Vandals attack new Trowbridge football club fencing

10:52am Wednesday 19th December 2012 in Trowbridge

Club chairman Ralph McCaldon by the damaged fencing Club chairman Ralph McCaldon by the damaged fencing

Trowbridge Town Football Club is disgusted that vandals have once again targeted them destroying much of a £20,000 wire fence at their Woodmarsh ground.

The incident, which is believed to have happened in the early hours of Thursday, December 13, is currently being investigated by Wiltshire Police.

The fence, which was erected around five months ago, has been cut in 40 different places and many of the locks at the site, including the one which accesses the car park have been glued.

Chairman Ralph McCaldon said: “It is just disgusting that someone could do this."

The attack came just days after Wiltshire Council put up signs that a footpath across the ground, from the Styles to Axe and Cleaver Lane would be closing and it is estimated that the damage will cost between £12,000 and £14,000 to repair.

Mr McCaldon said: “It is a hell of a lot of money, which frankly we do not have, we are looking into setting up an online fundraising page and we want to really publicise our last game of the season in a few months time to raise funds.

“It is a pity as we in are discussions to put a play area in the grounds for the local children but we just can’t afford to do that now.”

The football club has two adult teams and they also have 428 children who play for their junior sides.

This vandalism is the latest in the series of incidents at the ground which have included the pitch being sprayed with weed killer, entrance gates being torn down, electrical cables stolen and dog muck regularly thrown at windows.

All events and matches at the ground have been cancelled since the incident and a team of volunteers will be heading to Woodmarsh to make the ground safe for its players and spectators on Saturday, December 29.

Any witnesses can call Wiltshire Police on 101.

Comments (16)

12:24pm Wed 19 Dec 12

Cyanide says...

Trowbridge obviously has some really bored oxygen thieves.
Trowbridge obviously has some really bored oxygen thieves. Cyanide

2:40pm Wed 19 Dec 12

sirroms says...

This is a totally mindless dumb thing to do........ but if Trowbridge had a proper purpose built ground as I had the privilege of enjoying when I was a teenager perhaps this sort of thing would not happen.
The people of Trowbridge were completely shafted with the sale of the old ground! A generation of young people have missed out on the opportunity of enjoying such facilities!
This is a totally mindless dumb thing to do........ but if Trowbridge had a proper purpose built ground as I had the privilege of enjoying when I was a teenager perhaps this sort of thing would not happen. The people of Trowbridge were completely shafted with the sale of the old ground! A generation of young people have missed out on the opportunity of enjoying such facilities! sirroms

6:08pm Wed 19 Dec 12

kj1979 says...

Absoulutey disgusting behaviour. These mindless idiots need to be caught. The club has been working hard to make Woodmarsh a safe area for children to play football and someone does this!!!. These people obviously have no children or care about their community!!
Absoulutey disgusting behaviour. These mindless idiots need to be caught. The club has been working hard to make Woodmarsh a safe area for children to play football and someone does this!!!. These people obviously have no children or care about their community!! kj1979

7:37pm Wed 19 Dec 12

Wazook says...

It's out of order it's the poor children that loose out the people hat do this have no morals and are very very childish grow up losers
It's out of order it's the poor children that loose out the people hat do this have no morals and are very very childish grow up losers Wazook

8:48pm Wed 19 Dec 12

exreporter says...

It always follows that when any good work is done,,i.e.new gardens,fences,or as in Bristol the peoples pianos,or the art exhibit,the morons,whether drug or drink fuelled or bored,will destroy it,,just because it is there,and probably advertised as being done by public donation..
It always follows that when any good work is done,,i.e.new gardens,fences,or as in Bristol the peoples pianos,or the art exhibit,the morons,whether drug or drink fuelled or bored,will destroy it,,just because it is there,and probably advertised as being done by public donation.. exreporter

10:55pm Wed 19 Dec 12

beetawix says...

