Arsonists destroy junior league’s unique records

Nov 12 2007 by Liza Williams, Liverpool Daily Post

A JUNIOR football league has lost its historic records after thieves set its storage container alight, destroying photographs, letters and sentimental treasures.

Stephen O’Reilly, who runs Anfield Junior Football League, was heartbroken when he realised all the league’s history– which had been lovingly collected by him to create a dedicated website – had gone up in smoke.

The records included a photograph of Bill Shankly accepting the presidency of the league in the early ’70s, when it was first set up.

Many of the items, kept in a lock-up container at Stanley Park, were unique as far as Mr O’Reilly is aware, and were given to him on the premise they would be kept in pristine condition.

As well as setting the photographs, letters and records alight, e vandals also stole kit, including football nets, meaning many of the eight to 16-year-olds who play in the league are having to borrow equipment to play.

The 46-year-old taxi driver and youth worker said: “It is so upsetting, I keep welling up at the thought of it.

“We had been given a grant by the organisation Sports Bank to build a website, documenting the clubs history.

“There was a photo of Bill Shankly accepting presidency of the league right through to present records of what children belong to the club, but it is all gone forever now.

“How could somebody do this?

“I have heard about other club’s containers being broken into and items being taken, which is terrible, but to set the records alight is just cruel.

“We cannot replace them and cannot afford to replace the equipment.

“Most of the items have real sentimental value to the owners and I feel awful now the records have been destroyed.

“I have reported the incident to the police and they are investigating but the records have gone forever now.”

In October members of the Walton and Kirkdale Junior Sunday Football League suffered a similar break-in when all their nets and balls were stolen and Roma under-10s, who play in the Tuebrook league, were unable to play after thieves stole their mini-goalposts. The goalposts were only a few weeks old and cost more than £700.

If anyone has items to do with the club which could be used to build up a new collection of records for the website they can contact Mr O’Reilly on 07939013965.

lizawilliams@dailypost.co.uk