Leaving behind a trail of destruction, suspected car hoons have vandalised two Highland soccer fields.
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With repair costs still unknown, the damage could affect much more than just the wallet.
The Mittagong Soccer Club left the fields Friday in perfect condition, only to find them tarnished the following day.
President of the Mittagong Soccer Club, Jonathan Fullerton received the bad news by text message.
"We only had a training session there last Friday afternoon (June 19)," Mr Fullerton said.
"A member of the board went to walk his dogs early Saturday morning and sent me through the photos of the damage done.
"There's tyre marks all over both pitches, and I'm now in discussion with council to see how much the damage will cost. The ovals are council assets and will be assessed to see how much the damage will be."
This isn't the first time this has happened to the ovals, and if protection isn't installed soon, Fullerton believes it will just continue in a vicious cycle.
"This is the worst it has been in my past two years as president of the club," Mr Fullerton said.
"It is an on going issue. We're talking three to four inches of holes torn up all over the junior and senior fields.
"Getting fence protection is an on going conversation I've been having with council.
"If it's not cars accessing the fields, it's motorbikes. Council has recently placed sandstone blocks to try and stop intruders coming in, but the culprits have created new ways to get in.
"There is the front gate, but we are encouraged by council to keep it open. There's no real way to block vehicles from getting on the fields.
"There needs to be a robust conversation with council about a perimeter fence, because this will just keep happening."
Given the COVID situation, like many businesses and sporting clubs around the Highlands, times are tough. In an already trying time, this is the last thing the club needs.
"We have to follow a whole bunch of different protocols due to the COVID pandemic," Mr Fullerton said.
"It's already difficult and given the extent of the damage, this will throw all our training sessions under the water.
"It hasn't been confirmed by the council yet, but I'm thinking the fields will be written off for a couple of weeks. We will have nowhere to train. And when the season starts, it's possible another field is out of action.
"It doesn't only affect our club, it affects the whole association.
"It's frustrating when you're a community, non-for-profit organisation and these sorts of things happen. I've been on the phone for four hours organising repair quotes.
"It's a real shame."
It doesn't only affect our club, it affects the whole association.
- President of the Mittagong Soccer Club, Jonathan Fullerton.
If anyone witnessed the destruction of the Ironmines fields, Fullerton and the club urge people to contact authorities.
"A police and council report have been lodged," Mr Fullerton said.
"But as far as when it will return to action and how much it will cost to fix the fields, that is still up in the air.
"If anyone did see anything, please contact the local police."
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