Rothwell football club's biggest cup game in years in doubt after arson attack destroys seating
A fire started in the seating area of a football club could jeopardise their biggest cup draw for more than a decade.
The fire that was deliberately set in plastic seating at Rothwell Corinthians Football Club has caused thousands of pounds worth of damage to the Sergeants Lawn ground.
Club volunteers dashed down to the ground after a resident associated with the team alerted the club’s committee at around 7.15pm yesterday (Sunday, October 13).
Members have been left counting the cost of the ‘heart-breaking’ attack with only days to clear up and ready the ground for their FA Vase round one match on Saturday.
Rothwell Corinthians Football Club chairwoman Lottie McCarthy said: “It’s mindless. I feel heartbroken. It’s devastating for the club and grassroots football. We all work so hard as volunteers.”
Club volunteers rushed to the ground and managed to put out the fire using buckets of water but the club estimates the cost of the damage to be between £2,000 and £3,000.
Seating is needed to comply with the ground rules for their match against Abbey Hulton United in the first round proper of the FA Vase on Saturday (October 19).
Lottie said: "It could jeopardise the biggest game for a decade if we can’t get it compliant but I know my team will do everything to make it happen.”
The club has already been contacted by Kettering Town Football Club who have offered seating to replace the more than 20 plastic seats destroyed in the fire.
To help the club email [email protected].
Northamptonshire Police have anyone with information to contact them by calling 101 and quoting incident number 24000612808.