Arson attack at football club

TARGETED by arsonists . . . club vice-chairman Les Fitton checks the fire-damaged boardroom

AN arson attack has caused thousands of pounds worth of damage at Mossley Football Club.

And only the quick actions of the landlord of the near-by Highland Laddie pub and two of his customers prevented the boardroom at Seel Park from being gutted.

Mike Stringer and two customers grabbed fire extinguishers from the pub and managed to put out the blaze before the fire service arrived.

Mossley commercial manager Phil Beckwith said: “Everybody at the football club would like to put on record our thanks to Mike and his customers.

“Had they not intervened, I have no doubt the building would have been gutted by the blaze and it might even have spread to the offices and main stand.”

Even after the speedy intervention of Mr Stringer and his customers, considerable damage was caused to the boardroom suite.

The door, casing and roof to the entrance have been badly damaged while the interior will need redecorating because of the smoke.

Mr Beckwith explained that the culprits also tried to set the main stand on fire as two plastic seats have been burned, while dozens of beer bottles have been smashed on the terracing.

He said: “There is an ongoing problem with a small number of youths who are out of control. They are hell bent on causing problems, not only to the football club but in the town in general.”

Mr Beckwith said it was the third vandalism attack the club had suffered to this year, though this is the only one involving arson.

He added the club will be working non-stop to get the damage repaired in time for the next home game, against Salford City a week on Saturday in division one north of the UniBond League.

“That game is sponsored so we need to get the boardroom suite fixed before then or we will be losing further revenue,” added Mr Beckwith.