Halifax Courier

Club seeks help to beat vandals

- Sam McKeown

A CALDERDALE football team is bidding to raise cash after damage was left in the club’s grounds by vandals.

Brighouse Town’s groundsman, Darren Laycock, has spoken of his outrage after ‘drunken young adults’ trespassed on the club’s Saint Giles Road stadia.

Mr Laycock said people passing by the ground have been abused by the youths after asking them to leave the club’s premises. He said: “I’ve been informed by people past a dozen youths up to the age of 20 have been drinking and smoking within the ground. “I live next to the ground on Bolehill Park and I’ve seen the damage left - it’s monotonous,

“I’ve seen the damage left - it’s montonous, mindless vandalism. It’s frustratin­g.”

mindless vandalism. “There’s smashed bottles and some of the equipment has been damaged, which will cost around £600. “Parts of the pitch, which cost the club thousands of pounds to maintain, have been ruined. “Personally, it would be ideal to allow kids to play on the pitch and use our facilities, but at the end of the day we’re a business and maintainin­g our facilities cost money. “It’s frustratin­g because we rely on volunteers and it’s not fair on those working hard for the club.”

Due to a lack of cash to pay for the repairs the club have started a GoFundMe page to pay for the damages left by the vandals.

Mr Laycock said the only revenue the club receives is from matchday tickets, and will struggle to pay for repairs due to the football season currently on hold.

Police have confirmed they are inquiring into the incident.

The spokeswoma­n said an officer from the local neighbourh­ood policing team attended.

If you would like to donate funds, visit: justgiving.com/ crowdfundi­ng/brighouset­ownafc

ONLINE: For more on this, visit: www.halifaxcou­rier.co.uk

 ??  ?? DAMAGE: The club are now seeking help from the public
DAMAGE: The club are now seeking help from the public
 ??  ?? FRUSTRATIO­N: Darren Laycock, ground manager
FRUSTRATIO­N: Darren Laycock, ground manager

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