Articles - Articles 1
Newly refurbished rugby clubhouse destroyed by arson
Mar 31 2008 by Andy Passant and Marie Levy, Evening Gazette
Kevin Williams at Yarm Rugby Club's club house which was burned to the ground
DEVASTATED rugby club members are picking up the pieces today after their clubhouse was burned to the ground in a senseless arson attack.
Yarm Rugby Club had only just finished refurbishing its new premises three weeks ago. But the clubhouse - on the site of Preston-on-Tees Cricket Club in Eaglescliffe - went up in flames at the weekend.
Arsonists broke in, helped themselves to alcohol and set fire to the timber structure, causing £40,000 of damage.
"They have literally burned it down to the foundations, said Kevin Williams, president of Yarm Rugby Club. The fact that it was just finished is heartbreaking."Â
Yarm Rugby Club's club house which was burned to the ground
He said besides the financial input a 'phenomenal'Â amount of voluntary labour had gone into the refurbishment.
But Mr Williams pledged that the club would rise from the ashes.
"We will recover from it. I would like to think it will galvanise the club."
Club player Andy Perriman said everyone had mucked in to help refurbish the clubhouse.
"A lot of people put a lot of time and effort into it.
It is our tenth anniversary year. For this to happen has really put a dampner on things."
Yarm Rugby Club's club house which was burned to the ground
The intense heat also destroyed vital equipment belonging to Preston-on-Tees Cricket Club.
Cricket club president Peter Andrew said: "We have lost all our cutting equipment."
A fire-blackened container held the remains of a mower and other items.
The blaze was spotted by a dog walker who was crossing the playing fields at about 7.45am on Saturday.
Fire brigade spokesman Dave Turton said firefighters arrived to find a Å“well-developed fire.
The building was completely destroyed and the machinery was damaged by the heat which led us to believe it had been going for some time.
It is under investigation but at this moment it is believed to have been deliberate ignition.Â
The Durham and Northumberland League 2 side played Acklam on Saturday.
Speaking before the game, club secretary Nick Barfield said: It is ironic we are playing Acklam because they have suffered a similar catastrophe. Acklam RFC had to rebuild after fire ripped through its clubhouse in 1993. Last weekend Yarm Rugby Club celebrated its 10th anniversary and having its first permanent home after revamping the clubhouse, which was bought from the cricket club.
Yarm Rugby Club's club house before it was burned to the ground But now the club, which is facing relegation, has to start again from scratch.
Mr Barfield said: "It is just a clean-up operation now. The only way is up. Hopefully we can rise from the ashes. Ironically our over 35s are called the Phoenix team."
Mr Williams said of the break-in: It would appear they got in, they drank some of the alcohol, they tried to take things out of the club house - presumably alcohol, then they have torched it on their way out. A lot of work and effort had gone into the clubhouse. We had completely gutted the building and put in a new bar.
Treasured mementos were lost, including a signed photograph of Teesside-born England star James Simpson-Daniel. Scottish international star and former Yarm School pupil Simon Webster, who has friends at the club and visited only recently, is said to be gutted.
Mr Williams said: "Its absolutely heartbreaking. We are just trying to build up a community rugby club. We had changing rooms delivered only two weeks ago. They have survived, but one wall was badly singed.Obviously the building was insured but we will need more than that to rebuild it. We would welcome any sponsorship or help towards rebuilding."
Mar 31 2008 by Andy Passant and Marie Levy, Evening Gazette
Kevin Williams at Yarm Rugby Club's club house which was burned to the ground
DEVASTATED rugby club members are picking up the pieces today after their clubhouse was burned to the ground in a senseless arson attack.
Yarm Rugby Club had only just finished refurbishing its new premises three weeks ago. But the clubhouse - on the site of Preston-on-Tees Cricket Club in Eaglescliffe - went up in flames at the weekend.
Arsonists broke in, helped themselves to alcohol and set fire to the timber structure, causing £40,000 of damage.
"They have literally burned it down to the foundations, said Kevin Williams, president of Yarm Rugby Club. The fact that it was just finished is heartbreaking."Â
Yarm Rugby Club's club house which was burned to the ground
He said besides the financial input a 'phenomenal'Â amount of voluntary labour had gone into the refurbishment.
But Mr Williams pledged that the club would rise from the ashes.
"We will recover from it. I would like to think it will galvanise the club."
Club player Andy Perriman said everyone had mucked in to help refurbish the clubhouse.
"A lot of people put a lot of time and effort into it.
It is our tenth anniversary year. For this to happen has really put a dampner on things."
Yarm Rugby Club's club house which was burned to the ground
The intense heat also destroyed vital equipment belonging to Preston-on-Tees Cricket Club.
Cricket club president Peter Andrew said: "We have lost all our cutting equipment."
A fire-blackened container held the remains of a mower and other items.
The blaze was spotted by a dog walker who was crossing the playing fields at about 7.45am on Saturday.
Fire brigade spokesman Dave Turton said firefighters arrived to find a Å“well-developed fire.
The building was completely destroyed and the machinery was damaged by the heat which led us to believe it had been going for some time.
It is under investigation but at this moment it is believed to have been deliberate ignition.Â
The Durham and Northumberland League 2 side played Acklam on Saturday.
Speaking before the game, club secretary Nick Barfield said: It is ironic we are playing Acklam because they have suffered a similar catastrophe. Acklam RFC had to rebuild after fire ripped through its clubhouse in 1993. Last weekend Yarm Rugby Club celebrated its 10th anniversary and having its first permanent home after revamping the clubhouse, which was bought from the cricket club.
Yarm Rugby Club's club house before it was burned to the ground But now the club, which is facing relegation, has to start again from scratch.
Mr Barfield said: "It is just a clean-up operation now. The only way is up. Hopefully we can rise from the ashes. Ironically our over 35s are called the Phoenix team."
Mr Williams said of the break-in: It would appear they got in, they drank some of the alcohol, they tried to take things out of the club house - presumably alcohol, then they have torched it on their way out. A lot of work and effort had gone into the clubhouse. We had completely gutted the building and put in a new bar.
Treasured mementos were lost, including a signed photograph of Teesside-born England star James Simpson-Daniel. Scottish international star and former Yarm School pupil Simon Webster, who has friends at the club and visited only recently, is said to be gutted.
Mr Williams said: "Its absolutely heartbreaking. We are just trying to build up a community rugby club. We had changing rooms delivered only two weeks ago. They have survived, but one wall was badly singed.Obviously the building was insured but we will need more than that to rebuild it. We would welcome any sponsorship or help towards rebuilding."
RSS Feeds