A grass roots football pitch in Ashford has been wrecked by dirt bike riders after a £12,000 revamp was completed just last year.
Pilgrims FC, based in Great Chart, Ashford, have had their pitch destroyed by dirt bike riders who tore up the turf following recent rainfall in the area.
Club officials spotted 3 dirt bikes tearing around the pitch when they went to complete a check of the surface following heavy rain the day before.
Pilgrims FC is the home of grassroots football for over 150 children in the local area, and just last year £12,000 was invested into renovating and upgrading their pitch.
The club has sides in East Kent Youth Football League, the Ashford & District Youth Football League, and the Ashford & District Saturday & Sunday Leagues, with age group ranging from U7’s to open-age.
All teams have had their matches cancelled indefinitely, and one parent commented that they nor the volunteer coaches have any idea if or when sides will be able to play again.
Gemma Carter Collins, one of the parents at the club said:
“It’s so sad to see damage to the local football pitch, it’s actually really bad and worse than the photos show”“My little boy and more than 20 others, not to mention the children on the teams they were meant to play have had their matches cancelled indefinitely because of this.”
“It’s heartbreaking when these 9-10-year-olds look forward to their Saturday football games all week.”
“Whoever did this may not know the consequences but wrecking football playing fields like this has wrecked Pilgrim’s under-10s season.”
“Please, if you know who owns a motocross bike – encourage them to respect pitches.”
“I know the laws don’t make it easy to enjoy them anyway but this type of destruction makes the reason for the laws.”
Kent Police are trying to identify the 3 riders responsible for ruining Pilgrims FC’s newly revamped grassroots football pitch.
