Groundsman upset as field driven over by bike

A GROUNDSMAN in Wargrave has spoken of his “heartbreak” after a football pitch was badly damaged by a suspected 
e-bike rider.

Martin Woods, who has looked after the recreation ground for 34 years, said the incident happened on Monday evening at the site and at King’s Field.

It is the second time damage has been caused by bikers in eight days after a biker had performed two doughnuts, leaving deep skid marks on Sunday, November 23.

However, this time, the damage has covered a third of one of the senior pitches causing “substantial damage”.

Mr Woods said: “This is the fourth time it has happened and this is the worst ever.

“The pitch has tyre marks all around it where they’ve swung their back wheel round and the damage is quite deep.

“We believe almost certainly that it’s a powerful e-bike. They have been doing doughnuts and generally riding about in King’s Field up and down the football pitches.”

He added: “It stops us from using one of the pitches which is frustrating.”

Mr Woods said the previous incident had led to cancellation of football sessions for children on Saturday mornings because the pitch was unsafe.

The vandal would have sought access to the field through pedestrian gates as the gates at the front of the ground were locked, he said.

Mr Woods said that to see his work ruined was frustrating.

He said: “You do your work and somebody decides to have a bit of fun and because the conditions are very wet, it causes maximum issue and damage.

“It’s going to take a while to recover.

“From last time, it has just about recovered now but even then you can still see where they've been.

“It’s just a mess but it’s very hard to stop unless you catch the people themselves.”

There are no CCTV cameras in the area. The incident has been reported to Wargrave Parish Council, which owns the site.