EXCLUSIVE: Nettleham Football Club Torn Up By Vandal Car Driver!

Mr. Charles Shaw, the Secretary to the Nettleham Football Club, has reported that earlier today he received a telephone call which informed him that a car had been driven onto the main football pitch at Mulsanne Park, shortly before 3.00pm on Friday, 5th March 2010.

A member of the public is reported to have been strolling round the perimeter of the field who confirms that a car was driven, at speed, down the pathway towards the tennis courts, then having passed behind the football stadium's panel fencing, it was driven onto the main football pitch through the gap in the rail fencing, at the north eastern corner, and then in a loop through the goalposts, and (after reversing) driven off the pitch and out of the park.

Mr. Shaw says:

"That the vehicle was driven fast enough to rip up the turf, the only consolation was that it was this Friday and not a week ago when the surface was saturated."

The member of the public describes the car as a medium red hatchback, and a female member of the public who the first met near the pavilion is reported to have stated that part of the car was black, either a replacement door or panel, unfortunately she could only remember seeing a driver in the car, but no additional details.

Nettleham Parish Councillor, Giles McNeill, Chairman of the Mulsanne Park Users Committee, said:

"The Parish Council, in partnership with Nettleham Football Club and other user clubs, put in a lot of hard work to provide the facilities at Mulsanne Park and to think that there are people who would treat these facilities with such disrespect is saddening. I understand that the neighbourhood policing team have been contacted and I hope they will seriously investigate this matter to the fullest possible extent.

"It is my hope that an initiative that I was pleased to spearhead to hire a security guard for random, frequent inspections of the site, which will begin in April, will act as a deterrant to the people who cause these senseless acts."

New Duo At Nettleham Football Club Aim For Success

New Joint-Managers of Nettleham Football Club, Mr. Darren Chapman and Mr. Mostyn Chester hope to bring the success to the club which the late Mr. Rick Mason, who passed away shortly before Christmas, deserved for his hard work.

Messrs. Chapman & Chester have taken over as permanent managers at the club based at Mulsanne Park, Nettleham. The pair took charge of their first game last Saturday. Mr. Chapman, a centre-back in his playing days, and Mr. Chester, who was a goalkeeper, are well known on the local football scene, and have previously managed Lincoln Moorlands Reserves, helping them to a top four finish in the Central Midlands League Reserves Division in the 2006/2007 season.

Mr. Chapman admits they have a tough task ahead, with Nettleham currently bottom of the league, with just three wins from twenty-three games. Quoted in the Lincolnshire Echo he says they have ambitious plans for the club:

"It's not ideal circumstances to get the manager's job with Rick's death, but we're very excited about taking the club on. Rick always had the club in his best interests. He worked so hard for Nettleham.

"We're just hoping we can come in and bring the success to Nettleham that Rick deserved for the hard work he put in.

"The ultimate aim is to do what Lincoln Moorlands have done and move up the football pyramid, but it is going to take time and a lot of hard work.

"Nettleham is a club which does not have much money. They have struggled at this level for a while.

"We hope to bring a bit more excitement to the club and get a few more people through the turnstiles."

Mr. Chapman is reported to have said they are already looking to bring in some new players.

"We met a lot of the players at training on Wednesday and we've inherited a good set of lads. But one of the main problems is that the squad isn't big enough.

"There are a few players in the squad who have work commitments and aren't available every week and that can cause problems with such a small squad.

"You hope with new managers coming there will a response from the players."

Is The Circus Coming To Town?

A gentleman has contacted Nettleham Parish Council about the possibility of locating a circus at Mulsanne Park for a two week period later this year, in March.

A descision is expected to be taken at the next parish council meeting scheduled to be held on the evening of Tuesday, 2nd February 2010.

It is understood that the circus promoter will provide a letter detailing the dates the circus would wish to be at Mulsanne Park, the hours it would be operating on, the area of land required, information on relevant insurances, the fee they would be prepared to pay and the sort of circus that would perform.

It is understood that the views of user clubs at Mulsanne Park are being sought. As the sports facilities enjoyed by football, cricket and tennis clubs at Mulsanne Park are financed through a rent calculation based on the operating profit/loss of the site any additional income that can be generated from external bodies is often welcomed as this reduces the rents the clubs pay and the cost to the taxpayer.

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Nettleham Parish Council Bid to Improve Mulsanne Park's Facilities

Later this morning, Cllr. Giles McNeill and Ian Gerrard, Facilities Manager will meet with the Parish Council's architect to discuss the drafting of drawings to illustrate a bid by the Parish Council, Mulsanne Park Users Group and the Nettleham Football Club to improve the Pavilion at the Mulsanne Park.

Nettleham Parish Council is expected to complete a formal bid to West Lindsey District Council for between £75,000-£100,000 for improvements to Changing Rooms, Shower Facilities, Toilets, Function and Meeting Space, the Kitchen and much needed additional storage. Already the Parish Council has put aside around £20,000 of its own money for a new boiler system and showers.

Giles McNeill said:

"It is time for action at Mulsanne Park, but it is not time for Nettleham's taxpayers to put more money into sport in the village, it's not something I believe the vast majority would welcome.

"Too often the parish does not manage to get the funding from outside bodies that it should. I want that to change. I want to improve facilities so that we can provide proper facilities for the senior and junior teams, together with facilities for the women's team and potentially improve the efficiency and viability of Mulsanne Park Pavilion."

The Parish Council has informed the Nettleham Tennis Club that it will only provide one third of the money needed to resurface the tennis courts to the standard required by the Tennis Club, the other two thirds must be found by the Tennis Club and through Grants.

Vandalism at Mulsanne Park

More vandalism has occurred at the Football Club grandstand at Mulsanne Park in Nettleham last night. A considerable amount of damage has been done this time. The large gate on the pavilion has been ripped off, the fascia on the dug outs removed, the steps ripped out (for the second time), plus some Lincolnshire fencing has been broken. The damage caused will likely cost over five hundreds of pounds to put right.

Above: The damaged steps of the grandstand at Mulsanne Park

Nettleham Parish Council staff have managed to get the Police Community Support Officer (PCSO), Jackie Parker, to attend the scene this time. Following calls to the police yesterday evening the PCSO had spoken to a group of youths who were drinking on Brookfield Avenue just before 9pm. It is understood that they were not drunk. Names and addresses have been taken, one of which was from Nettleham.

The police response can be sumerised as that there is no actual of proof of who did it (not even the beer cans left on the football pitch) so no action can be taken.

In February, vandals ripped out plastic seating in the stands, destroyed benches and multiple alcohol bottles were discovered in the grounds.

Above: Debris from the vandals attack litters the pitch.

Secretary of Nettleham FC Charles Shaw is quoted in The Lincolnshire Echo as saying:

"Police were called about some rowdy yobs at a nearby street on Monday evening. They were drinking on the street and also seen to pee on the grass verge.

"The police asked them to move on and then the next morning substantial damage to the football stadium was found.

"The club had been complimented on its work in smartening up the football stadium, then you get a visit from these vandals. It won't stop us playing matches, as we won't let them win, but it's very frustrating."

Anyone with concerns or information should contact PCSO Parker on 07944 776801