Footballers launch fundraising campaign after club break-in
Beccles Town Football Club. Picture: Nick Butcher - Credit: Nick Butcher
A group of footballers and managers have joined forces to raise money for their club after £2,000 worth of equipment was stolen.
Last month Beccles Town Football Club suffered an overnight break-in where thieves shattered a padlock, smashed a floodlight and ransacked a container.
During the burglary a red and yellow hydraulic breaker worth £2,000 was stolen – with the cost of damages estimated at around £1,000.
The burglary, which is believed to have been a targeted attack, dealt the grassroots club a harsh blow as the equipment stolen had been loaned by a local tradesman working to improve the club.
A GoFundMe page has since been set up by 24-year-old winger Luke Bailey to raise £3,000 to replace the equipment and carry out repairs.
You may also want to watch:
Mr Bailey said: “It wasn’t my idea alone, I just set up the page – it’s a show of support from all the players and managers at all levels.
“It’s important to get together as players, coaches and families to support the club.”
Most Read
- 1 'Small number' of staff at town's Tesco test positive for Covid-19
- 2 Former pub and restaurant could become six-bed home
- 3 Son's concern as Covid hospital patient, 85, moved seven times in two weeks
- 4 Latitude boss 'super confident' about 2021 events going ahead
- 5 Coronavirus case rates in Suffolk continue to fall below national average
- 6 'Everyone knew' Suffolk journalist David Lennard in the towns he covered during long career
- 7 Tributes to 'much loved' council worker as dustcart leads funeral cortège
- 8 Concerns over lack of coronavirus vaccine centres in north Suffolk
- 9 Woman in her 20s among 31 Covid patients to die in five days at hospital
- 10 Multi-million pound river barrier to protect Broads being considered
The winger explained the fundraising also serves as a show of support for the club’s groundsmen Shaun Soloman and Chris Brown, who work tirelessly to improve facilities.
Mr Bailey added: “Those guys have done so much for the club and work voluntarily.
“To do all that and then have this happen – we wanted to right the wrongs.
“That equipment was lent to us by a local business supporting the club and has to be returned.
“We don’t get big sponsorship, we have to pay our own way and you can’t always account for things like this happening.”
There has already been an outpouring of support for the club in its moment of need.
And from money donated through the GoFundMe page, combined with a generous donation of £1,000 to the club’s chairman, almost half of the £3,000 has already been raised.
Mr Bailey said: “It’s a great show of support, not just for the club but for Shaun and Chris.
“I didn’t think we would get anywhere near that amount but people have been incredible.
“There has been a good togetherness and community feel, which is what you have got to have when something like this happens.”
To support the fundraising visit: www.gofundme.com/btfc-replace-stolen-goods