OFFICIALS from Hailsham Town Football Club say it has suffered thousands of pounds of damage after a blaze took hold at the grounds during an Under 14s training session last night (Tuesday).
Players were quickly evacuated just after 7pm, during a training session on the pitch at the Hailsham Recreation Ground, after smoke was seen bellowing from the bush line. The children and staff rushed from the club leaving some belongings behind, which were caught in the flames.
Members of the public helped to drag goalposts away from the fire which have subsequently been damaged, costing the Football Club more than £5,000.
Around twenty plastic seats within the grandstand have been destroyed – it’s currently unknown if the structure is safe and if future games can go ahead.
Two fire pumps from Eastbourne attended the scene and ran two hoses from Western Road to put out the blaze.
A Police spokesperson said: “The incident is being treated as suspected deliberate ignition and our enquiries are ongoing.”
A spokesperson from the club said during the incident on social media: “The club is aware of a fire in the hedge between the ground and the recreation ground. Fire crews are on site, and we thank them, and our volunteers who can be seen in some of the publicly available videos for their efforts in tackling the blaze and saving equipment.”
A passer-by who spoke to Hailsham News and didn’t want to be named told us: “I was walking past the club when I saw the players running out, and then I saw the smoke and fire coming from the bushes. It was terrifying to see how quickly it took hold. I then ran into the club with other members of the public and we started dragging the club’s goalposts away from the fire – it was crazy.”
A fundraiser has been launched to try and raise some funds to replace the damaged equipment.
Anyone with any information is asked to report it online or call 101, quoting serial 1235 of 12/11.
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