Discussion
This probably isn't going to go the way I think and will probably be called a miserable grumpy old git but I am trying to be patient with the lad next door constantly kicking balls over this has been going on for a few years as in the beginning it was fine with the odd ball coming over i would either chuck it back or he would come round and ask for it back but now he is getting bigger the damage is getting more and more and we must get 5 or 6 balls daily (he has at least 10 lol )
I have had small scuff on car which I polished out,down pipe brackets broken on guttering the fence broken because the goal is against my fence I have tried being nice as they are nice neighbours but my patience is wearing thin and before I get the all kids have to play etc I totally agree but as a kid we used to go up the park etc to play football as we got bigger I have no issue with kids playing and laughing and having fun but the constant smashing the ball up against the fence or half a dozen balls daily is getting on my nerves not even had a bar of chocolate to say sorry lol..
My wife is going to try and catch them in the garden and have a quiet word but before I stab every ball that comes over or go and buy 10 footballs and start kicking them over from my side what is the best solution.
The bit I don't get is if my grandson kept kicking the ball over I would move the f
king goal to the other end of the garden I can't get my head around why the lads parents don't do this !!
Yours faithfully Mr Grumpy
I have had small scuff on car which I polished out,down pipe brackets broken on guttering the fence broken because the goal is against my fence I have tried being nice as they are nice neighbours but my patience is wearing thin and before I get the all kids have to play etc I totally agree but as a kid we used to go up the park etc to play football as we got bigger I have no issue with kids playing and laughing and having fun but the constant smashing the ball up against the fence or half a dozen balls daily is getting on my nerves not even had a bar of chocolate to say sorry lol..
My wife is going to try and catch them in the garden and have a quiet word but before I stab every ball that comes over or go and buy 10 footballs and start kicking them over from my side what is the best solution.
The bit I don't get is if my grandson kept kicking the ball over I would move the f
king goal to the other end of the garden I can't get my head around why the lads parents don't do this !!Yours faithfully Mr Grumpy
I feel your pain we have this exact Problem.
There great neighbors tho and as yet it's not annoyed me enough to bring it up. I have a motive tho it's our fence and it's fked so I'm hoping some time soon he puts a ball through it or knocks it over so I can get them to help with the replacement cost 
There great neighbors tho and as yet it's not annoyed me enough to bring it up. I have a motive tho it's our fence and it's f
ked so I'm hoping some time soon he puts a ball through it or knocks it over so I can get them to help with the replacement cost 
Stev8s said:
This probably isn't going to go the way I think and will probably be called a miserable grumpy old git but I am trying to be patient with the lad next door constantly kicking balls over this has been going on for a few years as in the beginning it was fine with the odd ball coming over i would either chuck it back or he would come round and ask for it back but now he is getting bigger the damage is getting more and more and we must get 5 or 6 balls daily (he has at least 10 lol )
I have had small scuff on car which I polished out,down pipe brackets broken on guttering the fence broken because the goal is against my fence I have tried being nice as they are nice neighbours but my patience is wearing thin and before I get the all kids have to play etc I totally agree but as a kid we used to go up the park etc to play football as we got bigger I have no issue with kids playing and laughing and having fun but the constant smashing the ball up against the fence or half a dozen balls daily is getting on my nerves not even had a bar of chocolate to say sorry lol..
My wife is going to try and catch them in the garden and have a quiet word but before I stab every ball that comes over or go and buy 10 footballs and start kicking them over from my side what is the best solution.
The bit I don't get is if my grandson kept kicking the ball over I would move the fking goal to the other end of the garden I can't get my head around why the lads parents don't do this !!
Yours faithfully Mr Grumpy
The answer to your last question is that they are a pair of pricks who dont give a sI have had small scuff on car which I polished out,down pipe brackets broken on guttering the fence broken because the goal is against my fence I have tried being nice as they are nice neighbours but my patience is wearing thin and before I get the all kids have to play etc I totally agree but as a kid we used to go up the park etc to play football as we got bigger I have no issue with kids playing and laughing and having fun but the constant smashing the ball up against the fence or half a dozen balls daily is getting on my nerves not even had a bar of chocolate to say sorry lol..
My wife is going to try and catch them in the garden and have a quiet word but before I stab every ball that comes over or go and buy 10 footballs and start kicking them over from my side what is the best solution.
The bit I don't get is if my grandson kept kicking the ball over I would move the f
king goal to the other end of the garden I can't get my head around why the lads parents don't do this !!Yours faithfully Mr Grumpy
t. 
Don’t steal or withhold the ball(s). Confiscation can be viewed as theft.
Puncturing the ball(s) can be considered criminal damage.
Don’t confront the lad alone or in a dark corner. Have witnesses for any communication.
