Wendell team needs a place to play

WENDELL, NC (WTVD) -- Seven years into running the Riley Hill Eagles, Steven Perry expects certain challenges.

Many of his 90 or so football players and cheerleaders ages 6-12 can't afford equipment, need rides to practice, and help in the classroom.

But what was not anticipated just days before their first home game is his kids don't have a home field to play on.

"We depend on the home games, the concessions, the gate money, to keep us in uniforms for the following season," Perry explained.

"Right now, we're homeless. The way it's going now, after Saturday, we'd have to forfeit all our games," said team announcer Henry Hinson Jr.

Over the past six years, the Eagles have used East Wake High School as their home turf. Despite going through the proper channels, they were denied this time. Even worse, months went by without any response from school administrators.

"Back in June, I started calling the athletic director at East wake and I couldn't get him to return my calls. And nobody contacted me to let me know what the response was, so here we were two weeks out without a field to play on," said Perry.

Perry says every time they used the field they paid the required fee, and never had an incident inside or out. A spokesperson cited poor field conditions and that's why they're being locked out.

"I mean if it's something that we did let us know. Don't just brush us off and say find somewhere else to play. Just get to the point and see what's going on," said parent Cassandra Dunn.

"I think if we were made up in a different way or we were located somewhere else we would have more support," said Perry.

One parent is hoping the community sees this and responds quickly.

"Offer their field or offer some type of help. That's all I'm asking. That these guys continue to be able to play. That's their goal, that's their dreams and I don't think children's dreams should be shattered," said Malessia Godwin.

The Eagles aren't asking for a pot of gold just a place to play.

If you can help, shoot Joe a note on his Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/JoeMazurWTVD