Vandals targeted Clover Utd in Rathdowney over the weekend, causing damage with a chainsaw and digging up some of the pitch.
Club officials admitted it could have been a lot worse as those who broke in used the chainsaw on a concrete wall and broke its chain.
“They cut a chunk out of the wall,” said club treasurer Jack Daly.
“Gardai said it could have been a lot worse if they went at the doors with the chainsaw,” he said.
The hapless vandals could have injured themselves in the process, too.
“We’ve been told that when the chain broke they could have easily cut their arms or head off,” Mr Daly said.
Investigating
Gardai in Abbeyleix are investigating the incident and are looking for information from anyone who saw anything suspicious on Friday evening/night.
As well as the damage to the wall, the vandals also removed the letter C from signage on the clubhouse and damaged nets on the goals.
“Some other teams arrived and said ‘we didn’t know we were playing Lover Utd’. That was nearly the worst thing – and to see people taking pictures of it on their phones,” Mr Daly said.
Damage was also caused to nets on the pitch and the surface of the pitch was damaged when posts used to keep nets were taken up.
The pitches had been prepared on Friday afternoon ahead of a busy day of fixtures, and also club registration for the academy players.
Club members then had to flatten down the damage on the pitch and perform running repairs on the nets with cable ties before the matches could go ahead.
New nets have now been ordered, which adds extra expense for the club.
“It’s just mindless,” said Mr Daly.
He said previously, windows have been broken at the grounds.
The acts of vandalism are hard to take for a club which has achieved so much, winning a number of league and cup titles last season.
Clover Utd caters for 370 underage players and provide impressive facilities.
The club completed its own astroturf pitch following extensive fundraising, to add to its playing pitches.
The success of the club was recognised recently when FAI CEO John Delaney visited their grounds along with former Irish internationals Keith Andrews and Stephen Hunt, when the FAI AGM was held in Kilkenny.
The club has a proud history since its foundation in 1974.
Shane Keegan
Clover Utd also paid for the first coaching badge for current Galway Utd manager. Shane Keegan – a relative of Mr Daly’s. Mr Daly says his relative is reminded of this on occasion.
Gardai have urged anyone who saw anything suspicious on Friday night at the Clover Utd grounds to contact them at Rathdowney or Abbeyleix Garda Stations.
Anyone who notices anyone acting suspiciously at the Clover Utd grounds should contact any committee member.
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