Meath football club condemns vandalism at community pitches
A football club has expressed “deep disappointment and anger” following an act of vandalism at its community football pitches.
Dunshaughlin Youths Football Club (DYFC) issued a statement to members and the local community on social media, and described the incident as a “reckless” act that showed “a complete lack of respect” for the volunteers, coaches, and players who help maintain and use the facilities.
“These pitches are not public facilities,” the club said.
“They are privately owned and managed by Dunshaughlin Youths Football Club and Dunshaughlin Athletics Club for the use of registered members and the wider sporting community who respect and value them.”
“The reckless damage caused shows a complete lack of respect — not just for the clubs, but for the coaches and volunteers who freely give their time to make sport possible, and for the children and adult members who take pride in and enjoy using these facilities. Acts like this have no place in our community and reflect poorly on those involved.”
“It is because of acts like this — which have now impacted not only our club but several others in the locality, including more recently Ratoath Harps — that we will soon be installing security gates and CCTV cameras.”
“This is not something we wish to do, but something we must do out of necessity, to protect our pitches and facilities for the greater good of our members and the local sporting community.”
DYFC also added that unauthorized or unofficial use of the pitches is prohibited, and going forward, they will be “much stricter” about access to the grounds and their use.
“To the vast majority who continue to support and respect our clubs — thank you. To those who do not — you are not welcome on our grounds,” the statement concluded.