The return of the beautiful game to a remote village has been thrown in doubt after vandals took it upon themselves to trash football pitches. Volunteers have spent more than a year getting St James’ Playing Fields on the Isle of Grain in tip-top condition to welcome new men’s team, Grain Veteran FC. They had been due to play their inaugural home match at the venue on the Hoo Peninsula on Saturday (November 2) But overnight their newly-prepared pitch was carved up by quad bike yobs.
Shocking photos reveal the aftermath with huge tyre tracks left on the pitches. Club manager Lee Malone and his wife Sarah have been behind the bid to restore the pitches which they say was a joint effort for the community and the wellbeing of residents. Mum-of-two Sarah, 45, said: “We are all absolutely gutted.
Sharing her disgust on social media, she said: “We were so pleased to be able to announce that we are bringing football back to the village and then some sad lowlife scum had to go and do this!!!!! “If anyone knows how to repair this damage fairly quickly then your help is needed!!” “So much hard work and effort has gone into preparing the field and the facilities it is sickening to wake up and see this!” Grain Veteran FC’s long-awaited kick-off is now in the balance as they await a decision from an FA referee to determine whether it can go ahead. The team made up of men from the village over the age of 35, many of who played the beautiful game in their youth, was formed .