Mindless vandals have cost hundreds of kids a safe return to outdoor exercise.
New charity Thorn Athletic Community Trust only opened the doors of their new academy earlier this month, having taken over the running of the former McMaster Centre.
But wreckless morons have already torn up the pitch with motorbikes, with costs to repair the damage set to run into hundreds of pounds.
Their heartless actions have also threatened the charity’s ability to get youngsters back exercising again, with strict social distancing guidelines in place due to the coronavirus pandemic and a limited amount of space to carry out sessions.
Trust chairman Mark McGee branded the bikers’ actions “needless” and “mindless”.
He said: “A few mindless individuals are ruining this area for hundreds of young boys and girls.
“Unless we are there 24 hours a day, seven days a week then it’s impossible to protect the pitch area.
“Every blade of grass is important to us at the moment, with outdoor training the only available option for us at present.
“This will result in the cancellation of sessions, loss of revenue and it’s absolutely needless.”
The trust believes the damage was done on Saturday afternoon.
Despite having only recently opened, this is the third time Thorn Athletic Community Trust have had to deal with damage to the property in Johnstone.
They predict the cost of repairs will run into hundreds of pounds between seed, sand and soil.
The facility was forced to close almost four months ago when the coronavirus crisis struck.
The Thorn Athletic Community Trust are now overseeing both the running of the community football club and the academy as a social enterprise, providing coaching sessions to hundreds of kids from around Renfrewshire.
Mark added: “We would appeal for cooperation and some understanding of our situation as a charity and voluntary organisation.”
