Lifeline for arson-hit Wigan football club

People from across Wigan have rallied round to raise nearly £4,000 for Cherrybrook FC following the distressing act of vandalism over Christmas last year.

The club, based at Laithwaite Park in Worsley Hall, fell victim to firebugs after a metal container holding all the equipment its children use to play football was set alight.

Fire crews attended the incident and police were contacted.

Equipment such as nets, corner flags and barriers were just some of the items that went up in smoke and the club estimated it would cost thousands of pounds to replace them.

That money has now been raised and new equipment purchased while volunteers have helped clear up mess left following the blaze.

Michael Cotter, chairman of the club which was founded in 2005 and is predominantly for children but also has adult teams, said: “We’ve had brighter borough funding forom local councillors.

“A JustGiving page, which was set up, has also raised money.

“We’ve had all the rubbish cleared, new nets, corner flags and stout new locks put on the containers.

“We’re still waiting on some respect barriers as we had to put our orders on hold with our suppliers due to lockdown.

“Hopefully we’ll be able to get this in as soon as possible.

“It’s a really happy ending for us after what happened.”

And Michael said he is now looking forward to the day when the club’s teams can play again once lockdown has eased, and benefit from the new equipment.

He said: “It’s been a bad year from March with lockdown which has meant we’ve struggled with our finances, and when the equipment was burnt, it was one of those things where you felt, what is the point?

“But we have been overwhelmed by the kindness shown and the response from the community and we didn’t ask for anything.

“It really does restore our faith in humanity after what happened.

“If the schools go back in March, hopefully by the end of that month we’ll be able to train and play again, but we’ll have to see.

He added: “I just want to thank everyone for supporting us.”

Anyone with information about the blaze at the club is asked to ring the police on 101 of the freephone Crimestoppers line on 0800 555111.

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