Cricket club to put up fence after fight on pitch

Police are still investigation the fight where young people were seen brandishing weapons

A cricket club plagued by anti-social behaviour has said the only way to prevent young people from causing trouble on its pitch is to build a large fence around the perimeter.

About 25 police reports of people harassing players, setting of fireworks and vandalising equipment have been made at Maghull Cricket Club, near Liverpool, since July last year

An incident earlier this month saw young people fighting on the cricket field, some armed with hammers, during a junior coaching session.

Club chairman Adam Lloyd said there was "no option" but to build a fence and block access to the ground.

Teenagers spoiling a community facility for others was "hard", club chairman Adam Lloyd said.

A 14-year-old boy from Maghull was arrested on suspicion of affray and possessing class B drug cannabis and a weapon in a public place after the fight on 2 May.

Merseyside Police said he had been released under investigation, while a 17-year-old had also been questioned over the fracas.

A community meeting organised by the club heard how the violence had upset children and prompted some parents to consider not returning to training sessions over safety fears.

Mr Lloyd said witnessing the fight had been "traumatising".

"The kids had never seen anything like it before, some were crying", he said, adding the violence "had to stop".

He said the club would seek funding to help with costs of building the fence, but he said he would much rather youngsters took an interest in the sport.

The father-of-two said, "It's a family club – when I was a kid my Dad dragged me along to the cricket – his Dad was the same. I've got my kids playing cricket – we are all invested in this club because we love doing it."

The club held a meeting with the police and crime commissioner

Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell went to the club meeting and said building the fence would help "design out crime".

She said her office could also look at helping with the cost, but added there was a wider issue to address about engaging with the young people responsible for the anti-social behaviour.

'Threatening'

Labour MP for Sefton Central Bill Esterson said the fight was a "real wake-up call", which was "disturbing and hugely upsetting for the children playing cricket".

He said: "Thankfully the adults intervened and prevented something much worse from happening.

"Goodness knows what would have happened if people had used the weapons they were carrying."

The MP said cricket had been "a big part of his life", and he had seen the joy it could bring.

He called for an intervention and more activities for young people, and said "maybe some of them can play cricket and football instead of threatening and fighting each other".

Spurrell said: "A lot of these kids get pulled into this lifestyle and they are vulnerable themselves so how are we intervening?

"We need to identify them, but then find out why are they getting involved in this activity and then can we get them involved in something more constructive."