Football club has goalposts chopped down day before season opener

Fleur de Lys Football Club suspect a group of teenagers took an angle grinder to their goalposts just a day before their first team were due to kick off their season.

The club, who boast more than 200 members across multiple age groups, play their football at Trelyn Park in Fleur de Lis, but were forced to find another pitch after the act of vandalism which occurred on Friday August 11.

Club chairman and youth team coach Nathan Lloyd told Caerphilly Observer: “Me and some committee members went down to the pitch at around 7.30pm last Friday night and all was well.

“We’ve since heard from local residents that by 9pm, a group of teenagers had come and gone, and our goalposts were flat on the grass.”

Lloyd went on to say that since posting the pictures online, “everyone” has told him the incident was no accident, and that the cut marks were consistent with that of an angle grinder.

He continued: “We were extremely disappointed of course. Fortunately we found a pitch in Pengam for our opener against Newbridge but the posts are still missing and we’re hopeful the council will replace them this week. They have warned us however that they have a shortage of posts.”

Fortunately for the club, the local area has been extremely supportive, with local businessman Chris Hayman donating funds and supplier Net World Sports giving them a set of nets.

Lloyd explained how the club itself is doing well, with numbers on the up everyday. He added: “We’re one of the biggest clubs in the area and since Covid we’ve done really well.

“It’s our seniors’ third season and our youth side’s second. We only have one pitch however. which is why this is such a big issue. There aren’t any spare pitches in the borough.”

The club are also hopeful of setting up an all-girls team in the very near future, according to Lloyd.

Gwent Police is appealing for information and can be found on Facebook, Twitter or by calling 101 and quoting log 20230812.

Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be called anonymously on 0800 555 111.