Vandals fail to beat the Terras
in Weymouth
By Adam Summers
Monday 2nd January 2012
A VANDALISM attack at Weymouth Football Club is suspected
to have been a ‘deliberate attempt’ at sabotaging
the New Year’s Eve game.
It caused at least £15,000 worth of damage. But the
day was saved by an army of volunteers, supporters and the
generosity of neighbouring clubs Chickerell United who supplied
goal nets and Portland United who handed over the match balls.
Between 4am and 8am on Saturday, a vandal gained entry to
the club and flooded the bar area, café area and toilets.
Stock was ruined and goal nets and match-day footballs were
slashed. Club chairman George Rolls said he was shocked to
find the destruction on Saturday morning just hours before
fans were due to arrive for the match between the Terras and
St Alban’s City.
He said: “This is not only a vendetta against Weymouth
Football Club but also a vendetta against all the Weymouth
fans and the people of the town.”
He feels that the vandalism was a deliberate attempt to stop
the day’s game because of the damage to the balls and
goal nets.
A spokesperson for Dorset Police said that officers are investigation
the vandalism and inquiries are progressing.
As fans started arriving at the stadium on Saturday volunteers
were mopping up the water which was about two inches deep
in the bar area and café with water running from the
ceiling.
Owner of the football club’s café Matt Avent
said he arrived to find the place flooded.
He described the vandalism as a ‘complete nightmare’
for his business on what should have been a profitable day.
He estimates the loss in stock and damage will cost around
£1,000.
Volunteer Dickie Borthwick, a friend of the café owner,
came in to help him sort out the damage.
He said: “It was a really depressing scene when we all
arrived this morning. The situation needs addressing very
carefully.”
Upstairs in the bar, volunteer David Tune mopped up and vacuumed
the floors.
He said: “It was a mess – I don’t understand
why somebody would want to do this to our club.”
Weymouth manager Brendon King thanked the generosity of neighbouring
clubs that saved the day with offers of help.
The gloom was lifted after Weymouth FC won the game 3-1.
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