‘We just want kids to be able to play ball...’
A dismayed junior football coach has hit out after pitches got ripped up by joyriders for the second time in less than a month.
Three weeks after seeing the pitches at King George V Playing Fields, Ryhope, ripped up by motocross and quad bikers, children representing Sunderland RCA Youth FootballClubwerelookingforward to returning to competitive action after repair work carried out by Sunderland City Council.
However, players and staff havebeenleftdevastatedafter, on Sunday night (October 24), joyriders once again carved up the playing surface with what this time has been reported to have been a car.
Under-18s manager Ged Carolan, 54, said: “This time it looks like a car has been doing doughnuts, which has left tread-marks six inches deep.
"We were about to get back playing there in the next couple of weeks and it’s just so disappointing this has happened again.
"Surely these people must realise these are pitches used by local kids.
"It’sjustmindlessactionsof people who are saying ‘we are going to do it anyway’.
"It’s really annoying and I just feel like they are sticking two fingers up to what we are tying to do.
"Allwewantisforourkidsto be able to play football.”
With 15 junior teams providing sporting opportunities formorethan200children,the pitches provide a vital playing area for three teams.
The extent of the damage hasnowleftGedwondering“if we will be able to play on these pitches again this season”.
He added: “We’ll have to wait for the council to assess the damage.
"I’ve played on pitches before where areas have been filled in, but never to this extent.
"We’re coming into winter and I certainly can’t see them being useable for the next month.”
The club was only granted a lease from the council for the playing area at the start of the season, and it was hoped the installation of goalposts and marking of the pitches would help reduce a history of antisocial behaviour – including
the illegal use of motorbikes.
The initiative was led by ward councillor Usman Ali, who after hearing about the incident, said: “This is really disappointing and, as a community, we need to work alongsidethepolicetostopthis behaviour. I urge anyone who sees such behaviour to report it to the police. The more logs they have the more likely they are to do something about it.”
Cllr Ali believes the latest incident strengthens the case for a perimeter fence to be installed.
Headded:“Ithinkthisisthe only long-term solution. We are formally consulting residents
and if enough people are insupport,wecanaccessfunding to install a a fence.”
Sunderland City Council leader Graeme Miller added: “Sadly, we’ve some very antisocial motorbike riders and the City Council and our colleagues at Northumbria Police are very aware of the problems these bikers are causing.
“In the last 12 months we’ve issued 29 community protection warnings and a community protection notice against anti-social motorcyclists.”
The club is also conducting its own survey with local residentsabouttheinstallationofa fence and other facilities.