Fartown rugby club targeted by thieves

Nov 18 2009 by Joanne Douglas, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Fartown rugby club targeted by thieves

VANDALS have attacked one of Huddersfield’s iconic sporting venues.

The pitchside at the old Fartown rugby ground has been ripped up by thieves trying to steal copper pipe.

Thieves struck twice in four days at Fartown Arena, the home of St Joseph’s Rugby Club.

First they stole underground heavy duty cable at the side of the pitch between two of the floodlights.

Then just days later they returned and raided the tuck shop inside the ground.

It comes five months after the old Huddersfield Supporters’ Club building behind the historic Fartown Pavilion was destroyed in a blaze.

Club registration secretary Stephen Eastwood said: “It seems to be one thing after another.

“Vandals burned down the supporters’ club and now they’ve caused quite a bit of damage with this.

“We’ve had some of the turf dug out near to the floodlights.

“They’ve pulled it up down the side of the pitch looking for the cables.

“They were after a bit of copper inside of them thinking it’s worth something.

“They’ve smashed the door locks off too – it seems every time we go down something else has happened.