Football Mid North Coast boss Bruce Potter calls it a massive slap in the face.
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But for some young football players it simply means they may not be able to take the field for this week’s regular game, because of the actions of a few hoons.
Mr Potter was responding to the most recent incidence of field vandalism where hoons did ‘circle work’ on the football pitches at Tuffins Lane.
Other venues in the area had also been the target in recent times.
The deep circles are so bad, it is possible that games could be postponed.
“It’s just a massive slap in the face to volunteers and to the ratepayers in general,” Mr Potter said.
“This is a situation where these grounds are provided by the local council – all from the public purse – and you have volunteers putting in hundreds and hundreds of hours.
“This is all built around getting these young kids to come out and play sport.
“Then you get these people who decide to break into these grounds and drive their vehicles across the pitches. I can’t believe their actions.”
Port Macquarie-Hastings Council group manager Liam Bulley said there is a significant community cost to rectifying the recent damage to the facilities.
“It is also diverting valuable resources, and council will continue to explore protective measures,” he said.
“Should vandalism be witnessed, we ask that the community report incidents immediately to the police".
The Football Mid North Coast boss said people should not personally engage the hoons.
He said the best response is to take action by contacting the police.
In his 20 year career, Mr Potter said the cyclical nature of these kinds of incidents generally stop ‘when someone gets caught’.
“From my experience, when this kind of thing starts to happen, good people start to take notice and eventually these people will come under police scrutiny,” he said.
“This is really about looking after a community asset. The Port Macquarire-Hastings Council grounds staff do a great job as does the graffiti buster team.
“These crews do everything within their power to ensure that these youngsters can get onto the pitch each week, despite the actions of others.
“I’d encourage the community to step up a bit. That’s how you break the cycle,” he said.
Mr Bulley said council manages and maintains 21 sporting precincts across the local government area and focuses on providing quality and accessible facilities for the enjoyment of sporting groups and the broader community.
