Fylde Women left heartbroken after vandals destroy home stadium

By AFC Fylde

10 Aug 2021

img_2849.jpg

Fylde Women have been left ‘heartbroken' again after vandals continue to break in and damage their home ground Kellamergh Park.

In recent months, members of the AFC Fylde staff have found young children from the local area inside the Kellamergh Park grounds, causing serious damage to the football pitch and facilities. Images show broken glass, empty beer cans, graffiti, and other forms of vandalism that have been carried out by trespassers over a six-month period.

The facility is currently the home of Fylde Women, AFC Fylde Academy, and the training facility for the first-team, however, ‘sadness’ and ‘embarrassment’ are the overriding emotions for the staff and players when they arrive at the stadium today.

Club members have contacted the police on several occasions to report vandalism and trespassing, but to the disappointment of everyone at the football club, no investigations or prosecutions have followed, allowing the perpetrators to return time and again.

Speaking about the recent damage, AFC Fylde Women’s manager, Kim Turner, said: “We are absolutely gutted with what has been happening to our stadium. We’re so proud to be able to call Kellamergh Park our home, as we are one of the only teams in our league that has there own home ground. So, the fact that the local kids are breaking in and ruining it, it feels as though they are destroying the legacy of the entire football club.

“It’s embarrassing that we have to turn up to a training session and chase kids off the pitch and out of the buildings; it’s having a big effect on motivation before we even kick a ball.

“Visiting teams have always been wowed by the condition of the pitch, but that and the buildings have been destroyed - it’s really sad.”

During the week the ground also acts as AFC Fylde men’s team training facility and Manager Jim Bentley also expressed his frustrations: “To see the venue be wrecked by local kids is sad and frustrating. We turn up to training to find litter across the pitch, beer bottles, broken glass - the goalposts are damaged, the penalty spot and goalmouth have been vandalised.

“It is starting to have a detrimental impact on the quality of our training sessions. We are trying to play and coach a certain way, and we find it difficult because of the condition of the pitch.

“If the supporters were to turn up today and see Kellamergh Park the way it is, they would be distraught. The legacy of the football club is being slowly destroyed by kids that continue to illegally break in and act like louts.”

Due to the lack of policing, the club is now being forced to employ a security company to prevent further vandalism and is urging the parents of those responsible to control their children and understand the emotional and financial implications of their actions. The club would like to point out that entry is a criminal offence and prosecutions will be made.

Latest news

1

For sale signs at The Villa Villa Wrea Green has been brought to market (Image credit: The Villa Wrea Green)

For sale signs at The Villa

02 Apr 2025

2

Ancoris and Sundown combine to form Telana: experts in applied innovation Telana

Ancoris and Sundown combine to form Telana: experts in applied innovation

02 Apr 2025

3

Montane group expands with new Lancashire hub Anthony Rae Scott Murcott And Adam Lee

Montane group expands with new Lancashire hub

02 Apr 2025

4

Trio of wins for Lancaster brand and digital consultancy Tom Grattan MD and Daniel Wallace

Trio of wins for Lancaster brand and digital consultancy

02 Apr 2025

5

College excellence highlighted in Ofsted report Fazal Dad

College excellence highlighted in Ofsted report

02 Apr 2025

Pc Prestonmacan Gif980x120 March
Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
Lancashire Net Zero Carbon Conference
Net Zero Carbon Social 1200px
Networking
18 Jun 2025

Lancashire Net Zero Carbon Conference

Crow Wood Hotel & Spa Resort, Burnley, BB12 0RT

08:30 - 13:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers
WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion copy.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
02 Apr 2025 - 08 Oct 2025

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:00 - 15:30

WHN Charity Quiz Night
Evenbrite Quiz 2025.png.png
LBV Hub Fundraisers
03 Apr 2025 - 03 Apr 2025

WHN Charity Quiz Night

The Stables Country Club, Bury , BL9 1PU

18:00 - 22:00

Chamber Breakfast Networking – April
Chamber logo - new-02.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
03 Apr 2025 - 03 Apr 2025

Chamber Breakfast Networking – April

The Dukes Theatre, Lancaster, LA1 1QE

08:00 - 10:00

Lancashire Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880395853-4862066883-1-original.20241022-091152-2.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
04 Apr 2025 - 04 Apr 2025

Lancashire Business Expo 2025

Sir Tom Finney Sports Centre, Preston, PR1 2HE

09:00 - 15:00

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
24 Apr 2025 - 24 Apr 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Stanley House, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

11:30 - 14:15

Planning for the future + navigating Inheritance Tax changes
Planning for the future + navigating Inheritance Tax changes for website.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
01 May 2025 - 01 May 2025

Planning for the future + navigating Inheritance Tax changes

Stanley House Hotel, Mellor, Blackburn, BB2 7NP, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

08:00 - 10:30

A night at the races
1.png.png
LBV Hub Dinners / Balls
02 May 2025 - 02 May 2025

A night at the races

Morecambe FC, Morecambe, LA4 4TB

19:00 - 23:59

Amber River True Bearing quarterly investment seminar
LBV Hub Seminars
22 May 2025 - 22 May 2025

Amber River True Bearing quarterly investment seminar

Cottons Hotel & Spa , Knutsford, WA16 0SU

16:00 - 18:00

Liverpool Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-881365363-4862066883-1-original.20241023-085714.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Awards
23 May 2025 - 23 May 2025

Liverpool Business Expo 2025

Aintree Racecourse , Liverpool , L9 5AS

09:00 - 15:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more Lbv121 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin