SOCCER SHOCK
Lethal spikes put on junior sports ground
By ESZTER VASENSZKY
At least 40 metal spikes have been found hammered part way into two soccer pitches at Elizabeth Downs in a "disgusting" act calculated to harm young players. Elizabeth Downs Soccer Club member arrived at their grounds at Argana Park on Saturday June 23, to prepare for the Under-9 junior game, when several of the spikes were discovered in the pitch near one goal.
Under-9 coach Tony O'Rielly said a search revealed 40 spikes, about 30cm long and similar to tent pegs, sticking out of the ground about 2 - 3m apart across the two pitches. They appeared to have been hammered into the ground. "It was a clear effort to injure someone, its absolutely disgusting," Mr O'Rielly said.
"We couldn't believe it -- if we weren't quick off the mark in spotting these spikes, it could have been disastrous for the kids." He said the spikes could have easily stabbed a player in the knee or head during a fall. "Kids can't control how they fall... any part of their body would have been ruptured. They're always running very fast and you can't stop when you're falling."
The game was delayed by an hour while club member, parents and the players methodically searched every metre of the ground and removed the spikes. "All the kids a foot apart, 30 of them, plus parents (walked) up and down the pitchpulling spikes out."
Mr O'Rielly said while vandals frequently targeted the club, it was the first time there had been an apparently deliberate attempt to injure players. "They would have had to be prepared -- kids normally don't spend time to set up traps. To find that someone wants to injure (players) is very disheartening. What next are they going to try to do?"
Club chairman Mark Swan said it was the third weekend in a row vandals had targeted the club, but the latest incident was by far the most serious attack. Earlier this month, hoon drivers rupped up the soccer pitch doing burnouts, while broken glass was recently also found on the oval.
"This is starting to get a bit beyond the simple vandalism," Mr Swan said. "Hawever, he said the club, which reported the incident to police last week, had little power to ramp up security because their home grounds were so huge.
Elizabeth Superintendent Ferdi Pit described the attack at "very dangerous" and said police would consider increasing patrols to the area. "We will pay more attention to the soccer club as required," he said. He said this was the first time he had heard of metal spikes used by vandals in the area.
Lethal spikes put on junior sports ground
By ESZTER VASENSZKY
At least 40 metal spikes have been found hammered part way into two soccer pitches at Elizabeth Downs in a "disgusting" act calculated to harm young players. Elizabeth Downs Soccer Club member arrived at their grounds at Argana Park on Saturday June 23, to prepare for the Under-9 junior game, when several of the spikes were discovered in the pitch near one goal.
Under-9 coach Tony O'Rielly said a search revealed 40 spikes, about 30cm long and similar to tent pegs, sticking out of the ground about 2 - 3m apart across the two pitches. They appeared to have been hammered into the ground. "It was a clear effort to injure someone, its absolutely disgusting," Mr O'Rielly said.
"We couldn't believe it -- if we weren't quick off the mark in spotting these spikes, it could have been disastrous for the kids." He said the spikes could have easily stabbed a player in the knee or head during a fall. "Kids can't control how they fall... any part of their body would have been ruptured. They're always running very fast and you can't stop when you're falling."
The game was delayed by an hour while club member, parents and the players methodically searched every metre of the ground and removed the spikes. "All the kids a foot apart, 30 of them, plus parents (walked) up and down the pitchpulling spikes out."
Mr O'Rielly said while vandals frequently targeted the club, it was the first time there had been an apparently deliberate attempt to injure players. "They would have had to be prepared -- kids normally don't spend time to set up traps. To find that someone wants to injure (players) is very disheartening. What next are they going to try to do?"
Club chairman Mark Swan said it was the third weekend in a row vandals had targeted the club, but the latest incident was by far the most serious attack. Earlier this month, hoon drivers rupped up the soccer pitch doing burnouts, while broken glass was recently also found on the oval.
"This is starting to get a bit beyond the simple vandalism," Mr Swan said. "Hawever, he said the club, which reported the incident to police last week, had little power to ramp up security because their home grounds were so huge.
Elizabeth Superintendent Ferdi Pit described the attack at "very dangerous" and said police would consider increasing patrols to the area. "We will pay more attention to the soccer club as required," he said. He said this was the first time he had heard of metal spikes used by vandals in the area.
Nice dead bat.
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