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Community rallies to help fire-hit football club

BBC A picture showing the aftermath of the football club house following a fire. The roof is partly burned with the beamwork exposed. It is surrounded by green land and there is a children's play park in the background.BBC
The clubhouse was condemned in October following the blaze earlier this year

Hundreds of football fans have helped save their grassroots club after its grounds were badly damaged in an arson attack.

Thorne Colliery's facilities, in Doncaster, were burnt in the fire with the club being unable to host any games since October after its clubhouse was condemned.

Fans and the community responded to a DIY SOS-style fundraising plea to enable new changing rooms to be ready in time for a derby match, which took place earlier.

First team manager James O'Neil described the effort from those who had pitched in as "phenomenal".

Club Thorne Colliery A picture showing the aftermath of the fire in the changing rooms. There is black burnt material covering the floor and benches. Club Thorne Colliery
The changing rooms were badly damaged in the fire
Cathy Killick/BBC A picture showing the new changing rooms. There are blue football kits hung up on the wall with wooden benches underneath.Cathy Killick/BBC
People have rallied round to get the changing rooms ready for their first home match in months

The club's first team had celebrated winning promotion to Division One of the North East Counties League just six days before the fire on May 10.

Despite extensive damage from the blaze, the changing rooms at the ground were still useable until the building was fully condemned in October.

The club had feared being dropped from their league because the facilities did not meet the required standard.

However, after people rallied round to transform temporary cabins into useable facilities, the club is now back up and running.

Cathy Killick/BBC A picture of James O'Neil. He is looking straight ahead and is wearing a club football top and is standing in the new changing rooms. He has a bald head.Cathy Killick/BBC
James O'Neil said it was wonderful to be back home playing football

Mr O'Neil said: "The work that the people behind the scenes have put in, the community have really chipped in to get us here. It's been phenomenal.

"To get a non-league football standard facility built in three weeks is incredible."

Mr O'Neil said they had been inundated with messages from people offering both their time and financial support.

"Non-league clubs like us are built on community spirit, so people want to help and get behind their local sports teams," he added.

"It's just wonderful to be back at our home ground playing football again."

South Yorkshire Police have previously said two boys, aged 15 and 16, and a man, 19, had been arrested and bailed in connection with the blaze.

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