Drogheda Boys FC appeal after arson attack.
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We are a large local football club in the town of Drogheda, our grounds at Marley's Lane have been damaged badly by an arson attack, and we have lost our storage rooms and pretty much, the entirety of the club's equipment. Please see statement below.
A statement from Drogheda Boys & Girls Football Club
Today was a bad day.
Years of work to build something up, taken away because someone was determined to burn it down for the craic. For entertainment.
To the twenty-six, 6&7 year olds and their families who showed up for their first ever day at the club to find it, and all its equipment in flames, today we are so so sorry.
To the quick thinking coaches who were still able to do their best and give the kids as much as a positive experience as possible while firefighters battled the blaze, today you are our heroes.
The same for the other coaches, and players, who went ahead with sessions today. That kept us going when it seemed like we might just give up.
To the wider general and local football communities, who have had to listen to us, defend our area and it’s potential, today we are embarrassed.
To the Fire Service and Gardaí who spent all day making things safe and investigating, today we were impressed.
To the group of around 30 boys and girls aged around 12-18, who spent the night in our ground drinking before setting fire to it. Today you should be proud of yourself. It was the second time you tried to burn our club down by stealing someone’s wheelie bins and setting them on fire against our walls this week and this time you were successful. When you showed up to goad us while we cleaned up the damage? Pure class.
What have you achieved?
Well apart from the 6&7 year olds that had their first day ruined, can you imagine how excited they were all week? You outdid yourself there.
Or the amount of money lost? Too early to tell really but we reckon between 10 and 50 grand gone up in smoke. Yup Yup. But that’s ok because it wasn’t your money was it? No. It was the €2 your granny threw in to a collection bucket outside mass, or the €5 your mam paid for a draw ticket, or the €10 your dad paid for you to attend the Paddy Mooney camp.
But what’s that? We do nothing for you?
Maybe you’re right.
Apart from the ones who played for our club at some stage, which meant someone else giving up their time for free so you could play football. Or apart from the ones who have played in the midnight league, which involved someone else giving up their time for free so you would have something to do, and be excited about in the evening, and the fast food, you got which we paid for from our own pocket. Apart from the ones who we arranged to go to the Aviva for free to watch the Ireland team play. Apart from the ones who use our astro outside (or inside) club hours, which involves us cleaning up your litter afterwards, or maybe fixing the fences after you get bored of pulling them apart, or just keeping an eye on you to make sure you are safe and not being bullied while you use it. Apart from when you or your big brother or sister walks their dogs on our pitches, and we turn a blind eye most of the time, because, well, they’re only walking their dogs. Still after they’re gone, some sap will give up their time afterwards for free to lift their dogshit so apart from that. Apart from your little sister, who might enjoy the soccer in Marymount, which involves someone giving up his or her time for free? So apart from all that, and god knows what else, you are dead right, we do nothing for you and we deserve it. Maybe that’s the end of some of those things now. Maybe the people who do all that for free wont bother anymore
So today is your day. Enjoy it.
But we’ll be back tomorrow.
We are a large local football club in the town of Drogheda, our grounds at Marley's Lane have been damaged badly by an arson attack, and we have lost our storage rooms and pretty much, the entirety of the club's equipment. Please see statement below.
A statement from Drogheda Boys & Girls Football Club
Today was a bad day.
Years of work to build something up, taken away because someone was determined to burn it down for the craic. For entertainment.
To the twenty-six, 6&7 year olds and their families who showed up for their first ever day at the club to find it, and all its equipment in flames, today we are so so sorry.
To the quick thinking coaches who were still able to do their best and give the kids as much as a positive experience as possible while firefighters battled the blaze, today you are our heroes.
The same for the other coaches, and players, who went ahead with sessions today. That kept us going when it seemed like we might just give up.
To the wider general and local football communities, who have had to listen to us, defend our area and it’s potential, today we are embarrassed.
To the Fire Service and Gardaí who spent all day making things safe and investigating, today we were impressed.
To the group of around 30 boys and girls aged around 12-18, who spent the night in our ground drinking before setting fire to it. Today you should be proud of yourself. It was the second time you tried to burn our club down by stealing someone’s wheelie bins and setting them on fire against our walls this week and this time you were successful. When you showed up to goad us while we cleaned up the damage? Pure class.
What have you achieved?
Well apart from the 6&7 year olds that had their first day ruined, can you imagine how excited they were all week? You outdid yourself there.
Or the amount of money lost? Too early to tell really but we reckon between 10 and 50 grand gone up in smoke. Yup Yup. But that’s ok because it wasn’t your money was it? No. It was the €2 your granny threw in to a collection bucket outside mass, or the €5 your mam paid for a draw ticket, or the €10 your dad paid for you to attend the Paddy Mooney camp.
But what’s that? We do nothing for you?
Maybe you’re right.
Apart from the ones who played for our club at some stage, which meant someone else giving up their time for free so you could play football. Or apart from the ones who have played in the midnight league, which involved someone else giving up their time for free so you would have something to do, and be excited about in the evening, and the fast food, you got which we paid for from our own pocket. Apart from the ones who we arranged to go to the Aviva for free to watch the Ireland team play. Apart from the ones who use our astro outside (or inside) club hours, which involves us cleaning up your litter afterwards, or maybe fixing the fences after you get bored of pulling them apart, or just keeping an eye on you to make sure you are safe and not being bullied while you use it. Apart from when you or your big brother or sister walks their dogs on our pitches, and we turn a blind eye most of the time, because, well, they’re only walking their dogs. Still after they’re gone, some sap will give up their time afterwards for free to lift their dogshit so apart from that. Apart from your little sister, who might enjoy the soccer in Marymount, which involves someone giving up his or her time for free? So apart from all that, and god knows what else, you are dead right, we do nothing for you and we deserve it. Maybe that’s the end of some of those things now. Maybe the people who do all that for free wont bother anymore
So today is your day. Enjoy it.
But we’ll be back tomorrow.
Organizer
Graham Campbell
Organizer
County Louth, Kildare