Football club gets welcome boost after vandalism
HOUSING developer Lovell has donated £500 to a football club based near the Chartist Garden Village development in Pontllanfraith, to help replace equipment that was damaged in an act of vandalism.
Cefn Fforest AFC is well known in the local community and runs three senior sides.
One team currently plays in the Gwent County League Division Two, while the reserve and veterans teams play in the North Gwent Reserve Football League.
The club revealed via Twitter that after years of work to build up resources, vandals had set fire to their equipment lock-up store and destroyed everything contained within it.
Upon hearing the news, Lovell was determined to help and made the £500 donation so that the club could replace the equipment and get back to playing as soon as possible.
Robert Wolten, spokesman for Cefn Fforest AFC, said: “Everyone at Cefn Fforest AFC would like to thank Lovell for their support, we are really grateful. The donation will allow us to replace vital equipment needed to continue to run our grassroots club.”
Gemma Clissett, regional partnerships director at Lovell, said “We were very moved when we heard the news that the club had lost all of their equipment, it’s such a shame that someone would want to ruin something that brings the community together in such a lovely way.
“At Lovell, giving back to the communities that we build in is something that is very important to us, so the decision to step in and help the club was an easy one. We hope that they are able to replace everything they need and we can’t wait to cheer them on once they’re back in action.”
Chartist Garden Village is a design and build scheme being delivered by Lovell for Pobl Group and Caerphilly County Borough Council, on the former council office site. The development will consist of 123 open market homes and affordable homes for rent and shared ownership.