THE BEAST OF ARWEN
Clubs count cost of Storm
SOUTH Tyneside neighbours Hebburn Town and Boldon CA are counting the cost of damage caused by Storm Arwen.
Northern Premier League East Division newcomers Hebburn confirmed that a floodlight at their Green Energy Sports Ground had been brought to the ground and landed on a nearby main road.
Fences around their home ground were also damaged and several advertising hoardings buckled under the weight of severe winds throughout Friday night and Saturday morning.
Hornets co-owner Colin Smith says the 2020 FA Vase winners are expecting the cost of the damage to run into four figures.
“It could be thousands and thousands of pounds of damage, he told The NLP. “The floodlights will need repairing and we need a new style of floodlights in place, which is causing a problem.
“To replace those floodlights now, will be difficult because we need floodlights that go along the pitch, not in the four corners.
Devastation
“There is a lot of other damage around the site with the exterior fences coming down and advertising boards buckling. “You have to feel for Non-League football because this has hit us all hard, especially after Covid.”
Northern League Division Two neighbours Boldon also saw scenes of devastation as the main stand at their Villa Ground was “ripped from its foundations.”
Further damage was caused around the ground and manager David Crumbie says it leaves the club facing a struggle over the coming weeks.
“We are just a club trying to make our way in our first season in the Northern League so this is terrible,” he added.
“The stand has been ripped out of its foundations, the fence has been knocked down.
“I can’t see this being sorted by next week when we play Sunderland West End. We may have to speak to the league.
“There are a lot of people in the same situation, so the people that can help us will be busy helping those in their communities. It’s going to be a real struggle for us.”