The cricket club claims it has been targeted countless times in the last six months
Group set off fireworks at cricket club
A community sports club has been hit with continuous vandalism and damage. Maghull Cricket Club, a community owned organisation, has been hit with weekly incidents that sees fires started and mindless acts of damage caused.
Most recently, the club has seen its bins set on fire and last night, November 5, fireworks were set off into and around the outdoor practice area, causing damage to the turf. The club will now have to pay for the ground to be relayed as a result. In CCTV shared by the club, four people can be seen setting off fireworks in the area before running away while the fireworks go off.
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One boy in the group then checks the area before the four walk away. Martin Fitton, who has been a member at the club for around 40 years and is on the management committee spoke to the ECHO and expressed his frustration at the club’s desire to help the community going head-to-head with people’s desire to set them back.
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The 55-year-old said: “It’s the culmination of things that makes it impossible for us. If it was just the one incident we wouldn’t bother reporting it but someone is going to get hurt. Whether it’s the fireworks or the fires they’re setting. We think it’s the same handful of people causing all this chaos.
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“The damage costs money. The feeling is that there is no end or no sight of where it ends. We’re helpless. The police come and do what they can but we don’t know what powers they have.”
Discussing what the solution might be for the club and the community, Martin explained he believes the implementation of a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) targeting antisocial behaviour would ease the number of incidents taking place. He says this after Wirral Council and Merseyside Police put in place the PSPO in West Kirby following anti-social behaviour and a subsequent public consultation which found 90% of residents consulted were in favour of the order.
The order aims to address behaviours residents have complained to the authorities about which includes people who are committing anti-social behaviour while covering their faces to hide their identities and it being carried out in large groups. The order is in place for three years in the Wirral town and is something Martin would like to see in place in Maghull.
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When discussing previous incidents, one that stuck out to Martin from the “list as long as my arm” was when a group of children set fire to the cover on the Maghull Town Council-owned field where people were sheltering from the rain during summer. He claims they managed to catch up with one of the group who were fleeing the scene.
The child, a 13-year-old girl, was brought inside before her mum came and picked her up. Another issue Martin highlighted was the location of the field the club shares with Maghull Football Club, as it backs onto the Liverpool-Leeds Canal, giving groups of people an easy escape route.
In the club’s Facebook post reacting to the recent issues the club has faced, it listed the following problems:
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- Our covers were set on fire
- The metals frames for our covers bent
- Fires lit on wickets making them unplayable
- Four kids coaching sessions/games abandoned due to intimidation of coaches and juniors.
- Bins set on fire
- Glass bottle bin tipped open and glass smashed everywhere
- Sight screens smashed
- Opposition players abused
- AC condenser damaged
- Empty beer kegs threw at shutters
- Fireworks set off in practice nets
- Two yellow bins ripped out
- Damage to new fence separating football club
- Damage to our fence behind the clubhouse
- Abusing our bar staff
In a statement issued to the ECHO following fireworks set off on Bonfire Night, a spokesperson for Merseyside Police said: “We are appealing for information following a report of criminal damage in Maghull on Tuesday 5 November. We received a reported that a group of youths had entered the grounds of Maghull Cricket Club on Tommy Gent Way with fireworks and set them off causing damage to the batting practice nets.
“Officers attended and carried out a search of the area. CCTV enquiries are being conducted to identify the suspects and bring them to justice.
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“Officers are appealing for witnesses or anyone who captured any CCTV, doorbell or dashcam footage to please get in touch. Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact @MerPolCC on Twitter or ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre’ on Facebook with reference be 24000941025.”