Ashford suffer"widespread damage" after vandals ransack Homelands

Tuesday 25th April 2006

Just as when things cannot get any worse for Ryman League Division One Club Ashford Town, the Homelands outfit have been hit by a sickening attack by mindless vandals, causing “widespread damage”, writes Stephen McCartney.

The club mathematically maintained their Ryman League status with a goalless draw at champions-elect Ramsgate on Saturday, having escaped the drop on the last day of the season – following a 5-0 defeat at Horsham – 12 months earlier.

A shocked groundsman arrived at The Homelands at 9am on Monday to prepare the pitch for local School’s Cup Finals – only to find the club’s excellent facilities were vandalised.

However, a statement issued by Mark Jenner, the club’s chief executive, vows the club will fight on and have a club to be proud of.

He said: “We are sorry to say that the club was broken into on Saturday night by person or persons unknown who caused widespread damage to just about every room in the building.

”Doors were kicked in and in some cases off their hinges, desks and cupboards ransacked and the kitchens ravaged.

”The Police have made a thorough scene of crime investigation and hopefully have evidence, which will prove valuable at the appropriate time.

”A quantity of bottled drinks were stolen but the amount of damage is out of proportion to the losses through theft.

”Unfortunately the club cannot obtain theft insurance on the premises so the losses are ours for both the missing stock and repairs.

“We have quantified the work that needs to be done and arrangements are in hand to have everything back to normal by the end of the week when we have important functions booked in the facilities.

“The schools football finals went ahead as planned although we were unable to provide the usual indoor facilities."

Jenner said chairman Tim Thorogood has agreed to foot the bill for the damage and insists Saturday’s last league game of the season, against Molesey, will go ahead as planned.

“Tim Thorogood has kindly agreed to pay for the materials required for the repairs and we will be installing new measures to deter further break-ins in the future.

“Nothing will stop us making this club into something to be proud of and Saturday's game will go ahead as normal.

“I am confident that our own enquiries may lead to the identity of the perpetrators and that we will ensure that they receive their just deserts.”

* The club would like to hear from anybody if they can assist with the clear-up currently taking place.