Footballers look after their own
A tough week for Marlborough Football has been turned around thanks to the support of the New Zealand footballing fraternity.
Wellington Phoenix Football Club and former All White Ben Sigmund have come to the table to help replenish the club kitty after a break-in last week.
The A-League team has donated $1000 to the club, while Marlborough lad Sigmund has pledged to donate Nike sports gear.
About $600 in coins, raised earlier in the day to help junior teams travel to tournaments, was taken in the burglary, while $420 in cash from a barbecue was also taken.
Wellington Phoenix head of communications Richard Parkin said the club was shocked by the burglary.
It was a sign of solidarity for the club to match the amount that was burgled, Parkin said.
‘‘When you’re at the coal face raising gold coins to afford travel, it is just gutting to have that stolen,’’ he said.
‘‘This is a nice opportunity to step up and help.’’
Marlborough businesses had also stepped up, donating cash and vouchers, which would be raffled off next week.
Marlborough Football general manager Andrea Smith-Scott said donations and support had put a positive spin on the situation.
‘‘It has been really heartwarming, it has just been amazing,’’ she said.
‘‘Football is a tight community, and when this happened it felt like they had stolen from the community and their generosity.’’
Pak ‘n Save gift cards, worth $3500, were also taken in the burglary, sometime between July 29 and 30.
Smith-Scott reported the burglary after she noticed the office window at A&P Park, in Blenheim, had been broken.
The burglary caused consider- able community reaction as a post on the club’s Facebook page was shared 200 times.
A Blenheim man, 24, was arrested on July 31 and charged with burglary. Two others were charged with receiving stolen property.
‘‘The fact they were caught so quickly shows the power of a small town,’’ Smith-Scott said.
Marlborough Football would host a raffle to distribute the donated sports gear on August 12 at A&P Park.
The generosity of people in Marlborough and around the country had thrilled the club, Smith-Scott said.
On behalf of Marlborough Football, Smith-Scott praised the police in their handling of the crime.
The club general manager also thanked FloorPride Marlborough, Scenic Circle Hotel, BP Computers, Glass Master and other businesses and individuals who had donated since the burglary.
‘‘From a fishing perspective we’re finding ourselves pretty stable with wild catch and by putting more investment into the value angle, whether that be coating products, or looking at what can be done with by-products ..this is already coming out in terms of our filleting to create that higher value product.’’
Fisheries Inshore New Zealand chief executive Dr Jeremy Helson, said the BERL report confirmed the importance of commercial fishing to New Zealand.
‘‘The Ministry for Primary Industries says exports alone are expected to reach $2.3 billion by 2025. Add the contribution to the domestic market through jobs, investment in infrastructure and the sectors supporting the industry and you have a significant contributor to the New Zealand economy,’’ said Helson.