Pitch peppered with broken glass

Strabane Rugby Club was forced to abandon its match against Rainey Old Boys last weekend after the referee discovered the remnants of smashed bottles at one end of the Bradley Way ground.

It is believed those responsible are teenagers who engage in anti-social behaviour while using the facilities as a drinking den.

A similar problem forced the temporary closure of adjoining sports pitches on the outskirts of the west Tyrone town in 2010.

Rugby club president Gerry Taylor slammed those responsible and claimed the club would have fared much worse had the vandalism occurred earlier in the season.

“If it had happened at the beginning of the year we would have had to play all our matches away,” he said.

“It would have put us out of business.”

The senior official said the players became aware of the problem while they were warming up for their league match.The referee deemed the surface to be unplayable for health and safety reasons.

While slamming the offenders, Mr Taylor admitted the offence did “not come out of the blue” given what happened to the nearby Gaelic and football pitches previously.

He said: “It is a revelling place for young people at night.

“I wouldn’t mind but they smash the bottles into the ground, which is rather dangerous.

“It is mindlessness and it is a social problem. When the drink goes in the wit goes out,” said Mr Taylor.

UUP councillor Derek Hussey – who previously played for the club – said he was informed the cost of repair could be as much as £4,000.

A PSNI spokesman said police are aware of the incident and have increased patrols in the area as a result.

He said: “The PSNI has zero tolerance for those who damage property or are found drinking in a public place.”

Yesterday the BBC was reporting that vandals had also dug holes in the greens at Strabane Golf Club on Wednesday evening.

The club’s head greenkeeper, Paul McFadden, said the holes in the greens were “a couple of feet wide and inches deep”.

Anyone witnessing incidents of anti-social behaviour has been urged to contact police in the town on 0845 600 8000.