Blog Elements - Turf Matters

Half Sized Blog Element (Single Author Style)

Half Sized Blog Element (Multi Author Style)

Thieves Rip Out Artificial Turf

May 24, 2019/in Industry News, News, Press Release/by External Source

Thieves Rip Out Artificial Turf: Thieves have ripped out specialist artificial turf from a £33,000 training centre used by young cricketers. The nets were set up at Porthill Park Cricket Club around a month ago following a fund-raising drive. But yobs cut up one of the lanes used to help build youngsters’ confidence in the sport. […]

An Update From Scott MacCallum

May 24, 2019/in News, Press Release/by Scott MacCallum

An Update From Scott MacCallum: It’s quite amazing to think that, as I write we are still in May, yet we have already enjoyed two of the four golf Majors – well done to Brookes Koepka for his amazing feat in being the first person to defend successfully both the US Open and the USPGA […]

Thieves Rip Out Artificial Turf

May 24, 2019/in Industry News, News, Press Release/by External Source

An Update From Scott MacCallum

May 24, 2019/in News, Press Release/by Scott MacCallum

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

Thieves Rip Out Artificial Turf

May 24, 2019/in Industry News, News, Press Release/by External Source

Thieves Rip Out Artificial Turf: Thieves have ripped out specialist artificial turf from a £33,000 training centre used by young cricketers.

The nets were set up at Porthill Park Cricket Club around a month ago following a fund-raising drive.

But yobs cut up one of the lanes used to help build youngsters’ confidence in the sport.

Since news of the theft broke, former England captain Michael Vaughan has even Tweeted his support saying: “This is disgusting…please someone let the club know who’s done this.”

Chairman Craig Chorlton was left baffled after discovering a piece of artificial turf measuring 20ft by 6ft was missing.

Craig, of Wolstanton, who has been involved with the club for 15 years, said: “It is specialist flooring and the part they targeted is used by the young cricketers. I don’t know what they will do with it.

“The gates for the nets were locked and I think whoever has done it must have come to have a look before doing it.

“It’s very bizarre how they have cut out one section – but for us we need to have the whole thing re-done. There must have been at least two thieves due to the weight.

“It is used to get young cricketers used to hard ball. This type of artificial turf can’t be bought in the shops and it is specialist.”

The club raised around £5,000 for the nets by holding events and applying for grants from Red Industries and local councillors.

While the nets cost around £33,000 a further £4,000 was spent to make them secure.

Craig says the club has worked hard to support the community and Porthill now boasts 30 junior sides, five senior, a women’s, three for girls and a softball side.

He said: “We also put on sport sessions on the car park as there was some anti-social behaviour in the area over the winter and we wanted to help with that and we are a real part of the community.”

Fellow clubs across North Staffordshire have been quick to back Porthill.

Craig said: “The support we have received has been amazing and I have been told how our Tweet has been shared hundreds of times. The other clubs around the area have been fantastic too.”

Groundsman Ian Plant has also been left disappointed by the theft, which happened overnight on Sunday (May 19).

Ian, mayor of Cheadle, said: “I feel disappointed for the people at the club who worked to get this set up and for the children who use it.

“The nets are a really good stepping stone for young players and now because of this they can’t practice.”

A Staffordshire Police spokesman said: “Officers were called to a report of theft at Porthill Park Cricket Club at 10.45am on Monday, May 20.

“It is believed approximately 20ft of turf had been cut off and stolen. Inquiries are on-going.”

Anyone with information should call Staffordshire Police on 101 and quote incident 205 of May 20.

Click here to read the original article

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

An Update From Scott MacCallum

May 24, 2019/in News, Press Release/by Scott MacCallum

An Update From Scott MacCallum: It’s quite amazing to think that, as I write we are still in May, yet we have already enjoyed two of the four golf Majors – well done to Brookes Koepka for his amazing feat in being the first person to defend successfully both the US Open and the USPGA and hold both at the same time – and we are about to launch into both the Women’s World Cup, in France, and the Cricket World Cup here in the UK.

It seems we are in the middle of the sporting year and we haven’t even had a chance to catch a breath. It won’t be long before we are enjoying the thrills and spills of the Rugby World Cup, in Japan.

Sport really defines a year. If you think back 12 months we were about to start the emotional roller coaster that was the World Cup and it was nice to go into it without the usual hype about England’s chances of winning. Those lower expectations seemed to work as Gareth’s boys came closer than any England side since 1990 to getting to the final.

Although a tad detached from it all, coming as I do, from the other side of Hadrian’s Wall I can still recall sitting in bars watching games and enjoying the feel good factor which engulfed the entire country. Maybe Scotland’s ladies will do what England’s men did last year and exceed expectations.

Can I wish perfect weather conditions and every success to all those groundsmen and greenkeepers who are working so hard to produce first class conditions for all the summer’s sporting events.

Best wishes

Scott MacCallum

Half Sized Blog Element (Single Author Style)

Half Sized Blog Element (Multi Author Style)

Thieves Rip Out Artificial Turf

An Update From Scott MacCallum

Thieves Rip Out Artificial Turf

An Update From Scott MacCallum

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

Thieves Rip Out Artificial Turf

Thieves Rip Out Artificial Turf: Thieves have ripped out specialist artificial turf from a £33,000 training centre used by young cricketers.

An Update From Scott MacCallum

RESOURCES

CONTACT

CONNECT