Trespassers damage cricket club, leaving members heartbroken and angry

A Somerset-based cricket club has been left saddened and angry after a group of trespassers caused damage to their grounds. Uphill Castle Cricket Club took to Facebook to explain what had happened and advised members to stay away until the situation had been resolved. The club was forced to cancel several training sessions, including youth and ladies training, after visitors drove onto the grounds and damaged sight-screens, covers and the pitch. A private security firm was called in to remove the group but the club now faces costly fees to cover the clean-up and equipment repair costs, along with future-proofing the ground. In a statement on their Crowdfunder page, the club appealed to the local community for financial support to help mitigate the damage caused.
This event highlights the potential financial strain that small village clubs can face after such incidents. The police were unable to intervene as the club was on privately-owned land and the trespassers were technically not breaking the law. As a result, the club was forced to bring in their own security and potentially pay costly fees to deal with the situation. With the pandemic already putting pressure on small sports clubs, this event has added to Uphill Castle Cricket Club’s financial difficulties. As communities continue to come together during the pandemic, it will be interesting to see if local residents rally around the club and offer their support in these difficult times.