Vandals damage new goals in blow to Katikati Football Club

Katikati Football Club has been left devastated after newly purchased goal structures at Moore Park were deliberately damaged overnight between Thursday 5 and Friday 6 March. Vice president and groundsman Zadin Young said seven goals in total were affected, with nets destroyed, wheels stolen and frames damaged.

The goals were purchased last August using funding from the Grassroots Trust and the Western Bay of Plenty District Council's Community Matching Fund — the result of two years of grant applications and countless volunteer hours. Young estimated the repair bill at more than $2500, a significant hit for a club with roughly 300 players on its books that relies heavily on grants and volunteer effort.

The timing has made the situation worse, with the winter football season set to kick off the first weekend of Term 2. Young said the damage would affect players ranging from Grade 6 five- and six-year-olds right through to the social men's team, and the club was only two to three weeks away from forming its teams. He confirmed the vandalism had been reported to Katikati Police and urged anyone with information to get in touch with the station.

Originally published in Katikati News (Sun Media).