The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Two teenagers charged over clubhouse fire
Fundraising appeal launched to help save Rosyth Sharks’ future
Rugby coaches in Fife fear a huge blaze that destroyed their clubhouse could be the “final nail in the coffin” for their team.
Fire crews were called to the home ground of Rosyth Sharks, in Harley Street, in the early hours of yesterday.
A large fire had broken out in the gym area of the clubhouse, gutting the building.
Two teenagers, aged 13 and 14, have been charged in connection with the fire and will be reported to the Children’s Reporter. Kate Blackwell, local community sergeant at Dalgety Bay Police Station, said: “It was very disappointing to wake up to the news of a fire at such a well-used local community facility.
“Officers carried out inquiries and quickly traced two youths and they were both charged in connection with the fire.”
Club president Ben Morris has launched an online fundraising appeal out of fear the fire could put the Sharks’ future in jeopardy.
Within a day, the appeal had raised more than £3,500.
Mr Morris, who joined the club when he was 14, said: “To see the club you have put so much into, from a teenager painting the fencing every summer to becoming the president, up in flames really was devastating.
“In all the years I have been involved we have never had any problems at the clubhouse apart from some vandalism.”
Two teenagers have been charged in connection with an overnight blaze at Rosyth Sharks Rugby Club. Bosses fear the fire at the Harley Street clubhouse could be the “final nail in the coffin” after a year-long closure.
The building was engulfed in flames in the early hours of Tuesday morning and three fire engines were sent to tackle the blaze.
There were no injuries. Police have confirmed that two teenagers, aged 13 and 14, have been charged and will be reported to the Children’s Reporter.
Local Community Sergeant Kate Blackwell, of Dalgety Bay Police Station, said: “It was very disappointing to wake to the news of a fire at such a well-used local community facility.
“Officers carried out inquiries and quickly traced two youths who were responsible and they were both charged in connection with the fire.
“I would like to thank the public for their assistance.”
The fire has sparked fears for the future of the club, but the community has rallied round and more than £3,500 has been donated to an online crowdfunder.
Club president Ben Morris said seeing the fire, which he was alerted to at 4am, was “devastating”.
He said: “The fire started in the gym area of the clubhouse, we think between 3am and 4am.
“By the time I arrived just after 4am, the fire service had extinguished most of the flames and were just dealing with any remaining embers at that time.
“I started with the club when I was 14, which is more than 20 years ago, so to see the club you have put so much into, from a teenager painting the fencing every summer to becoming the president, up in flames really was devastating.
“In all the years I have been involved we have never had any problems at the clubhouse apart from some vandalism, which was really our fault as we had left the paint out.”
Ben set up the fundraiser due to fears about the club’s future and said the money raised by locals and the rugby community will be a “lifeline”.
He said: “We have been shut now for coming up to a year with no income and still having to pay rent and insurances, so the money we have in the account was really just for survival.
“Nobody had planned or accounted for something like a fire, which is why I decided to set up the fundraiser page.
“So far we have smashed £3,500 and have had generous donations from not only members of the club but also from the local community and the rugby community, such as Dunfermline Rugby Club and clubs in Kirkcaldy reaching out to us to help.
“This money will really be a lifeline and hopefully will allow us to fix some of the damage and replace stock when we know exactly what needs to be replaced.”
A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “We were alerted at 3.26am on Tuesday to reports of a fire affecting a commercial building on Harley Street, Rosyth.
“Firefighters attended and extinguished the fire. There were no casualties.”
“The fire started in the gym area of the clubhouse
There is little doubt the people of Fife and its sporting community will continue to rally around Rosyth Sharks Rugby Club.
Well-wishers have already donated thousands of pounds to help the club through such bleak times.
What possessed those responsible to set fire to a fine local facility is unfathomable. However, the good in a community generally outweighs the bad and it looks like the destructive element will not win.
Hopefully the club will soon be back in action, on the field and off.