A Bellshill Athletic committee member admits he was reduced to tears as their Rockburn Park home went up in smoke last weekend.
Secretary Brian Closs spent 12 hours at the wreckage as Scottish Fire and Rescue (SFRS) and police rushed to the scene in the early hours of Easter Sunday.
The main building and clubhouse at the junior outfit were gutted during the blaze and cops say the incident is not being treated as suspicious.
A fundraiser for the West Region side was quickly organised and has brought in over £5000 so far – including a donation from neighbouring side Blantyre Victoria.
Closs admits he was left heartbroken by the scene but has been lifted up by the support of the town and the football community.
“It’s a real blow for everyone at the club to see that scene,” he told Lanarkshire Live Sport.
“The main building has been totally gutted and we don’t really know if or when we will be able to get back to the ground.
“We still don’t really know the extent of the damage but we hope the building will be deemed safe because of the brick work.
“That’s probably the next stage for us now.
“The support we have had online has been a really big boost for the club; it’s been immediate.
“We have had offers of support from looking businesses to repair the roof, joiners and plumber and a great response to the GoFundMe page.
“We have also had donations from our neighbouring teams, there has been unbelievable support from teams at our grade.
“That has been very heartening. We are sad; very sad. Hopefully we can use it as a positive and it gives us a bit of a jolt.
“I think we all went and had a good cry after it, but we’ve been rejuvenated by the support.”
A spokeswoman for North Lanarkshire Council, who own Rockburn Park, said: “A fire broke out at the clubhouse of Bellshill Athletic Football Club which lease the grounds and facilities from Culture and Leisure North Lanarkshire in the early hours of Sunday morning.
“Police and fire services attended, the fire was extinguished and the building was made safe.
“This is terribly sad news for the club and its supporters and we are working with the club to support them.”
A SFRS spokeswoman said: “Scottish Fire and Rescue Services dispatched three appliances to a building fire at Carnoustie Place at 6.26am.
“A single-story building was alright and the area was made safe. No casualties were reported.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “I can confirm we supported the SFRS at this location yesterday morning, around 6.40am.
“The fire is not being treated as suspicious.”
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