Telford football club in appeal after Storm Barney tears roof off stand
An amateur football club from Telford today appealed for help after being faced with a bill of hundreds of pounds after the roof of its stand was ripped off during Storm Barney.
The roof of the Wellington Amateurs' football stand at their ground on School Grove in Oakengates was torn off during the storm on Tuesday night, in which wind speeds reached up to 80mph.
A group of volunteers called the Wednesday Club, all active pensioners who help tend to the ground, found the damage earlier this week.
The club chairman, Dave Gregory, said they are now appealing for help with the repairs.
He said: "It is quite a strong structure, it is corrugated sheeting supported on a structure made of four-by-two wood. It has stood for eight years.
"Some of our volunteers turned up on Wednesday to do some work on the ground and found two thirds of the roof had been taken off and deposited around 25 metres away.
"Some of it was on the ground but the largest part, which is about four metre-squared, was taken over a perimeter fence about two metres high. It got caught up in some hedgerows and stuff.
"We've got no insurance cover because the ground is unoccupied for much of the week.
"We've been left with quite a bill and we're asking if anyone can help us with materials or towards the cost of the ground. repairs"
There are about 10 youth teams that use the ground, along with a ladies' and a seniors' team. About 250 people of all ages use the facility regularly for football.
Mr Gregory said: "We now can't use the ground until it is safe and repaired
"We're all volunteers, nobody gets paid – it is very much grassroots football."
Anyone who thinks they can help can contact Dave by emailing dave.gregory@ppmedia.co.uk
