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Risca United are facing thousands of pounds worth of damage after their changing rooms were burnt down in the early hours of this morning.
South Wales Fire and Rescue Service (SWFRS) are yet to determine the cause of the fire, which began at around 5am on Monday September 11.
Risca United first team manager, Simon Berry, spoke to Caerphilly Observer a few hours after the fire had been put out. He said: “I’m here with the chairman and secretary along with the fire service but we can’t even get close to the building yet. It’s been decimated.
“The feeling is that it was deliberate, but it doesn’t matter either way because the building is destroyed. The whole roof is off so more than likely everything inside is gone.
“It’s even more gutting because only a few weeks ago did we renovate the changing rooms, painting them the black and white stripes of Risca.”
The changing rooms themselves were full of football equipment such as nets and corner flags, however there were also fridges and freezers inside which are more than likely destroyed.
In a statement, SWFRS said: “At approximately 5am on Monday September 11, we received reports of a fire at Pontymister, Risca.
“Crews from Risca, Maindee and Duffryn Fire and Rescue Stations were in attendance, alongside emergency services colleagues.
“Special equipment such as water jets and triple extension ladders were used to manage the fire.
“A stop message was received at approximately 7.12am.”
The ground in Pontymister is home to Risca’s reserve side, who will now have to find a new pitch to play on, explained Berry.
“We’ve had some clubs from the area get in touch and offer to help us out when they can, but there’s an added cost to playing on a different pitch.
“The council are down here ring-fencing the area so wherever we play it won’t be here.”
Gwent Police are also appealing for information, and encourage anyone with CCTV in the area to get in touch via social media, or call 101 quoting log reference 2300307119.
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