It’s a really tough one. A basketball once put a dent in my bonnet. I gave the lad an ear bashing in front of his dad. Complained to the council. No ball games signs went up as deterrent but these could not be legally enforced. Had I not managed to get the dent out I’d have take the family next door to court. My doorbell caught it all. My other neighbour was a Police officer at the time which provided some comfort.
The area went down after my other neighbour sold up and the house next door became a home of multiple occupancy.
At the end of the day if you live there and plan to live many more years there then it’s about keeping the peace with the neighbours. So retaliation or disproportionate responses are at your own risk.
I’d ask the parent/guardian nicely at first if it can stop/they keep an eye out. Spin them a yarn about respect for the property of others and respect for residents. How these values are important etc.
If it doesn’t stop then ask again.
This time mention not wanting to have to report the matter.
If it gets really bad and the lads dad decides to up the ante then in all seriousness it might be worth moving. You just don’t know what psychos are out there. Not everyone is reasonable these days and willing to respect the property of others.
Good luck.
Puncturing the ball(s) can be considered criminal damage.
Don’t confront the lad alone or in a dark corner. Have witnesses for any communication.
It’s a really tough one. A basketball once put a dent in my bonnet. I gave the lad an ear bashing in front of his dad. Complained to the council. No ball games signs went up as deterrent but these could not be legally enforced. Had I not managed to get the dent out I’d have take the family next door to court. My doorbell caught it all. My other neighbour was a Police officer at the time which provided some comfort.
The area went down after my other neighbour sold up and the house next door became a home of multiple occupancy.
At the end of the day if you live there and plan to live many more years there then it’s about keeping the peace with the neighbours. So retaliation or disproportionate responses are at your own risk.
I’d ask the parent/guardian nicely at first if it can stop/they keep an eye out. Spin them a yarn about respect for the property of others and respect for residents. How these values are important etc.
If it doesn’t stop then ask again.
This time mention not wanting to have to report the matter.
If it gets really bad and the lads dad decides to up the ante then in all seriousness it might be worth moving. You just don’t know what psychos are out there. Not everyone is reasonable these days and willing to respect the property of others.
Good luck.
Edited by anonymous-user on Monday 23 May 15:07
Stev8s said:
or go and buy 10 footballs and start kicking them over from my side what is the best solution.
Yours faithfully Mr Grumpy
Definitely not this! They'll just think, bonus free footballs! and be even more careless! Yours faithfully Mr Grumpy
As a dad who has a young son, I'd appreciate a quiet word to me and then I would ask my son to be more careful. If you've been chucking them back or handing directly to the child, the parents might not be aware how often it happens.
I'm with you on this, 5-6 balls a day coming over is nuts!
I would take the approach of quiet word with mum or dad "don't want to stop him having fun, but 5-6 balls a day are coming over and I've had the car scuffed, brackets broken etc - can you move the goal so it points the other way?"
If they react badly and he just keeps doing it, you are into that tricky territory where it could potentially escalate further into neighbours from hell.
Personally, I wouldn't go down the route of puncturing them etc but you could certainly stop being so accommodating. If he comes round and asks for the balls then just say "sorry no, I'm actually just about to go out to work / bath the baby / do a massive dump etc, it'll have to wait".
If he realises that he doesn't get the ball back for a few days then that might get the message across.
I do genuinely believe however that the majority of people are rational, normal people and a quiet word will probably nip this in the bud.
I would take the approach of quiet word with mum or dad "don't want to stop him having fun, but 5-6 balls a day are coming over and I've had the car scuffed, brackets broken etc - can you move the goal so it points the other way?"
If they react badly and he just keeps doing it, you are into that tricky territory where it could potentially escalate further into neighbours from hell.
Personally, I wouldn't go down the route of puncturing them etc but you could certainly stop being so accommodating. If he comes round and asks for the balls then just say "sorry no, I'm actually just about to go out to work / bath the baby / do a massive dump etc, it'll have to wait".
If he realises that he doesn't get the ball back for a few days then that might get the message across.
I do genuinely believe however that the majority of people are rational, normal people and a quiet word will probably nip this in the bud.
Edited by R56Cooper on Monday 23 May 13:16
I solved this problem. Our grandchildren and their parents live with us.
One word from Gran and all antisocial activity ceases instantly.
They wouldn't dare cross her. Nor would the grandchildren
As to neighbours, we simply made sure we bought a house over 200 yards from the nearest neighbour.
End of problem.
The cows in the field next to us are pedigree Limousins, so wouldn't dream of lower themselves to comment.
One word from Gran and all antisocial activity ceases instantly.
They wouldn't dare cross her. Nor would the grandchildren
As to neighbours, we simply made sure we bought a house over 200 yards from the nearest neighbour.
End of problem.
The cows in the field next to us are pedigree Limousins, so wouldn't dream of lower themselves to comment.
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