Our series of articles outlining why unpaid volunteer workforces in Non League Football deserve more respect continues.
Pontefract Collieries manager Craig Parry
Pontefract Collieries know how much untold damage vandalism can do to a club.
Pontefract have suffered more than others in the past 18 months – damage to a key wall and perimeter fencing have been just two incidents in a long running battle with vandals.
Vandalism reared its ugly head again last week when Pickering Town’s social club was broken into.
Collieries manager Craig Parry told Non League Yorkshire: “We had a stint last year with the vandals who damaged the wall and the stand.
“I don’t want to name names, but there are five or six people, along with the secretary Trevor (Waddington) who spend their Sundays at the ground fixing the problems we have, instead of spending time with their families.
“This is all for no money and without them we wouldn’t have a club.
“Everyone puts a lot of hard work in to try and take the club forward.
“Then to get phone calls to say there has been vandalism or idiots running around the club, it is heartbreaking.”
We are nearly back to where we were before. Thanks to all the volunteers who helped! https://t.co/E1C6DwUTkI
Just a bit of the damage! ☹️ pic.twitter.com/4MTBmQMQN9
— Pickering Town (@PickeringTownFC) October 13, 2016
Like many clubs, Pontefract have struggled for volunteers in the past few years.
They managed to recruit quite a few new ones in summer and Parry is pleased with the progress made off-the-field.
“You don’t realise how hard it is managing or running a club at this level,” he said.
“At our home games we have five or six volunteers helping out now. There is a little committee who make sure the ground is clean, cut the grass and it makes a massive difference.
“Without them, we haven’t got a football club. At the end of last season, I was the manager and I was turning up, doing the team sheet, pumping the balls up, filling the water bottles up, being the physio. Then I was running a raffle at the end to raise some money for the club.
“What I would say about the club at the minute that it is moving in the right direction with the volunteers off-the-field. They work extremely hard for nothing and as a management and players we are extremely grateful.”
Pontefract host Eccleshill United in a Toolstation NCEL Division One encounter tonight.