Gosport junior football club victim of vandalism attack

A JUNIOR football club has had its ground vandalised just days after a revamp.
Some of the vandalism at Gosport FCSome of the vandalism at Gosport FC
Some of the vandalism at Gosport FC

Members of Gosport FC, which is based in Arden Park in Mumby Road, have been left devastated after discovering its facilities had been spray-painted and had to use club funds to remove the damage.

The football club plays a pivotal role in the Gosport community. It runs 30 teams from under-sixes to under-18s, both boys and girls, and has more than 300 members.

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The clubhouse had recently been painted by members ready for the new season but vandals destroyed all the hard work that had been put in.

The vandalism at Gosport FCThe vandalism at Gosport FC
The vandalism at Gosport FC

Paul Clarke, chairman of the club, said: ‘We can’t believe it, considering it’s a local community football club that we all run voluntarily.

‘We work hard to put something on which people use regularly and it’s sad to see somebody has done this.

‘I went down the night before and there were bits of rubbish on the floor, as well as cigarettes, so I cleared them up.

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‘We used an industrial cleaner to remove the spray paint. Luckily, I know someone who did it cheaper, but it’s still had to come out of club funds which could have gone to a better purpose.

The vandalism at Gosport FCThe vandalism at Gosport FC
The vandalism at Gosport FC

‘The outline also remains readable, although we have been told that it will eventually go away in time.’

Paul’s wife, Tania, secretary of the club, said: ‘We spent hours having to remove the damage.

‘The likelihood is that whoever did it knows someone who’s part of the club, which is the saddest part about it. As a parent, we want our subs to go towards things that will benefit our children, not on cleaning up vandalism.’

A spokesperson for Hampshire police said: ‘The incident took place between 6pm on July 20 and 11am on July 21.

‘No persons have been arrested although we are treating it as suspicious.’