A Leeds sports club has pleaded for help following the "disgusting" behaviour of a group of travellers who caused chaos at the club.
On June 28, the group reportedly cut a padlock on a gate to gain access to Oulton and Woodlesford Sports and Social Club in Wakefield Road, Oulton. At least 10 caravans, plus cars and small vans, parked up on the pitches used for rugby league and football games before they "ruined" the club.
It is not the first time this has happened at the club leaving organisers and members frustrated. It’s the fourth time the club has been impacted in this way in two years. "Once again we have been broken into and already damage done to our playing fields - this is now beyond a joke," said Outlon Raisers ARLFC on Twitter.
"They're an absolute disgrace," one individual said, while another said there was "poor kids watching" and the "pitch is ruined". @joshepherd7 also wrote: "This is disgusting" in a tweet to the club.
The group were seen to cause significant damage to the pitches and left members furious after training session had to be cancelled following the disruption. "Help us" pleaded the club as they had to take matters into their own hands when West Yorkshire Police initially refused to impose a section 61 eviction notice to move them.
A duty inspector told the club on June 29: "A site visit has taken place by both LCC and WYP and at this time the police won't be utilising a s.61. In order to utilise the power 'significant disruption, damage, or distress' needs to be cause. I fully appreciate the issues that were cause last time, however we can't presume that the travellers in attendance are the same ones from last time and that they are going to cause significant issues."
The travellers caused disruption for two weeks and two days, and the club shared extensive evidence on their social media, before an eviction notice was implemented on Thursday (July 14) by police. It comes after members and workers at the sports venue were seen pushing a van with a caravan attached to it as it arrived at the pitch.
Posting on social media @RaisersOulton said: "This is OUR people doing what we can. What more can we do? Someone please help us."
The club said: "We understand the nomadic nature of this community but breaking locks to access land is unacceptable. This has caused serious disruption at the club and it’s the fourth time this has happened in two years. When it happened last year someone was bitten by a loose dog; we have had to cancel training and games for the safety of our members. This cannot continue."
Hundreds of people backed the club and shared their thoughts.
Matthew Hopton said: "They have been having trouble for weeks now, they moved onto the rugby fields and are constantly ripping up the field doing donuts on the playing fields and making an unsafe area for the kids to play rugby."
While Marc Booth added: "It's a disgrace that this is happening again." And Graham Waterworth said: "Absolute joke. They get away with indiscriminate law breaking, threatening behaviour with no help from anyone. The law needs to change immediately."
In an update on July 14, the sports club said: "The S61 eviction notice has been served and the travellers have until 17:00 to leave our site. Thank you to West Yorkshire Police for their swift action on our latest visit. Hopefully the prevention measures to be put in place will stop further instances."
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