A Dundee junior football club hopes to launch night-time soccer schools in a bid to offer youngsters an alternative to anti-social behaviour.
Broughty Athletic Junior Football Club’s Whitton Park has seen a number incidents of vandalism in recent months.
This week a 13-year-old boy was charged and reported to the Youth Justice Assessor in connection with damage to the park’s dugouts on May 22.
CCTV shows that around 20 boys and girls climbed the fence in daylight.
While some played football on the pitch, others trashed the refreshment areas and wheelie bins.
The worst damage was to the dugout area, where metal frames were mangled, plastic panels were torn out and two seats were destroyed.
A 13 year old boy has been identified and charged in connection with a high value vandalism to the dugout area at Dundee East Community Sports Club’s Whitton Park, which took place on Sat 22nd May. He has been reported to the Youth Justice Assessor for further assessment. pic.twitter.com/xrc3IvFxpp
— Tayside Police (@TaysidePolice) June 14, 2021
Broughty Athletic president Jim Finlayson said the youths caused nearly £3,000 of damage.
The cost of repairs will have to be covered by the Dundee East Community Sports Club, the hub group for the six football clubs that use the Whitton Park, Douglas Sports Centre, Claypotts Park and Dawson Park grass pitches.
It is not the first time youths have broken into the grounds and destroyed club property. Football goals are now locked away at night due to vandals trying to pull off the nets.
Mr Finlayson admits: “We often receive noise complaints from nearby residents.”
The club has been in talks with the police about starting evening soccer clubs at weekends.
Mr Finlayson hopes this will prevent any more trouble and even encourage some of the young vandals to take part.
“We’re trying to give the community a chance,” he added.