Vandals destroy Kennoway kids football pitches with quad bikes in Fife

Vandals have destroyed council owned football pitches in Fife.

Kennoway Star Hearts Youth Football Club said it has been the victim of quad bike vandalism at Cotlands Park for a number of years.

Secretary Calum Doctor is calling on the council to install perimeter fencing to put an end to it.

“The club has been the victim of this type of vandalism for a good number of years,” he said.

The damage at Kennoway Star Hearts Youth FC pitches. LDRS

“As a club we are pleading for [the council’s] help to get some kind of pitch side barrier fences put up.

“The sad fact is that the council and ourselves could spend the money and hours to repair the pitches, but next week it could happen again.”

Over the last year, the club has spent more than £2,000 to seed and repair the pitches. Mr Doctor said that time and money has gone down the drain.

“We lease the pitches from the council, and we pay a lot of money each year for all our teams to play here,” he said.

“However, we always do our bit to keep the pitches nice so it’s something for Kennoway to be proud of. We’ll do our part [to help with damages], but in our opinion the only way to stop this is for some sort of fences to be put up around each pitch,” he said.

As one of the bottom six of socially deprived areas in Scotland for employment and social activities, Mr Doctor said the club is trying to provide “a proper safe environment for the kids in Kennoway to keep them off the streets and give them a platform to come and enjoy themselves”.

Cotlands Park, Kennoway, before the damage. Google Maps

“When something like this happens, it’s soul destroying,” he said.

The significant damage caused by quad bikes has forced the Kennoway Star Hearts Football Club to cancel some youth games and activities this week and weekend.

The club has reported the incident to Fife Council which is in discussions with police.

Fife Council’s safer communities manager Paul Coleman said he was aware of the vandalism.

“Vandalism of any kind is unacceptable and a blight on our communities,” he said.

“We will continue to regularly patrol this area and work closely with the police to combat this anti-social behaviour.

“We would also encourage members of the public to report any incidents to them or online at www.fife.gov.uk/antisocialbehaviour“