Clean up at Pelsall Villa begins after £5,000 vandal attack

Holes were kicked in walls, pipes ripped away and red paint splashed everywhere after Pelsall Villa in Walsall was targeted some time between 7pm on Thursday, June 29, and 7am on Friday, June 30.

Now a week on from the break-in, which West Midlands Police is still investigating, the club has begun the clean-up. Members of the club and volunteers were on site yesterday between 8am and 6pm to start to clear away the wreckage.

Co-chairman Darren Phillips said: "It is probably going to cost around £5,000 to clear up but we have lost more money as we can't host our pre-season games. We were supposed to make money from the games but now we need to pay Shelfield to play there. They have been good as gold for us and halved their fees but it is still going to cost.

"They have gone through our buildings one by one and tried to wreck them. In a store room they have found the red paint and splashed it all over the floors and in the stand.

"The community has come together to make sure we get the club ready for the season on August 12. The club will have been going 119 years this season so we cannot let this senseless vandalism ruin that. People have put too much hard work and effort into this club.

"It is devastating to think it is some kids in the community who have done this to their own club. We offer teams from under-six through to adults."

As well as Pelsall Villa, the vandals are also thought to have targeted the nearby derelict Bush pub.

West Midlands Police is asking anyone with any information to contact them on 101 quoting reference number 20WS/139678P/17.

The force says the offenders may have had splashes of red paint on their clothing as well as boasting about causing the damage.