A grassroots club, left vandalised, receives a heartfelt donation from Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis and Brennan Johnson.
Nottingham based Pelican Colts FC saw their Dave Eastwood Sports Ground damaged while travellers occupied the site earlier in September.
As per Nottingham Post, the club were faced with having to pay repair costs as high as £10,000 with sinks, urinals and toilet cubicles ripped out and smashed while human and dog excrement covers much of the grass, goalposts have been destroyed, fencing has been broken and flooding has been caused by pipes in the toilet block being damaged.
Six games were cancelled. People at the club left feeling “sick” and “in tears” young children left feeling sad at missing out on playing football whilst the travellers (over 17 caravans spotted) were on-site.
A police statement said, per BBC News: “We received a report of criminal damage at Dave Eastwood Sports Ground, in Lenton Lane, Nottingham, on Friday 6 September.
“Officers attended and found fencing had been damaged. It is believed the incident was related to an unauthorised encampment.”
Nottingham City Council, which owns the site, said in a statement: “We lease the ground to Pelican FC and as per the lease agreement, they have sole responsibility for looking after the site – including repairs, maintenance and in this case the removal of travellers.”
By the early hours of Thursday morning (the 12th of September) all the caravans left the site.
Mum and volunteer Jemma Marriott said: “There is extensive damage, it’s much worse than we thought. We had another group of Travellers earlier in the year who were very respectful and tidy. It’s people like this who drag the names of all Travellers through the mud and it’s not fair.
“I was in tears when I walked on here. It’s just awful.” A GoFundMe page, which you can donate to here, was set up to help the club with the costs involved in recovering from the incident. Nearly £6,000 has been raised at the time of writing for Pelican Colts FC, which hosts 15 teams of children, men and women overall.
Steve ‘Coco’ Chaplin, the club chairman: “They even destroyed the CCTV, we see them sticking their fingers up to us on the camera and then it cuts off. All the damage could end up costing us up to £10,000.
“You just can’t comprehend it. I’ve been involved with the club for 30 years and seeing this has made me feel sick.”
As the junior footballers of the grassroots club, aged six to 18, were unable to play on the pitch, The Sun say they watched on as several traveller kids enjoyed their own kickabout with a football. You can watch a video interview HERE.
When their reporter approached one adult male, he responded: “We’re all here for a wedding in Nottingham and we have every right to be staying in a big open field!”
He decided not to comment on why they allegedly broke into the secured ground.
The Sun add that a group of children, looking to be aged about 10, threatened our female reporter, swearing and spitting at her and even tried to kick her car.
Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis and Brennan Johnson have both donated money with Pelican Colts chairman Steve ‘Coco’ Chaplin “lost for words”.
There had been a fundraising target set at £10,000, with Brennan Johnson – who played for local side Dunkirk when a child – donating £1,000.
The target has now gone beyond that figure with Evangelos Marinakis matching the £8,000 that had already been raised.
Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd / The Sun
In a letter to the club, he said: “Dear Mr Chaplin, I was saddened to hear about the recent vandalism that has caused considerable damage to your club and its facilities.
“It is deeply frustrating to see a place that means so much to so many people in our community subjected to such deplorable behaviour.
“Despite this significant setback. I want to commend you on your fundraising efforts and your commitment to revitalising the club and supporting your members, young players and their families.
“At Nottingham Forest we are proud of the work we do in our local community. To support your refurbishment initiatives, I would like to match the funding of £8,000 you have already raised.
“I hope this contribution helps you rebuild and improve your facilities, ensuring that Pelican Colts FC continues to thrive as a welcoming space for young aspiring footballers in our city.
“Together, we can turn this unfortunate incident into an opportunity for growth and renewal.
“Our club executives will be in touch in the coming days to arrange the donation on my behalf.
“Wishing you every success as you rebuild, Evangelos Marinakis”
Radio Nottingham this morning speaking to our club owner and recognising the contribution from EM to the Nottingham community #nffc pic.twitter.com/DCyAXDfsOT
— Panks ⭐️⭐️ (@Panks80) September 19, 2024
Steve Chaplin said the support from Nottingham Forest and Brennan Johnson “was totally out of the blue”, adding: “We were on [our] knees a little bit, but this has helped us now,” he said.
“All the kids will be running around playing football [again] – hopefully this weekend, but it’s a push really, but certainly the following weekend we’ll have the kids back down there.”
Jemma Marriott: “It’s been a real struggle, mentally as well as emotionally, seeing my children upset that they can’t play,” she said.
“Thank you doesn’t seem enough for what the community’s done.”
