Nuisance footballs from neighbours

Mary E

I know people have bigger problems in life but this is really getting on my nerves. I have a big corner garden within a housing estate/development. There are a few teenagers who play football outside our wall and are frequently kicking their footballs in, and then coming into our garden after them. I have talked to some of the parents involved as I am tired of the footballs and the "uninvited visitors" to the garden to retrieve the footballs and they have been relatively sympathetic but the situation continues. There are plenty of communal green areas but the footballers don't want to play on wet grass - they don't mind tramping over my wet grass however. Last night they hit my shed with a ball and hit the patio door. One of the teenagers is quite obnoxious, dishonest etc. When I went to his house once to ask for repayment for a broken pot he told us to get lost in less polite language - he looked stoned at the time. Has anyone had a similar problem or some advice please?

ziedth

Maybe you could go out and ask them nicely would they mind moving somewhere else. I'm going to go out on a limb that you might have shouted at them to clear off or something to that effect.

If they are scumbags then more then likely they are doing it to annoy you espically since you have effectively "gone over their heads to their folks".
If you are married or partner tell them something along the lines NICELY that he's unwell and really needs his rest and you would appreciate if they played somewhere else

Mary E

Hi thanks for your reply. Yes we have tried that first - on many occasions - both myself and my husband.

TripleAce

Get a dog - everytime the balls come into the garden tell him to bite it

monkeytronics

To be honest, it appears you have spoken to both the offendors and their parents on a number of occasions. If it continues to be a problem, maybe you should pay a visit to the local Garda station and discuss it with them. Nothing may come out of it but if something more expensive gets borken in the future (e.g. a window) you might have to get the Gardai involved. Having previously spoken to them about the situation you may find it easier for intervention.

On the other hand, the Gardai may look into it for you and perhaps the warning of an ASBO may help to change the situation.

Just be careful how you play it, I know its not nice to have your property trampled on on a regular basis and you shouldn't have to put up with it, but you may quickly get the reputation of an oul narky hag etc..

Wibbs

TripleAce helpful posts only. Please read the charter.

Deadeyes

My parents had a similar problem, the ball kept coming into the back garden. So the kids either had to knock on the door and ask for it or hop over the back wall. When my parents seen the ball coming in they'd tell them next time we're taking it. The next time, usually five minutes later they'd bring the ball into the house and tell them they could have it back the next day.
This approach worked but the kids were good kids and their folks decent people.

Mary E

Hi, thanks for that. I had thought of that but wasn't sure if the guards would be bothered about it. I have on occasion confiscated the football for short periods of time; the last time was yesterday after my window was hit but then the one of became rather aggressive - finger on my doorbell etc. He only left when I actually threatened him with the guards but informed me that I'd be the one with the problem as I'd stolen their football!

MagicMarker

Tbh, if they're only going into the garden to get a ball and then leaving I'd forget about it.

Unless you like to sunbathe naked in the garden in winter then it really isn't effecting you.

They'll eventually get bored and move on to some other spot.

Mary E

What about invasion of privacy and nuisance. I actually work from home and it's quite annoying if there are balls and kids going past on a regular basis. Also some of my garden and plants are being affected.

MagicMarker

Do you work in your garden?

And by regular basis, you mean what exactly? Once or twice a day?

Blazer

I remember one time we used to play football beside my grandparents house..every so often the ball would go in and one of us would have to get it..
Remember it went in one day and of the boyo's went to get it.
Grandfather legged it to the garden and grabbed the ball first..
Young fella asks for the ball and old fella said no...
young fella "I'm coming in for it".
Grandfather" you come in and you'll get the same as this ball" with that he slit a knife across it and punctured it..young fella did a legger

Mary E

Reply to Magic Marker:

I sometime garden but I also have an indoor home office.

By regular basis it could be every few minutes while they are playing football and they could be playing football for a few hours at a time.

username123

How are they getting in? Climbing a wall? Could you paint the top of the wall with anti vandal paint?

Queencake

Next time a ball flys into your garden, get in and speak very evenly toned to whoever tries to get the ball. Go over to where the rest of the lads are playing and talk to them all together. I think that'd be more effective than you talking to one lad and him heading back saying "Yer one has a mouth on her." Lads in these situations will always egg eachother on in my experience. But approach them altogether and they might be more receptive.

