‘Heartbreak’ as vandals damage football pitches
A football club boss has slammed the“mind less” vandals who caused a huge amount of damage to their pitches through anti-social behaviour.
Gary Sykes, Head of Football at Washington AFC, spoke of the club’s devastation after the heartbreaking discovery that their pitches had been driven over by vehicles, causing “significant damage” to the turf.
The damage – which has been reported to Northumbria Police and is being investigated – means that the pitches will be out of action for the 50 or so teams, for both adults and children, that use them.
Gary, who has been at the club for 11 years, arrived at the club’s ground on Stephenson Road, Washington, on Monday to discover what had happened.
He told the Echo that there has been an increase in anti-social behaviour in a layby near the ground in recent weeks, with offenders leaving behind discarded cans and bottles, as well as oil from their vehicles.
He continued: “It’s heartbreaking because it’s been a difficult year as it is with the covid.
"We have come back and have been repairing the pitches with the ground staff, who are all volunteers.
"They are devastated with the amount of time and hours they have put in to get the pitches playable.”
Gary thanked the community for rallying around the club and offering support as news of the vandalism broke.
He went on to condemn those responsible for the damage and the impact their actions will have on the club’s hundreds of players.
Gary added: “It’s going to affect the children mentally and physically because this is going to stop them playing football.”
A Northumbria Police spokesperson said in a statement: “At 9.45am today we received a report of criminal damage at The Northern Area Playing Fields, on Stephenson Road, Washington.
“It was reported that offenders had used vehicles to drive over the football pitch, causing significant damage to the turf.
“Anyone with information is asked to contact police via the ‘Tell Us Something’ page of our website or by calling 101 quoting log 251 051020.”