Mindless vandals have trashed Loch Lomond Rugby Club’s Beechwood home leaving volunteers frustrated.
Bottles have been smashed, wheelie bins set alight and dirt bikes ridden across pitches in recent weeks, leaving Loch volunteers counting the cost – and potential impact.
And club captain Iain Norrie urged those responsible to think about the consequences of their mindless actions.
Iain said: “We were getting some work done on the clubhouse and there was some wood lying outside.
“They set fire to a wheelie bin and some of the wood, but they also stole a wheelie bin from somewhere else that they also set fire to.
“It’s just antisocial and destructive.
“Where they broke bottles are where the kids come in and out of the club. Come the summer there’s a particular risk when kids take their boots off and walk across the grass and patio.
“It’s a danger to the kids, broken Buckfast and vodka bottles.
“A lot of kids will take their boots off and walk back to the car.
“Now there’s broken glass all over that car park because some young person thinks it’s a great idea to throw a bottle into the air and smash it.
“We put a lot into this club, just for a minority to make it very hard work. It’s frustrating.
“We could be spending time and money on other things.”
The latest vandalism comes after Loch Lomond installed gates at the entrance to their home, something which Iain fears has encouraged the presence of more louts.
He explained: “We’ve spoken to the police about it. We put a gate in a couple of years ago to stop other forms of anti-social behaviour in cars and fly-tipping.
“What it means though is that the police won’t necessarily drive by because it’s locked off.
“But kids can still walk down to it. “An action like that deters one group of people, but another will see it as an opportunity.”
And with the club’s doors always open to new members, Iain invited local youngsters looking for a more worthwhile way to use their energy to try their hands at rugby.
He added: “We do a lot for the community and do a lot for kids who don’t have a lot.
“It’s an area of social deprivation.
“Our current membership is £7.50 a month for primary school kids. That’s pretty much unheard of.
“We’re not in this to make money - we’re in it to improve people’s lives.
“That’s what makes this kind of thing very frustrating.”
He added: “There are kids who, especially as they get older, could definitely better spend their energy and aggression than doing daft things.
“There’s a rugby park there where they could go out and use that energy.”
Chief Inspector Coleen Wylie said : “We are aware of the recent reports of anti-social behaviour in Alexandria. We remain committed to reducing this type of behaviour in our communities.
"Officers work closely with partner agencies as we are acutely aware of the upset that any form of anti-social behaviour can have within a community.
"We have officers patrolling in the area to prevent further issues and would encourage the public to report any ongoing incidents or concerns to Police Scotland by calling 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
