'Absolute disgust' after gates ripped off and young player gets covered in dog muck at Lancaster football club field
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The club, which is a long-term leaseholder of York Road Field, said the vandalism occurred some time after 9pm on Sunday October 4.
This follows an incident last weekend when a player from the under nine age group team slipped through dog muck whilst playing on the pitch.
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Hide AdThis was despite a dog ban being introduced previously, which is backed by Lancaster City Council.
Steven Stirzaker Storeys FC 1st Team Manager, said: "Absolutely disgusted!
"This morning we were informed by a local resident that we'd been subjected to an attack of deliberate vandalism which must've happened sometime after 9pm last night.
"The new gates we'd built and fitted using the clubs own money have been completely destroyed and thrown onto the playing surface.
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Hide Ad"Signs have also been ripped from the side of the changing rooms.
"A criminal offence which has been reported to the police.
"We (along with many other local football clubs) have had a constant problem with irresponsible dog owners allowing their dogs to foul on the playing surfaces and then refuse to clean their mess.
"This then renders the pitch unsafe and unplayable."
Steven said the club had made thousands of pounds worth of improvements to the area, and all the work had been completed by volunteers.
"This summer we spent over £3000 of our own funds on machinery to help maintain the whole field throughout the year," he said.
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Hide Ad"However the dog mess issue remained culminating in one of our Under 9 age group players sliding through a mess last Sunday.
"Absolutely awful.
Due to this and rightfully so Lancaster City Council have fully backed us in a Dog Ban from our main fenced off playing surface."
The club encourages participation in sport for Boys and Girls from ages 4 and upwards.
It consists of a Junior Acadamy (Ages 4-7), 4 Youth Teams (Ages 7-14) and 2 Open Age Adult Teams.
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Hide AdSteven added: "We aim to provide a top class facility for those to enjoy and to further encourage others to take part.
"In an age where mental health is such an important issue this provides an amazing outlet for so many.
"If anyone has any information in regards to the criminal vandalism please contact us in confidence via inbox message."