Thousands Of Pounds Worth Of Equipment Stolen

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Professional thieves are thought to be behind two break-ins at a tennis club and cricket club in which thousands of pounds worth of equipment was stolen.

Thousands Of Pounds Worth Of Equipment Stolen

Billericay Tennis Club and Billericay Cricket Club, which are both based in Blunts Wall Road, were targeted by thieves overnight last Friday.

The vandals drilled through padlocks on containers to steal lawnmowers, fertiliser spreaders and drinks dispensers. Police believe the same people are responsible and are appealing for anyone with information to come forward.

Dave Randall, committee member at Billericay Cricket Club, said: “We left here at midnight on Friday and and then came back at 7am the next day to find that we had been broken into.

“They had cut through the lock on the gate that leads to the driveway and closed it back up again so nothing looked out of place.

“It looked like they had targeted a particular container and they stole a lawnmower worth £1,000.

“They drilled through a fairly hefty lock.

“It looks like they knew what they were doing, it was planned.

“I’d like to ask people if they see a high-quality lawnmower at a boot sale to let us know.”

The club is claiming on the insurance for new equipment and have increased security measures, including installing CCTV cameras.

Kirk Butler, head coach at the tennis club, added: “They broke into the container, cracked the lock and stole the electric lawnmower, which the groundsman uses.

“It’s a high-quality lawnmower and is worth up to £7,000.

“They also stole some industrial brushes that we use to clean the courts with.

“It seems as if they did the same thing at the cricket club.”

To read the original article from Echo News, click here

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Birmingham To Kick-Start New Season On Hybrid Pitch

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Birmingham to kick-start new season on revolutionary hybrid pitch – Birmingham City will kick start the new Championship season on a revolutionary new pitch at St. Andrew’s following extensive work in the offseason.

Birmingham To Kick-Start New Season On Hybrid Pitch

The Blues have installed a brand new SISGrass Hybrid surface similar to the recent installation at the Luzhniki Stadium in Russia where the 2018 FIFA World Cup Final will be played.

In fact 6 of the 12 Russian stadiums for the FIFA World Cup will boast the most technologically advanced hybrid system next summer.

Working on the project in association with Premier Pitches and MJ Abbott the laser guided stitching of the turf took place at St. Andrew’s this week in preparation for the new season under boss Harry Redknapp.

The laser-guided installation boasts 95% natural turf alongside 5% specially designed PE yarn, stitched into ground. The new SISGrass pitch will offer increased pitch stability and delivers considerably more playing hours than a natural grass surface.

Martin Kelly, Head Groundsman at Birmingham City, commented; “We are really happy with the installation of the new SISGrass surface and can’t wait to get the season underway on it.

“As you would expect a lot of research went into the decision for a new playing surface and SISGrass was the clear winner – the service from start to finish has been superb.”

SIS Pitches UK Project Director, Phil Blackwell, added; “St. Andrew’s is an iconic stadium in the UK and we are proud to have installed SISGrass for the new Championship season.”

British company SIS Pitches installed the revolutionary SISGrass system having already completed pitches at AFC Bournemouth and Derby County as well as the Ta’Qali Stadium in Malta where England will play their next World Cup qualifier.

Andy Cole, Consultant at iTurf Management, added; “This is a significant investment into the pitch by the owners at Birmingham City and it will give them a stable and reliable surface for many many years to come.”

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