YOBS who ruined local football clubs’ pitches by churning up fields with off-road vehicles following last weekend’s heavy snow - causing an ‘obscene’ amount of damage - will be dealt with appropriately, police bosses say.
Earlier this week, ‘idiots’ cut down the fence at Netherwood Academy and drove a car onto its football pitches before shredding up the Astroturf.
The pitches are hired out by Wombwell Town Juniors and are used by more than a dozen teams - but the damage looks to have put a halt to forthcoming fixtures.
Vandals have been plaguing the borough and targeting fields by using off-road vehicles in recent months, but a spate of incidents were recorded across the town on Sunday and Monday.
Elizabeth Naylor, the secretary at Wombwell Town Juniors, told the Chronicle: “We’ve been hiring out the pitches at Netherwood every night for winter training and then on a Sunday for the matches.
“It’s our first match back for our junior teams on Sunday but at the minute we’ve now got 17 teams with nowhere to play.
“We’re trying to work to find somewhere else but if we don’t have a ‘plan B’ then they’ll have to be cancelled.
“It’s not fair.
“We’ve worked so hard to get where we are.
“We pay a lot of money for those pitches and they’re absolutely brilliant - it’s just so annoying that we’re having to deal with things like this.
“It’s an additional cost to the club.
“We only have a limited amount of money and it’s not right that we’re having to spend it on this - it means that we’ll be without something else.”
Unlike issues elsewhere across the town - which have involved quads and motorbikes - the vandalism at Netherwood was reportedly done by a four-by-four car.
“To purposefully cut down the fence just to go onto the field is just ridiculous,” she added.
“It’s not fair on the kids.
“When people have gone to look at the damage it’s clearly from cars’ tyres.
“This is clearly adults.”
A spokesperson for Netherwood Academy told the Chronicle that they have been in contact with the police regarding the incident.
They added: “We were very disappointed to see the damage caused to our fence and playing fields.
“We are sad that this damage has caused distress and inconvenience for our staff and students, as well as for Wombwell Town Juniors who use the fields, and we are working to restore the area as soon as possible.
“We have reported the break-in to the police and they are now investigating the matter.”
South Yorkshire Police confirmed that the incident has been ‘filed’ pending further information coming to light.
Inspector Rebecca Richardson has urged anyone with any information to get in touch.
She said: “We know that off-road bikes are a concern for our communities and we understand the distress, nuisance and impact they have on residents and those who earn a livelihood from their land.
“We also know that those who use off-road bikes in an antisocial manner are often connected to wider criminal activity.
“In additional to patrols and operations, across Barnsley warning signs have been erected in hotspot areas that act as a first warning to motorists that if they are caught driving in an antisocial manner their bike will be seized.
“We continue to strive to create a safer area for you to live and work, but we are stronger with your help and continue to urge anyone who sees antisocial off-road bikes to report it to us, providing as much information as possible, including a description of the bike, rider, time and location.
“This intelligence helps us understand how and when those involved are committing these acts and respond.”
Coun Kevin Osborne, who represents the Darfield ward, told the Chronicle: “Once again those who use off-road vehicles illegally in our community demonstrate to right minded folk just how utterly selfish they are.
“Someone will know who has done this.
“Someone knows where they live.
“Do the right thing and report them to South Yorkshire Police.
“Thankfully no-one was hurt but why should others have to suffer just so they have their fun?”
Coun James Higginbottom, who represents the Wombwell ward, added: “I am utterly appalled at this senseless act of vandalism, which will only serve to prevent local kids from being able to access sports facilities.
“I would urge anyone with any information about this incident to report that to South Yorkshire Police.”
* More on page five.
