Club 'targeted' in 'significant' vandalism acts

24 December 2025

Maisie Lillywhite,Gloucestershireand

Daisy Bodkin,Gloucestershire

News image — Barnwood AFC said it had been targeted by vandals three times within 10 days

Chris Coward A pole holding a net at a football pitch has been knocked over after a vandalism attack and is stuck on a goal post. New build style homes can be seen behind it. — Barnwood AFC said it had been targeted by vandals three times within 10 days

A grassroots football club has said it feels "targeted" after suffering a third act of vandalism within 10 days.

Club development officer at Barnwood United AFC Chris Coward said glue was put in the club's padlocks, mud and twigs were inserted into gatepost retainer holes and concrete was poured into post holes.

Mr Coward said vandalism had been "commonplace" at the club since it moved to Coopers Edge Sports Hub in May 2024 and had so far cost the club £500.

Gloucestershire Constabulary encouraged people to keep reporting incidents and said it knew "all too well the impact that vandalism can have on local sports teams".

Mr Coward said there had been "a steady stream of little acts of vandalism" at the club, which has 21 teams, since May 2024.

But he said the incidents in the past 10 days had been "significant" and affected both pitches.

Barnwood AFC Three black poles beneath two windows on a brick wall at a football club, which are meant to be horizontal. However, one end of the pole on the bottom is touching the tarmac below, and the one above it is also skewed. — Mr Coward said the vandalism has cost the club £500 so far - with the bill still rising

"We found them all on Saturday so it seems to be targeting us and trying to prevent games being played," he added.

"We're lucky that we've got a really good group of volunteers, so we overcame those challenges on Saturday... but it just wears people down."

Mr Coward said there is still damage to be fixed after what is believed to be concrete was poured into post holes.

The issue is expected to push the current repair bill up from £500 into the thousands, he added.

Barnwood AFC Chris Coward stands outside Coopers Edge Sports Hub, wearing a navy hoodie and black joggers. Winter sun is shining on him and he is smiling. — Mr Coward said the acts were "sad" given the efforts of the club's volunteers

He said the £500 already spent could have paid for a full match kit for a single team for two years. He also said the loss was making it a lot harder to coordinate events for the wider to community.

"It's just sad when people are putting their time and effort into making these things happen and it kind of comes back in your face," he said. " You start to think - why bother with it at all?"

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