An East Belfast football club has had a dugout at its pitch destroyed by arsonists for the second time in six months.
Bloomfield FC are appealing for information following an arson attack which took place at around 6.30am on Saturday, February 5, at its pitch in Orangefield Park.
The new £4,000 dugouts had only been in place for a few months following an arson attack in August, 2021, which saw the previous ones destroyed.
The club issued a statement on social media saying: "Our club has been targeted again for the second time in over a year with mindless vandalism/Arson. Brand-new dugouts costing £4000 burned this morning at approximately 6-30am. If anyone has any information please get in touch with the club."
Chair of Bloomfield FC, Dee Carroll, told Belfast Live that he hoped that Belfast City Council and local councillors would help to provide support in the coming weeks to ensure the club and its facilities are more secure.
He said: "There is clearly someone who is targeting the football club for some reason because this is the second time that we have had an arson attack here.
"The dugouts were brand new and were very expensive for the club, having had them specially made due to issues in getting a set sent over.
"Playing in the intermediate league, we need to have a dugout and certain facilities in order to play our games, so we will have to find away that we are still able to host our matches here going forward.
"The police have been down this morning checking CCTV and have been very helpful, but we will need more support going forward and I hope that Belfast City Council and local councillors will support us in installing more secure facilities here in Orangefield Park.
"We are one of the largest community based clubs in Northern Ireland, with 28 teams for boys and girls starting from the age of five, and it will be difficult for us to continue if incidents like this keep happening."
Bloomfield FC is the largest community football club in East Belfast and the attack has been widely condemned by the local community who have branded it as disgusting.
Alliance Councillor Michael Long said: "Absolutely disgusted by this attack on a club which serves out community so well. Called to show support and will be raising suggestions with Council officers to help further problems. What is wrong with people?"
East Belfast DUP MLA Joanne Bunting said: "This is appalling and entirely needless, wanton destruction. If anybody has any information, please contact the police."
UUP MLA Andy Allen said: "Despicable. Anyone with anyone info that may help in apprehending those responsible please contact the PSNI."
Sergeant Donnelly said: “Shortly after 6am, we were notified of a fire at a football ground in the Houston Park area.
“Colleagues from NIFRS attended and extinguished the fire, which caused extensive damage to the dugout.
“At this stage it is believed that the blaze was started intentionally, and investigations are ongoing to establish the circumstances of the incident.
“We are appealing to anyone who has any information, or may have been in the area at the time and witnessed any suspicious activity, to contact us on 101, quoting reference number 408 of 05/02/22.
"A report can also be made using the online reporting form via www.psni.police.uk/makeareport
"Alternatively, information can be provided to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org."
