get a larger net - 2 balls have hit his car/van ever - it's not like it's a regular occurrence.

OP posts:

DustyLee123 · 11/06/2023 08:46

I hate this when it’s case balls. Get them an air ball for the garden, case balls for the park only.

Hellohah · 11/06/2023 09:20

I had elderly neighbours when DS was younger, the ball went over once and smashed the roof of their greenhouse. I went round to say I'll pay for it. Neighbour said OK. Looked out of my window a few days later and greenhouse had a new pane of glass. Went round to pay and he told me it didn't cost anything, he got it for free. He lied, he didn't. But he'd rather enjoy kids being kids in their own garden than be a miserable sod.

Can you buy him a little gift? I know some people can't be reasoned with and have their little grumps, but we had a very neighbourly relationship before DS (or friend) smashed their greenhouse (and continued to after). Not sure if it'll work for you?

MattDamon · 11/06/2023 09:26

Position the net so it backs up against your house.

NowZeusHasLainWithLeda · 11/06/2023 09:29

Irrespective of how many, or any other anecdotes (mine is I still grimace when June down the street is mentioned, never gave us our balls back and we'd try and go on our bellies commando style to get them from under her window) your neighbour is pissed off.

I doubt that 2-3 balls only have gone over.

NextTimeItsOver · 11/06/2023 09:29

You said earlier in the thread that it's 1 to 3 balls a months?
Why can't you buy another ball net to cover the parts of the fence that don't have it.
What type of football are you kids playing with?

I still think you are being unfair to decide that it's OK to let your kids balls hit his van. That would really annoy me if I was him.
The fact you've had other balls in your garden or the fact you don't seem to like him is all irrelevant.

snitzelvoncrumb · 11/06/2023 09:31

Hellohah · 11/06/2023 09:20

Awwwww. That’s lovely.

legosunqueen · 11/06/2023 09:35

Why can't they go & play in a field or park?

olympicsrock · 11/06/2023 09:41

Another one who thinks you need to work out something else cover all of the fence with a high net. Buy softer balls only.
If any balls are able to hit his van then I think you need to accept that your garden is not a suitable place for playing football with a goal.

Original poster

figarooo · 11/06/2023 09:55

There is a small gap by our patio/greenhouse which would be difficult to cover with a net but they can't hit his car if they go over there - the balls that go over near his car hit the crossbar and bounce over the top of the net. Large variety of footballs - before the install of the net more balls were going over and several disappeared now it's really not that many at all 1-3 a month if that - the nets been there a year. He still says it's too many! We are a long way from the park unfortunately.

OP posts:

NextTimeItsOver · 11/06/2023 10:13

So if it's impossible to stop the balls going over and potentially hitting his van (or him?) then the garden isn't suitable for your kids to play football in.

If you are still going to let them play then maybe you could put some soft padding on the crossbar so the balls don't bounce off it.

It sounds like your kids football playing is too full on for a garden.

CuriousGeorge80 · 11/06/2023 10:17

To be honest OP, 1-3 balls a month is still quite a lot, and hitting his car with the ball is unacceptable.

doubleoseven · 11/06/2023 10:19

Your garden is clearly not suitable for football, you're too close to your neighbours. I have a football daft son. He is absolutely not allowed to play football in our garden as we are in a terrace. Don't be one of those neighbours with zero consideration for others.

Flip

1 2

Swipe left for the next trending thread