CARLTON TOWN FC HIT BY ARSONISTS

[timmiller]

GAME TO GO AHEAD!

 

 

The fire which police have told Carlton Town was arson was stopped only yards from the clubhouse sportsbar by the quick response of the local fire brigrade following a 999 call from a spirited member of the public.

Carlton Chairman Mick Garton confirmed live on Radio Nottingham that saturdays fixture with Belper would go ahead after electricians restored power to the Stoke Lane ground.

One fire had been started in a litter bin and the second saw the entrance to the stadium set ablaze with the section which houses the turnstiles gutted. Thousand of pounds worth of damage has been caused and the club insurers are set to visit the ground in the coming days to access the damage.

A new turnstyle which had been installed as part of ground improvements will be ued for the 1st time after groundsman Bob Sharpe got it up and running today.

Sharpe and Garton were first on the scene and both were shocked how far the blaze had spread and are grateful to the fire service for containing the damage.

"This could have been far worse, how someone could do this is beyond me, we are a community non profit football club for god's sake, many of us put in time, money and effort for no personal gain and then somebody does this, it's shocking!"

The club will now use income from next weeks race night to improve security at the ground and the chairman urged everyone involved with the club to get behind the event. " We now need to spend money urgently in this area, it is the second incident down here already this season and we are only in October." said the Chairman.

Club photographer Tim Harris who arrived on the scene and took photo's of the damage asked locals to come and get behind the club. "Football is full of good people, the mindless behaviour of a minority must not hinder what we are trying to achieve as a club both in terms of sucess on the pitch and in the community and the Belper game will go ahead. I call upon genuine football fans to turn out at 3.00pm and show their support. Keep milling!" he concluded.

[Ian_W]

Made a bit of a mess. Glad it was stopped before reaching the clubhouse

 

[Eastside Urchin]

Cnts