Shefford Saints thank community heroes for raising £3k after suspected arson attack
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Shefford Saints have been overwhelmed by the community's kindness after an online appeal has raised over £3k in response to a suspected arson attack.
On Tuesday (April 13) between 3.30pm and 6pm, the club's equipment container at Shefford Sports Club went up in flames, destroying around £2,000 worth of belongings, such as white line markers and the team barbecue.
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However, upon hearing the news, the Shefford community rallied round to help, with donations flooding in via an online GoFundMe page.
Stewart Knight, vice chairman of the Shefford Saints, a club for six to 18-year-olds, told the Chronicle: "In the last 48 hours, the community have been helping us out - as well as other youth football teams in the area - who have provided offers of equipment to get us by, and donations. The amount of messages we received to ask if we were setting up a GoFundMe page!
"We thought that to replace everything it would cost about £2,000, and we're already over three and a half thousand pounds.
"It's amazing! Anything leftover will go back into the local community."
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The container was not covered by CCTV cameras, so Bedfordshire Police is appealing for anyone who may have any information to come forward.
Commenting on the suspected arson, Stewart added: "Why would someone do it? Boredom?
"Around 300 to 400 players are directly affected; however, what we can take away from this is a positive response from something traumatic.
"It's not just businesses and parents who have donated - a couple of our players have been putting £5 or £10 of their pocked money in.
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"Everyone has really clubbed together - players, coaches, parents, managers - everyone.
"Thank you, we are just absolutely blown away and overawed."
A Bedfordshire Police spokeswoman, said: "We are investigating a suspected arson in a container at Shefford Sports Club in Hitchin Road, Shefford.
"We are carrying out a number of enquiries and anyone with any information is urged to contact us via our website or 101. Please quote reference 40/18416/21."
You can donate at the GoFundMe page.