'Ref we wuz robbed': Thief steals football at Portland United game (From Dorset Echo)

'Ref we wuz robbed': Thief steals football at Portland United game

12:00pm Friday 15th March 2013 in News By Emma Walker

A THIEF nicked the matchball from the road in the middle of a Portland United match.

The cheeky raider grabbed the ball and drove off after it was booted into touch and over the fence during a match at the club’s Grove Corner ground.

And Dave Camp, president of the club, claims this makes it a hat-trick of times it has happened this season.

He said the latest incident happened on Saturday during a reserve match between PUFC and Blandford United FC.

“I immediately went out into the road to retrieve it, and to my surprise and great disappointment, a car had stopped, picked up the ball and drove off when it was quite obvious where the ball had come from.”

Mr Camp waved the red card to the brazen thief who took the ball away from the club, which is run by volunteers and relies on community fundraising and sponsors to exist.

He said a match ball costs £30 and are sponsored by fans, committee members and former players.

“If people only realised just how difficult it is to raise money and keep this club going they might think twice about their actions. It has happened around six times in the last few years and three times this season.

“It saddens me to think that an adult will stoop this low.”

Volunteers at the club are urging the thief to give back their ball.

Dave Symes, chairman of Portland United Youth FC, said: “It’s a shame that people are unable to see the wider picture.

“Every person involved with the club is a volunteer and does it because they want to make Portland a better place to live.

“The price of any equipment can make difference between a community asset being able to continue or having to stop.

“The person involved should be ashamed of themselves and return the ball to the club.”

The future of the club relies on drastic cost cutting measures by its 12 member committee to get it on a stable footing.

Mr Camp said: “It has been costing around £25,000 to run the club and desperate steps are being taken to cut those costs.

“Our committee members are putting amount of time and effort into the club. We have a very loyal band of supporters, in fact our attendance is the highest in our league.

“They help us by sponsoring balls, filling Smartie tubes with coins and encouraging both our teams, but we need more help.”

Money is also raised through coffee mornings, raffles, various functions and local business support that help through shirt sponsorship.

Funds needed to help run club

FUNDS are needed to help with the running of Portland United Football Club.

Dave Camp, president of the club said: “I would like to turn this negative act into a positive by appealing for people to come forward with some sponsorship or offer to give time to help out at the club.”

Money would be used for paying for referees, linesmen, transport for away games and upkeep of the mini-bus.

Mr Camp added that others ways to help include cutting grass, or running the bar. For more information call Dave Camp on 01305 861291.