Vandals wreck rugby club's new goalposts within 24 hours
BEEFED-UP security is being considered by New Milton Rugby Club after vandals struck again by wrecking a pair of new goalposts - less than 24 hours of they were installed.
The criminal damage at the site in Normans Way, Ashley, was believed to have been committed during last Tuesday night.
It came just over two months after another set of goalposts was targeted and roof tiles ripped from the club pavilion’s roof.
Speaking to the A&T about the latest incident, club chairman Andy Frend said the £1,500 pair of goalposts were beyond repair and had to be replaced.
They had only been installed at the Ashley Recreation Ground pitch last Tuesday afternoon, but New Milton Town Council workers discovered their crossbars had been bent the following morning.
“As a result of this, we had to play two junior matches and a club fixture on Sunday without posts, which was embarrassing because it looks like we weren’t prepared when we had been,” Mr Frend said.
The vandalism would have impacted on a cup match that was due to have been played on Saturday, he commented, had it not already been postponed after the opposition team pulled out.
Replacement goalposts were expected to be put in place by this weekend, avoiding any further disruption to games.
The town council leases the facility to the club, and its staff have been carrying out refurbishment works to make it ready for the new season. This includes a full renovation of its changing rooms, with a new ventilation system being installed.
As reported in the A&T, youths were blamed for causing the previous damage during the night of Friday 21st June after they had been spotted and photographed on the pavilion’s roof.
This week, club president Rohan Thomas revealed those youngsters had since been caught and made to do litter picking.
In light of the repeated vandalism, Mr Frend revealed the club was discussing possible preventative measures with town council estates and facilities manager Mark Jeffries.
These could include coating the goalposts with anti-vandal paint, a slippery substance to prevent climbing.
“It’s frustrating for everybody in the club,” Mr Frend continued. “All they want to do is provide a sporting facility for adults and children, and some people take it upon themselves to spoil it for others.
Also voicing his frustration at the damage caused at the site, Mr Thomas told the A&T broken glass constantly being left on the recreation ground was a particularly serious issue that particularly endangers children.
“Only last Thursday night, while we were playing, we had a young lad who had cut his hand on some glass in the playground,” he said. “We saw this and helped clean him up.
“They’re [the offenders] just ruining the chance for people to enjoy themselves – not just the seniors, they’re stopping the enjoyment of the juniors.”
The town council is still campaigning for CCTV coverage at Ashley Recreation Ground.
Mr Jeffries and town clerk Graham Flexman were due to have discussed the matter further with New Forest District Council’s service manager for housing, community safety and CCTV, Brian Byrne, and civil contingencies and CCTV manager James Knight on Wednesday.
