Police continue to probe Edwinstowe Cricket Club vandalism

Thugs targeted Edwinstowe Cricket Club’s practice nets sometime overnight on Monday, April 12 – leaving them badly bent and buckled.

The vandalism took place just weeks after the 150-year-old club had installed the new equipment having spent a year raising money to buy it to help improve facilities and encourage youngsters in the village to play cricket.

Police have confirmed they are investigating the crime and have urged anyone with information to contact them.

PC Graham Whitehead said: "It's hugely disappointing to see the club's brand new equipment was destroyed so quickly, especially after the brilliant work done by the whole community organising the funds. We are keen to help the community find out who did this.”

Club officials have been able to repair the damaged equipment and have now started the new season – but hope the vandalism is a one-off.

Chairman Mike Wigglesworth told Chad: “The damage at the time was extensive, it looked like someone had been swinging on the aluminium tube frames. We couldn’t believe it when it happened.

"We’d only took delivery of the equipment at the end of March after fundraising in the village. It was bought to help nurture young cricket talent and the damage was estimated at about £3,000.

"We managed to repair the nets and we have now launched our new season. We have around 70 or more youngsters coming along to play cricket in the coming weeks.

"We are hoping that with more people in the village keeping an eye and the police investigating that it won’t happen again.”

The club held its first junior meeting on Friday, April 23, with 46 children taking part. The eight to 13 year old groups, the Dynamos ad Hardballs, will now meet every Friday.

It also has around 25 youngsters enrolled on its All Stars Programme for five to eight year olds, which starts from Sunday, May 16.

- Anyone with any information should contact Nottinghamshire Police on 101, quoting incident number 126 of 14 April 2021.

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