Roof torn off Berkeley FC stands in high winds (From Gazette Series)

Berkeley Football Club stands damaged in high winds

10:32am Wednesday 13th March 2013 in News By Daniel Chipperfield

SERIOUS damage has been inflicted on the stands of Berkeley Football Club as the roof was torn off during strong winds.

The posts and brickwork of the structure were damaged as the attached roof ripped away during a blizzard at around 3.30pm on Monday, March 11.

Volunteer Tony Edwards has set about trying to salvage what he can from the wreckage to see if it can be repaired.

His wife Diane, who is the treasurer of the club, said it was lucky nobody was hurt.

"It’s made a hell of a mess," she said. "We're trying to save as much of it as we can. It almost went into the road but landed on a fence instead. I’m very happy that it didn’t cause any more damage.

"A lot of people have been really shocked by this. The children tend to go there in the evenings so it could have been a lot worse, there could have been a tragedy."

The 37-year-old stand has been a source of a troubled history of late as it has been vandalised several times in the last few years and now the club are faced with the prospect of digging into their pockets once more.

"It will take a lot of money to get it sorted again," said Mrs Edwards.

"Obviously it is an old building but it didn’t help that it was vandalised a few years ago.

"We will just have to find the money. I think they will rally round and try and rebuild it."