Local Football

Football match put in jeopardy by "mindless idiots"

By Jon Nurse
January 08, 2013

Vandals put a league game at risk after they rendered a pitch unplayable.

Following three weeks without a game because of bad weather, Eversley & California FC was forced to make a last minute switch of location this weekend when its award winning pitch was ruined.

The club tweeted on Friday: "Thanks to some mindless idiots ruining our pitch over the Christmas period our 'home' game tomorrow against Knaphill has been switched to their ground, Redding Way, and kick will now be at the later time of 3pm. Thanks to @KnaphillFC and all concerned for their co-operation."

Eversley & California won the Division One clash 3-0, their sixth win in their last seven games.

Chairman David Bland said: "On two occasions over the Christmas period, we believe on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day, some ex-players went down on the pitch when it was extremely waterlogged. They had a kickaround using a goal and made a mess in the penalty area.

"They played around the goal to such an extent it turned a wet surface into a quagmire. It looked like cows had gone through it."

The club's Fox Lane pitch was highly commended in the FA Groundsman of the Year Awards in 2010 and voted the best surface in the league by other teams in the league last season.

The chairman said the incident was very disappointing and the team would now need to pay for the affected area to be resurfaced in time for its next home again in less than two weeks time.

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"...made a mess in the penalty area."

Dirty boys.

Nowtas, West Berkshire
09/01/2013 at 11:15

Ex Players? So it really wasnt vandalism but some people playing on it that shouldnt have been there and damaged the pitch.

Im sure it wasnt the fact it was raining for past 300 years and pretty much most pitches where any one has gone on it have payed the toll.