Yobs wreck Tividale cycling base
Thousands of pounds worth of damage has been caused by yobs at a cycling club in Tividale. Members of Sandwell Cycle Speedway club visited their base on Sunday afternoon to find the clubroom and food kiosk had been wrecked.
The culprits gained access to the clubroom by smashing through the roof before tearing photos from the walls and leaving papers, trophies and magazines scattered. The tannoy system was broken along with a computer, printer, scanner, photocopier and other equipment.
In the food kiosk, they broke a microwave oven, a refrigerator, toaster, chip fryer and other cooking utensils before forcing apart a water pipe allowing the building to flood.
Secretary Brian Buck said everyone had been devastated by the "wrecking spree" in which nothing was stolen.
He said: "The people who did this are utter lowlifes. I can't understand how they think and what goes through their minds. How they can get pleasure from wrecking something like this – it's beyond me." He added: "It is especially upsetting for the parents and friends who voluntary give up their spare time to perform unpaid duties as background officials only to find again and again that their time and their efforts have been wasted."
Members were today counting the cost of damage at the Lower City Road base.
The club has fallen victim to several vandal attacks.
Sandwell Cycle Speedway club was founded by one-time Everton footballer Fred Goode in 1948. The club has produced a double world champion in Mark Newey, a European champion and several British champions.
Police are investigating the vandalism. Call 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
