Growing frustration after latest vandalism incident at Cork city soccer pitch

There is growing frustration among all associated with Blackstone Rovers Football Club in the northside of Cork city, arising after their playing pitch in Fairfield was once again hit by vandalism.

Pictures posted by the club on social media clearly illustrate the extent of the damage caused by youths riding scramblers and motorbikes on the pitch.

Speaking to The Echo, club treasurer Ivan Bevan expressed the deep frustration felt by members and all associated with the club following the latest incident.

“We just want to remind people that everything we do is for the people of the community, both young adults and young children. Any bit of damage done is harming the community,” said Mr Bevan.

“We would just ask people to show respect for what we do, and respect for the kids and the young adults who want to play there.

“That is the bottom line, it comes down to just one word — respect.”

Blackstone Rovers was formed in 1999, with Mr Bevan one of the founding members.

In addition to an adult men’s team in the Cork AUL, Blackstone Rovers FC have teams at underage and academy level.

Time and money

“It has cost us time and money previously to repair the pitch,” said Mr Bevan.

“We have been lucky in that Cathedral Celtic, on the pitch next to us, have helped us out by using their pitch. We have helped them out because they have suffered the same damage previously as well. So, it does become frustrating.

“But it is not going to stop us. We are just going to keep going. We have encountered it before, and we will probably encounter it again.

“But it doesn’t matter, we will keep going and we are lucky in that all the clubs around the place are all pushing for the same thing.

“They realise we are all the same people, just wearing different crests,” he added.

“It is a problem we have had for a long time with scramblers going onto the pitch.

“Where the Fairfield is, it is an open area, with a great walkaround it which is used a lot by the local community. But it is open, and we have had a problem for years — ourselves and Cathedral Celtic on the pitch next to us. To be honest, it has been going on a while.

“Because of the weather, the ground is softer over the last couple of weeks. The cuts have gone really deep. So, we don’t know when the pitch will be available again now.”

Fencing

Mr Bevan said one possible long-term solution to the issue would be to build fencing around the Fairfield pitch.

The club has also contacted the gardaí and local TDs in the Cork North Central constituency to highlight the issue of their pitch being vandalised.

Speaking to The Echo regarding the issue of vandalism to the Blackstone Rovers pitch, Fine Gael TD for Cork North Central Colm Burke said: “It is frustrating for clubs to find this thing happening, because they are all volunteers and they are doing their best for young people.

“Basically, it is trying to work out what is the best way of protecting the grounds so that damage doesn’t arise.

“It is about whether further work can be done about security fencing and everything else.

“There are grants available to assist clubs with that. It is about how can they make it more secure, then if necessary get the benefit of grants from the city council or from national level.”

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