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Hard work of youngsters up in flames

Sam Lister
11/ 3/2003

FOOTBALLING youngsters have suffered a premature end to their season after yobs broke into their clubhouse and torched it just weeks after it was redecorated.

Stalybridge Celtic Juniors' club house in Ashton was destroyed by the blaze on Thursday evening, causing £15,000 of damage.

Twenty firefighters were called to the Mossley Road site at 9pm. It took three hours to get the flames under control.

The fire has been a crushing blow for the club, which was due to kick off its soccer school on Saturday. Club chairman Paul Smith (above) said: "I'm gutted. I've been with the juniors for about 12 years and this has been my main project.

"We raised money to buy the building and put a new roof on it. Everyone from the kids to all the volunteers with the club have worked so hard. The building had just been done out after a burglary and was looking really good.

"It's very, very upsetting but they won't get the better of us. We will continue with the soccer school but it does mean a premature end to the season for the teams. It's heartbreaking, especially when we've put so much time and effort in."

The juniors have been based at the former lacrosse clubhouse for five years. They raised over £10,000 to buy the building and a further £10,000 for a new roof.

As well as 14 teams using the club house, around 200 youngsters were signed up for the soccer school. Classes will now be held at Grey Street pitch in Stalybridge.

It is believed youths broke into the building and set fire to a storage room.

Nearby resident Stewart Carr called the police to report youths hanging about the building just a couple of hours before the fire was started.

He said: "It was absolutely thick with smoke and you could see the flames pouring out.

"The best thing they can do with that building is knock it down otherwise it will just happen over and over again.

"The club is trying its best but there's nothing that can be done to stop the people that did this.

"It's a shame, but they will get in again and do exactly the same trick."

Police are appealing for anyone with information to contact them on 0161 856 9550 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.