£1k bill after vandals strike at football field

It is believed that a large group of youths is responsible for the damage at Giant Axe Field on Saturday evening.

The gang managed to snap one of the goalposts completely in half, as well as damaging the remaining one beyond repair.

The posts belong to the recently formed Lancaster City Juniors FC team, who will have to foot the bill for the damage.

They hope to replace the posts with a stronger anti-vandal version, and hope Lancashire Football Association might support them with funding.

Club chairman Danny Potts said: “We are very lucky that the season had already ended, although the new Lancaster City academy had been using our goals for their training too.

“It’s certainly not the best way to start a new club.”

Club secretary Nicola Potts said: “We are a recently set up junior football club, backed by Lancaster City main team.

“The cost of the replacement is down to us (the junior section) and will be around the £1,000 mark.”

As the Guardian went to press, £140 had been raised through an online GoFundMe page, including £50 from Lancaster MP Cat Smith.

Nicola said: “We are raising money to replace the full-sized goalposts that have been damaged by vandals. One has snapped in half and the other is badly damaged.

“Money raised will pay for the replacement and fixing in of a new goals.

The goalposts are an essential part of our equipment.

“Without them the older teams cannot play their matches. They are also used for training purposes throughout the close season.”

“Any donation that you can make would be greatly appreciated, not just by us as the adults and the kids that play for our teams but also the kids in the local community that use them for having a kick around with their friends.”

You can donate to the cause by going online at www.gofundme.com/lancasterJFC.

Anyone with any information about the vandalism can contact the police on 101.