Vandals have targeted an Aberdeenshire football ground.
Colony Park FC in Inverurie is one of the largest youth football clubs in the north-east, with around 500 players aged six to 19 in 18 teams.
The club’s HQ at Harlaw Road has been vandalised repeatedly over the years, but last night the culprits went further than ever before – causing thousands of pounds worth of damage.
Advertising boards around the pitch were broken through, concrete slabs smashed and the steps to the gents toilets damaged. It is believed the culprits also tried to get into the toilet block by kicking at the door, but were unsuccessful.
Lots of glass was also left strewn across the pitch and the wider grounds, which dog walkers use.
Chairman Roger Langtree has put signs up at Colony Park to advise dog walkers to stay away, or at least keep their pets on leads to prevent any accidents.
Groundsman Sandy Robertson said: “We’ve had young people creep into the grounds and cause damage before, but this was a totally different level.
‘I just wonder if it will ever end’
“The amount of broken glass around the park is like nothing I’ve ever seen before. They’ve smashed some concrete slabs, broken the steps to the gents and they obviously tried to kick in the door as there are lots of footprints on it.”
Mr Langtree added: “The damage to the playing area and surrounding areas with broken glass is unbelievable. We have had a number of occasions in the past with broken bottles and drug debris but this is by far the worst.
“Unfortunately the council maintain the area round the ground as a right of way, and as such it cannot be closed off and the gates locked.
“The cost in repairing this damage is quite considerable and expense we could well do without. Sadly the perpetrators appear to be teenagers determined to cause wilful damage which the majority of people find difficult to understand. I just wonder if it will ever end.”
It is understood the vandals when it was still light, well before 10.30pm.
Police are investigating the incident.
A spokeswoman said: “On Sunday, April 10 officers were made aware of vandalism having occurred at a football club in Inverurie on the evening of Saturday April 9. Inquiries are ongoing to trace those responsible.”
Local councillor Judy Whyte visited the grounds today and said it was “very disappointing” to see the damage caused.
She said: “It’s very disappointed to see vandalism has taken place at a club where members work so hard to support the local community.”
Colony Park FC runs as a charity, and aims to make football accessible and affordable to all young people with an interest.