Cyanide wrote:
Trowbridge obviously has some really bored oxygen thieves.
incidents of this type are certainly not exclusive to Trowbridge
[quote][p][bold]Cyanide[/bold] wrote: Trowbridge obviously has some really bored oxygen thieves.[/p][/quote]incidents of this type are certainly not exclusive to Trowbridge beetawix

10:59pm Wed 19 Dec 12

beetawix says...

mindless , dumb . i doubt it.

perhaps these vandals are angry about closure of footpath.
mindless , dumb . i doubt it. perhaps these vandals are angry about closure of footpath. beetawix

9:21am Thu 20 Dec 12

Wazook says...

Maybe they should just walk down round the Lane all of 200m a different way......
Maybe they should just walk down round the Lane all of 200m a different way...... Wazook

11:14am Thu 20 Dec 12

Cyanide says...

beetawix wrote:
Cyanide wrote:
Trowbridge obviously has some really bored oxygen thieves.
incidents of this type are certainly not exclusive to Trowbridge
I didn't state they were, stop trying to put spin on my post thanks.
[quote][p][bold]beetawix[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Cyanide[/bold] wrote: Trowbridge obviously has some really bored oxygen thieves.[/p][/quote]incidents of this type are certainly not exclusive to Trowbridge[/p][/quote]I didn't state they were, stop trying to put spin on my post thanks. Cyanide

12:54pm Thu 20 Dec 12

beetawix says...

beetawix wrote:
Cyanide wrote:
Trowbridge obviously has some really bored oxygen thieves.
incidents of this type are certainly not exclusive to Trowbridge
Cyanide, I did not state that you stated they were.
you made a statement, so did I.

regarding spin, anyone can put spin on anything they want within the regulations thanks
[quote][p][bold]beetawix[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Cyanide[/bold] wrote: Trowbridge obviously has some really bored oxygen thieves.[/p][/quote]incidents of this type are certainly not exclusive to Trowbridge[/p][/quote]Cyanide, I did not state that you stated they were. you made a statement, so did I. regarding spin, anyone can put spin on anything they want within the regulations thanks beetawix

1:44pm Thu 20 Dec 12

mjltigger says...

perhaps if you wish to tell a whole community their daily inconvenience is irrelevant compared to your weekly hobby they may take that out on your prison wire?
perhaps if you wish to tell a whole community their daily inconvenience is irrelevant compared to your weekly hobby they may take that out on your prison wire? mjltigger

2:34pm Thu 20 Dec 12

beetawix says...

did anyone say it was irrelevant?
did anyone say it was irrelevant? beetawix

6:32pm Thu 20 Dec 12

Rackwell says...

I absolutely agree that this is awful news for the club, and I very much hope that whoever is responsible is caught and severely dealt with. I do hope, however, that the residents of Boundary Walk, Summerdown Walk etc, will not be receiving accusatory leaflets through their door from this gentleman, as we did last time they were vandalised. I was extremely offended by the assumption that it must have been somebody from our estate, whether it was or wasn't I have no idea, but I did not appreciate the tone of the letters we received. It did nothing to endear people to the cause.
I absolutely agree that this is awful news for the club, and I very much hope that whoever is responsible is caught and severely dealt with. I do hope, however, that the residents of Boundary Walk, Summerdown Walk etc, will not be receiving accusatory leaflets through their door from this gentleman, as we did last time they were vandalised. I was extremely offended by the assumption that it must have been somebody from our estate, whether it was or wasn't I have no idea, but I did not appreciate the tone of the letters we received. It did nothing to endear people to the cause. Rackwell

10:25am Fri 21 Dec 12

mjltigger says...

beetawix wrote:
did anyone say it was irrelevant?
this football 'club' and the town council have decided that the land designated as playing fields and therefore designed by ordinance as being for the convenience of the community should actually be only used by a select few. Your council tax being used to pay for their hobby.. yes I would say that makes it irrelevant.

not that I'm condoning vandalism by the way.. I just wonder why anybody is surprised by the strength of feeling aroused when decisions like this are taken.
[quote][p][bold]beetawix[/bold] wrote: did anyone say it was irrelevant?[/p][/quote]this football 'club' and the town council have decided that the land designated as playing fields and therefore designed by ordinance as being for the convenience of the community should actually be only used by a select few. Your council tax being used to pay for their hobby.. yes I would say that makes it irrelevant. not that I'm condoning vandalism by the way.. I just wonder why anybody is surprised by the strength of feeling aroused when decisions like this are taken. mjltigger

7:18pm Mon 24 Dec 12

beetawix says...

i'm with you, just trying to see both sides.
i dont know the politics but i guessed there was more to it than
oxygen theft, mindless, dumb, disgusting, no morals.

as far as football is concerned, waste of time in my opinion.
i'm with you, just trying to see both sides. i dont know the politics but i guessed there was more to it than oxygen theft, mindless, dumb, disgusting, no morals. as far as football is concerned, waste of time in my opinion. beetawix

7:37pm Fri 28 Dec 12

RMccaldon says...

