Chesterfield kids football club in urgent appeal after deliberate fire torches equipment with season set to start

Club bosses were called by the fire brigade at 3.30am this morning (Tuesday, August 29), after reports of a fire at their brand new, secure equipment cabins at Thistle Park.

The cabins are owned and provided by the Chesterfield Borough Council, primarily as changing facilities for Sunday league teams, but are also used by the Brimington Little Stars FC.

Fire investigators have concluded that someone deliberately set fire to a motorbike which was set up against the container, destroying all the club’s kit purchased ahead of the new season. Everything inside the container was smoke damaged due to the chemicals burning from the bike and the container, leaving the club in a difficult situation ahead of the new season starting in just 11 days.

Following the incident, Brimington Little Stars FC have set up a GoFundMe page earlier today in the hope of raising funds to buy new equipment.

A spokesperson for the club said: “Devastated is not the word! Any donations or spare kit you can help out with would be greatly appreciated – not just by us as a Club Committee, but by all our players and parents who work tirelessly to support our kids and grass roots football.

“We are a fairly new football club and have two grassroots football teams - U9’s and U11’s. Some of our Kit had been purchased by sponsors, the rest through fundraising and subs, and although some of it is not completely destroyed, the fire department have advised us against using it due to the toxicity of the smoke within the container.”

Following the incident,

Councillor Jonathan Davies, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “We provide these cabins for community football teams because we recognise the importance of helping people enjoy exercise. The cabins in Thistle Park were a recent purchase to replace older facilities.

“I am appalled that someone, or a group of mindless vandals, has seriously damaged this important resource.

“We will work to replace it, but unfortunately the situation could limit the use of Thistle Park for football matches in the short term. I am particularly disappointed that this will impact local children and the grassroots football that is so important to people’s health and wellbeing.

“Whoever is responsible for this crime should be prosecuted appropriately. If you have any information about who may be responsible for the fire, please report it to Derbyshire Constabulary as soon as possible.”