Just explain that you work from home and the frequent crashing of the football whether it be against the patio door or wall or into a load of pots is very distracting and is having an impact. As is the welcome trespassing on your property. Say that your garden is being damaged. Then say that you've given many warnings but that they're taking the mickey now and that the next time it happens you will have to ring the guards.

If that doesn't work and the guards do nothing then I'd approach the parents again.

It's a sh*tty situation for you, very annoying.

Mary E

Thanks for your sympathetic reply.

Have tried the softly, softly approach with limited success.

Mary E

Mathew Reilly wrote: »

I remember one time we used to play football beside my grandparents house..every so often the ball would go in and one of us would have to get it..
Remember it went in one day and of the boyo's went to get it.
Grandfather legged it to the garden and grabbed the ball first..
Young fella asks for the ball and old fella said no...
young fella "I'm coming in for it".
Grandfather" you come in and you'll get the same as this ball" with that he slit a knife across it and punctured it..young fella did a legger

Thanks Mathew but would rather not resort to such tactics.
Someone did suggest to me that every time a ball comes in that I throw it into the neighbours' garden as some of their kids are the culprits and then perhaps they'd appreciate how frequently it's happening and some days it's really tempting but I don't think I want to go down that path.

Queencake

Try one more time and if it doesn't work do approach the guards.

Queencake

Mary E wrote: »

Thanks Mathew but would rather not resort to such tactics.
Someone did suggest to me that every time a ball comes in that I throw it into the neighbours' garden as some of their kids are the culprits and then perhaps they'd appreciate how frequently it's happening and some days it's really tempting but I don't think I want to go down that path.

That isn't a bad idea. But I doubt they'd appreciate the frequency because in fairness you'd be run ragged doing that each time. It's not feasible. Put doing it every time it happens for say an hr when you KNOW the parents are home might be a good tactic.

Mary E

username123 wrote: »

How are they getting in? Climbing a wall? Could you paint the top of the wall with anti vandal paint?

Thank you very much for the suggestion. They're hopping over a low part of the wall - As we're on a corner we can only have it to a certain height in certain places. We will be putting up a fence where it's allowed when the weather is drier but I reckon the balls will continue to come in. I read about the anti vandal paint just now and I don't want to use it as we have a cat.

username123

Make the garden an unattractive place to go, set up a sprinkler system thats triggered by movement - everytime they come in theyll get a wetting?

Monkey61

That must be so irritating OP. If these boys haven't listened to your complaints to either them or their parents they are hardly going to start now.

Isn't trespassing on someones property illegal? I would appeal to the parents one more time, explain that you are very sorry, but if the nuisance continues you will have to report their children to the police. Nobody should have to put up with a constant irritation like that and there is no reason for the kids to continue climbing into your garden once you have told them not to. They have no excuses and you deserve your privacy.

You could also set up a camera on the back garden so you can record proof of this happening for the police after you lodge your complaint.

Bluefox21

In fairness speaking from the angle of someone who plays street football call the guards etc and you won't get a "nice" response from the kids or from the parents. Just let them be they'l eventually move on how bad can it be!

Also Starring LeVar Burton

I'd have to disagree with everyone who's suggested you involve the gardai - it will merely elevate the situation to a point that will be uncomfortable to you.
There used to be a similar problem in the estate I lived in. Kids were playing football outside the houses, I was one of them back in the day - but we'd move on when asked, however over the years some people refused to be moved, so the residents started parking their cars on the roadside, making it impossible for football to be played so they moved on. It was and is quite effective. Dunno, if you could park your car on the street - you said it was on the corner, but it might be worth a try.

m5ex9oqjawdg2i

ziedth wrote: »

Maybe you could go out and ask them nicely would they mind moving somewhere else. I'm going to go out on a limb that you might have shouted at them to clear off or something to that effect.

If they are scumbags then more then likely they are doing it to annoy you espically since you have effectively "gone over their heads to their folks".
If you are married or partner tell them something along the lines NICELY that he's unwell and really needs his rest and you would appreciate if they played somewhere else

I love how loosely people use the term "scumbag" everyones a scumbag to tell you the truth... They are just kids, doesn't make them scumbags just because they are intimidating...

