Hundreds raised for South Yorkshire football club hit by 'soul-destroying' arson attack

Hundreds of pounds have been raised for a South Yorkshire football club which was hit by a ‘soul-destroying’ arson attack during lockdown.
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North Gawber Colliery FC was the victim of a ‘mindless’ attack on a storage container at its home in Woolley, Barnsley, on Tuesday, February 9.

The blaze left the container and equipment badly damaged, with the club facing a bill of more than £2,500 to replace the items.

Some of the equipment damaged in the arson attack (pic: North Gawber Colliery FC)Some of the equipment damaged in the arson attack (pic: North Gawber Colliery FC)
Some of the equipment damaged in the arson attack (pic: North Gawber Colliery FC)
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But it said the response from the local community and from fellow sports clubs had been ‘unbelievable’.

A crowdfunding page has been set up to help the club, with nearly £1,000 donated so far, and several clubs have offered North Gawber their own equipment to ensure it can get back to action as soon as the rules allow.

Jake Bedford, club secretary, said: “When we learned about what had happened we were all gutted. It’s soul-destroying for a club like us that relies on volunteers, and the mindless actions of whoever did this have caused such distress.

"But the response from other clubs and from the local community has been unbelievable. We’ve been overwhelmed by the offers of help and support by neighbouring clubs and the good people that understand and appreciate the value that a football club brings to a community, and the time and effort that is required to run it.

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"It’s not just donations. We’ve had clubs holding raffles to raise money for us and reaching out to offer us equipment. We’re so grateful.”