Maghull cricket club to put up fence after young people fight on pitch
A cricket club plagued by anti-social behaviour has said the only way to prevent young people from causing trouble on its pitch is to build a large fence around the perimeter.About 25 police reports of people harassing players, setting of fireworks and vandalising equipment have been made at Maghull Cricket Club, near Liverpool, since July last year An incident earlier this month saw young people fighting on the cricket field, some armed with hammers, during a junior coaching session.Club chairman Adam Lloyd said there was "no option" but to build a fence and block access to the ground.
A 14-year-old boy from Maghull was arrested on suspicion of affray and possessing class B drug cannabis and a weapon in a public place after the fight on 2 May. Merseyside Police said he had been released under investigation, while a 17-year-old had also been questioned over the fracas. A community meeting organised by the club heard how the violence had upset children and prompted some parents to consider not returning to training sessions over safety fears.Mr Lloyd said witnessing the fight had been "traumatising". "The kids had never seen anything like it before, some were crying", he said, adding the violence "had to stop".He said the club would seek funding to help with costs of building the fence, but he said he would much rather youngsters took an interest in the sport. The father-of-two said, "It's a family club – when I was a kid my Dad dragged me along to the cricket – his Dad was the same. I've got my kids playing cricket – we are all invested in this club because we love doing it."
Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell went to the club meeting and said building the fence would help "design out crime".She said her office could also look at helping with the cost, but added there was a wider issue to address about engaging with the young people responsible for the anti-social behaviour.
'Threatening'
Labour MP for Sefton Central Bill Esterson said the fight was a "real wake-up call", which was "disturbing and hugely upsetting for the children playing cricket". He said: "Thankfully the adults intervened and prevented something much worse from happening. "Goodness knows what would have happened if people had used the weapons they were carrying."The MP said cricket had been "a big part of his life", and he had seen the joy it could bring. He called for an intervention and more activities for young people, and said "maybe some of them can play cricket and football instead of threatening and fighting each other".Spurrell said: "A lot of these kids get pulled into this lifestyle and they are vulnerable themselves so how are we intervening? "We need to identify them, but then find out why are they getting involved in this activity and then can we get them involved in something more constructive."
Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Woman charged with four-year-old boy's murder appears in court
A woman charged with the murder of a four-year-old boy will next appear in court in Adivarekar, 37, of Dunholme End, Maidenhead, appeared at Reading Crown Court on was remanded in custody and will appear at the same court on 5 Valley Police said officers were called to a home in Maidenhead on 10 June. You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Two men jailed over £400,000 Hull cannabis factory
Two men have been jailed after admitting growing cannabis plants worth more than £400, Gioka, 24, and Gjergj Biba, 32, were arrested after Humberside Police raided a building in New Cleveland Street, Hull, in of New Cleveland Street, was sentenced to 32 months in jail at Hull Crown Court after pleading guilty to the production of a Class B drug and abstracting electricity without of Coundon Road, Coventry, was sentenced to 36 months after pleading guilty to drugs production. He was acquitted by the court of stealing electricity. Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Married couple jailed over Kings Norton stepmother attack
A young married couple have been jailed for attempting to kill the husband's stepmother in an attack that saw them wearing animal masks as they stabbed her and hit her with a Hussain, 21, and Nabela Tabassum, 19, wore giraffe masks during the "frenzied attack" at the woman's home in Kings Norton on 29 January 2024, West Midlands Police then fled the city, however they were tracked down and arrested in Bolton the following husband and wife who denied the charge during a trial, were found guilty of attempted murder in March and were jailed for 15 years and nine years respectively at Birmingham Crown Court on Friday. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