OP: It's a fact of life... we had neighbours like you before, and everyone hated them. Children play. I bet you have a nice tree or lamp post outside your house that they use for a goal.

Having your property damaged is one thing, but go out and explain to them why you want them to move... They don't need to be shouted at.

iguana

username123 wrote: »

Make the garden an unattractive place to go, set up a sprinkler system thats triggered by movement - everytime they come in theyll get a wetting?

That's a good idea but would probably be quite expensive. Would planting prickly bushes like rubra, pyrocantha, roses be a deterrent?

Lollipops23

have you considered putting a mesh fence around the top of your wall?i don't agree that it's not a big deal, it's soooo frustrating when your own property is being invaded on a regular basis, flowers getting trampled etc. you could also tell the parents that next time the ball goes in you're keeping it forever and every ball that follows.

LegacyUser

I've never understood the vitriolic hatred shown towards me when I was younger for kicking balls over. Grown men used to attack us merely for the fact of a ball going over a wall. They'd flip out if we called in for it for "disturbing" them and then attack us if we jumped over to get it. There simply was no place else to go to play. We never damaged property and we never were abusive. If you want the situation to end, tell them to pick up 2/3 balls and to use spares if they go over, you'll periodically leave them out in the front garden. If you don't want to do that, get a dog. Kids are kids, if the local kids played football near me now and kicked the ball over, I'd have no problem getting it for them or even letting them jump over.

Monkey61

Philip Square Flamingo wrote: »

I love how loosely people use the term "scumbag" everyones a scumbag to tell you the truth... They are just kids, doesn't make them scumbags just because they are intimidating...

OP: It's a fact of life... we had neighbours like you before, and everyone hated them. Children play. I bet you have a nice tree or lamp post outside your house that they use for a goal.

Having your property damaged is one thing, but go out and explain to them why you want them to move... They don't need to be shouted at.

Yes children play - but they can play in their own gardens, or in front of their own garden walls. The OP says that she has asked them numerous times to stop and they won't. I'd be furious if there was a constant flow of traffic across my back garden, which is meant to be private!

Of course the kids are going to be annoyed if the guards are involved, but so what? They should be being brought up properly to realise that it's not okay to constantly trespass in people's gardens - especially if they are teenagers, not five year olds.

LegacyUser

ÀLKAKL wrote: »

I've never understood the vitriolic hatred shown towards me when I was younger for kicking balls over. Grown men used to attack us merely for the fact of a ball going over a wall. They'd flip out if we called in for it for "disturbing" them and then attack us if we jumped over to get it. There simply was no place else to go to play. We never damaged property and we never were abusive. If you want the situation to end, tell them to pick up 2/3 balls and to use spares if they go over, you'll periodically leave them out in the front garden. If you don't want to do that, get a dog. Kids are kids, if the local kids played football near me now and kicked the ball over, I'd have no problem getting it for them or even letting them jump over.

I agree with you, I'd possibly leave something on the other side of the wall like a chair and tell them to use that if they are collecting the ball so that they wouldn't mess the lawn by jumping and skidding, if thats what you're worried about?

As for the patio doors, don't be too worried but tell them if they break anything they can pay for it. Footballs aren't made of stone and although it might make a bit of a shudder, it shouldn't break the glass. Just shout over at them when they hit the window?

That or a bit of a net fence on your wall even a temporary bit of net on some wooden stilts. I'd do that if it bothered me. Excusing constructing something because of the weather suggests maybe you may not be of an age to do it, so maybe ask someone to help or even ask them to help? I'd be kinda glad I lived in an area where my biggest problem was footballs landing in my garden, and i'd be kinda glad that they are at least doing something half constructive rather than tormenting me. So, me, I'd accommodate it, teenagers being teenagers.

IanCurtis

We used to do this all the time as kids. If it went unnoticed, then we kept doing it.

Best have a word with them. No need to be aggressive, but stand firm and say it's not going to continue, end of story.

They are just kids so think like a kid. Don't "rat" on them, approach the lot of them together, preferably with big bloke in tow, and say "NO MORE". End of story.

They'll get the message. Leave the Guards do their job elsewhere, they've bigger fish to fry believe me.