STADIUM TRASHED AGAIN

NEWS Monday 23rd September 2013, 8:00pm

by Toby Lerone

  Edinburgh Monarchs

Armadale Stadium has been the subject of further vandal attacks in the past seven days. Last Monday afternoon the stadium was broken into and glass on the tractors was again smashed. The showers lights and heaters in the dressing rooms were all switched on and, eventually, the whole area was flooded.

On Saturday, during the early part of the evening another attack took place with our lower hospitality suite suffering extensive damage. Three windows were smashed and glass bottles within the unit were them smashed throughout the stadium. An attempt was also made to break into the Club Shop and lights were left on throughout the stadium.

The police attended the stadium on Sunday morning to examine the damage and take statements but after the greyhound trials ended just before twelve the stadium was again left empty and then vandals returned again, this time attacking the upper hospitality unit. A window was smashed to gain entry and again glass bottles were smashed and an attempt was made to set fire to the building.

We are grateful to Max Fricke’s landlady and her children for their vigilance as without them it is likely that the damage would have been even greater.

Said Co-Promoter, John Campbell, “The hospitality area was a mess when I visited the stadium on Sunday morning and an even bigger mess when I returned on Sunday afternoon. We’re about to announce our plans as to how we propose to raise the funds to allow us to install our air barrier for next season and this has put us two steps back before we have even moved forward. I’d estimate the cost of the damage to be in the region of £3,000. We’re keen to get our hospitality area fully operational for Friday as we do have a booking”

Scotwaste Monarchs man on the ground, Ronnie Anderson, has been undertaking some cleaning up work on Monday but has called for help at the stadium on Tuesday morning to get everything back in place. If you can help you will be welcomed at the stadium from 10.00am.

One of the culprits was apprehended at the stadium on Sunday afternoon and two others have been named. It is understood that they range in age from seven to ten.