Just thought I'd take the time to reflect on some of the above comments. Firstly Woodmarsh is Private property, not public space, the Football Club leases the ground, and pays for the lease and upkeep of the ground - this is done through funds raised by the Club - not anyones "Council Tax". Secondly, I am surprised that anyone is being "inconvenienced" - there are plenty of Public open spaces available for dog walking etc - a closure of the Public Right of Way, (which incidentally allows you to walk in a straight line from access to access point only, and not utilise the whole sports ground), means that you have to walk and extra 70 yards - I don't feel that this inconveiences anyone greatly! Thirdly, the whole reason that the football club put the fencing up in the first place was to prevent the continued abuse of the facility - the Club has a responsibility to provide a clean and safe environment for our children aged 4 to 18 to play in - this means playing in an area that does not have dog excrement, broken glass and rubbish regularly present.
The football Club is not just a "Weekend" hobby - our children train four evenings a week, five during the Spring and summer, and play almost every Saturday and Sunday - all they ask is for their home town to give them an area to play in which is clean and safe.
As stated, Woodmarsh is private ground, perhaps the few people who want to walk through the site and let their dogs foul the pitches, or leave their bottles and rubbish there, or vandalise the facilities would like to post their address's online, and offer their gardens up for the same treatment? (and then have to clean up the mess afterwards!). The Club has offered the use of the site to the Town Council for sporting/civic events, and the local residents associations for the same, and are open to anyone using the site on an organised basis. The Club has over 400 local children playing for them - there is absolutely no justification in the criminal actions we have seen recently and going back over the last two years, of a very few mindless and cowardly idiots who believe that their antisocial and bullying behavior will "win the day" - if you think about it what they are really doing is sticking two fingers up at our children, and a volunteer workforce who are providing a community service.
Just thought I'd take the time to reflect on some of the above comments. Firstly Woodmarsh is Private property, not public space, the Football Club leases the ground, and pays for the lease and upkeep of the ground - this is done through funds raised by the Club - not anyones "Council Tax". Secondly, I am surprised that anyone is being "inconvenienced" - there are plenty of Public open spaces available for dog walking etc - a closure of the Public Right of Way, (which incidentally allows you to walk in a straight line from access to access point only, and not utilise the whole sports ground), means that you have to walk and extra 70 yards - I don't feel that this inconveiences anyone greatly! Thirdly, the whole reason that the football club put the fencing up in the first place was to prevent the continued abuse of the facility - the Club has a responsibility to provide a clean and safe environment for our children aged 4 to 18 to play in - this means playing in an area that does not have dog excrement, broken glass and rubbish regularly present. The football Club is not just a "Weekend" hobby - our children train four evenings a week, five during the Spring and summer, and play almost every Saturday and Sunday - all they ask is for their home town to give them an area to play in which is clean and safe. As stated, Woodmarsh is private ground, perhaps the few people who want to walk through the site and let their dogs foul the pitches, or leave their bottles and rubbish there, or vandalise the facilities would like to post their address's online, and offer their gardens up for the same treatment? (and then have to clean up the mess afterwards!). The Club has offered the use of the site to the Town Council for sporting/civic events, and the local residents associations for the same, and are open to anyone using the site on an organised basis. The Club has over 400 local children playing for them - there is absolutely no justification in the criminal actions we have seen recently and going back over the last two years, of a very few mindless and cowardly idiots who believe that their antisocial and bullying behavior will "win the day" - if you think about it what they are really doing is sticking two fingers up at our children, and a volunteer workforce who are providing a community service. RMccaldon

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