Children's Football Club In Uckfield Suffers Suspected Arson

The Grasshoppers Junior Football Club in Uckfield has lost much of its equipment and a storage shed to suspected arsonists.

According to club chairman Paul Fletcher, members became aware on Thursday (July 8) afternoon of a fire that had consumed the shed, and its contents, at Harlands, close to the primary school.

The club reported that police and fire crews were in attendance, to put out the flames that were believed to have started at around 1pm that day.

It's understood that the shed was constructed in November 2020 at a cost of £722, and that its content, such as goals, nets, and corner flags worth up to a reported £1,000, was new.

Paul said:

"At a time when clubs have been financially struggling this comes as a blow to the club and the community it endeavours to serve.

"I speak for the whole club that this type of mindless selfish behaviour begs belief and should not be tolerated in our town.

"We are not sure how someone can get happiness from someone else’s loss in this suspected deliberate type of attack and would urge anyone with any information to contact the relevant parties.

"In the meantime, we will pick ourselves up, work with the town council, replace the equipment in time for the start of the season and not let this type of action stop us from providing football to the town and community."

Uckfield Grasshoppers Junior Football Club (UGJFC) was established in 1981.

Today, it offers football to boys and girls football five years old all the way to under 18’s. 

The club will be represented on Saturday (July 10) at the Uckfield Festival Big Day on Luxford Field.

A GoFundMe page supporting the club is here: