Vandals set fire to club pitch in latest attack

The pitch at Dunmurry Cricket Club was targeted on Monday evening in what club captain, Gavin Irwin, said is the latest in a number of anti-social incidents which have taken place over the past three years.

The club committee was forced to close the clubhouse after five break-ins were carried out by thieves and groups of youths who used the premises as a drug den since late 2009. Mr Irwin revealed to the Star that during the past three years the club’s ride-on lawnmower has been destroyed in an arson attack and the cricket pitch has been vandalised on numerous occasions by fires, broken glass and bottles.

The playing surface has also been destroyed by corrosive liquid, motorbikes and cars. The damage to the clubhouse was so extensive, the club has resorted to using changing facilities belonging to a nearby football club.

Gavin explained; “The (clubhouse) is completely unusable given the damage caused. It is estimated that the repair bill to make the building safe to use again would run to tens of thousands of pounds. The club is reliant on its neighbours, Dunmurry Rec FC, to fulfil home fixtures by letting us use its changing facilities.”

Mr Irwin said he did not believe that one single element or group was to blame for the situation, but rather it was the work of opportunistic thieves and youths bent on carrying out acts of criminal damage.

“There have been graffiti slogans like ‘IRA’ which have appeared and cricket is seen as being associated with the British so there has been a sectarian element, but it has just been an element. We are a cross-community club with Protestant and Catholic members. We also have a number of players from the Indian community. We have never ever had a problem of sectarianism or racism.”

And while he admitted the incidents had affected club morale, the captain insisted the latest incident had spurred him on to ensure the club would not face disruption. “We have a fixture on Saturday (tomorrow) and we will be out to ensure the pitch will be match-ready. It takes up to 40 hours of work to get a pitch ready for a match in normal circumstances, so this (the fire) will only add to it but I’ve been heartened by the support we have received from the community and the cricket fraternity. I do think the police could do more but I do appreciate that we have two large fields in a secluded area that is difficult to monitor.”