Football tournament in doubt after travellers' 'pitch invasion'
CENTRAL Ajax Football Club of Warwick may have to cancel a planned a fundraising football tournament at the club's ground this weekend after travellers moved onto the site last night, Tuesday.
The weekend tournament is one of the club's biggest fundraisers and is held annually in the summer with over 1,000 children taking part - but it could be in doubt after the traveller encampment set up their vehicles, including 10 caravans, on the Hampton Road site.
Club officials said the travellers arrived after 9pm and cut the locks off a gate with bolt cutters despite pleading with the travellers not to occupy the ground and pitch.
Eventually police were called and an eviction notice has now been served and, as of 8.30pm this evening confirmed the travellers hd vacated the land.
Meanwhile club officials fear that vital training equipment and facilities at the club have been damaged as a result of the travellers' encampment and are not sure if the tournament will go ahead.
The incident maybe linked to a group of travellers who moved onto Warwick Parkway Station last Friday evening but who have since moved on.
A spokesperson for the club said: "Last night our football club was sadly targeted by travellers. After parents and players spent hours preparing our site for the club's annual summer tournament, we were devastated to hear our premises had been invaded.
"Several club members descended to find a group of travellers who had destroyed our entrance gate, which had been locked only 30 minutes earlier. We attempted to plead with them, which sadly fell on deaf ears. They have caused damage to our site but this can, and will be repaired. Our primary concern was regaining control of our site and attempting to proceed with our summer tournament this weekend.
"As of this evening, the police have issued eviction notices to the travellers and they have until 10am tomorrow to leave. We would like to thank all of the officers who have assisted us today and the superintendent who has given the authority to evict so efficiently.
"We will need all of the help we can get tomorrow to firstly secure our site once the travellers have left and then secondly prepare our site for our tournament
"We are a club at the heart of our community and we hope to be able to serve our community again this weekend. We would like to thank all of our members who have assisted and the public for their support."
Central Ajax
