Farsley Celtic’s chairman Paul Barthorpe had his car attacked following his side’s FA Cup defeat to Kettering on Saturday.
The game was played at the neutral venue of Guiseley’s Nethermoor ground due to stalled work on laying a new 4G playing surface at Farsley’s stadium.
Mr Barthorpe’s car was criminally damaged and also had the windscreen smashed, but the club’s owner says two fans were apparently caught on security and CCTV footage carrying out the vandalism.
Posting on Farsley Celtic’s Facebook page, Mr Barthorpe asked the culprits to come forward to discuss a plan to ‘replace the damaged items, and a method of diffusing this situation so we can move forward together, and your identity will remain anonymous.’
He added: “Or alternatively don’t, and we will submit the video evidence to the police and look to pursue a conviction and claim for damages. We will also permanently ban the individuals concerned from all future Farsley games both home and away.”
A West Yorkshire Police spokesperson confirmed the matter was being investigated and said in a statement: “Police received a report of criminal damage to a motor vehicle reported to have taken place on The Sidings, Station Road, Guiseley, on Saturday October 12.”
The club has come under fire from sections of the fan base following delays to laying the new pitch at The Citadel. The club says ‘unforeseen problems’ were discovered after removing the grass surface and there have been issues with contractors.
National League chiefs have also placed Farsley Celtic under a transfer embargo for ‘non-compliance with league financial regulations’, a charge the club says is down to ‘a contractual issue surrounding a particular clause in the new FA contract’.
Farsley Celtic’s National League North clash with Spennymoor Town will now take place at Bradford Park Avenue’s Horsfall Stadium this Friday at 7.45pm. The match cannot take place at The Citadel due to delays with the new pitch.
Describing the culprits as fans makes no sense whatsoever. Clearly they are not.
Might they have been contractors and/or players?
Seems to be some funny stuff going on at Farsley Celtic at the moment.
The club is in a poor state at the moment. Communication from the board has been abysmal and the lack regular, honest and open communication with supporters and others with a stake in the club has caused a great deal of resentment. This in no way justifies the actions described above, and there should be proper consequences for those involved, but the club needs to start opening up means of engaging with fans, sponsors and others.
It’s not just Farsley fans that are affected. Celtic are due to play ‘ home’ games against Peterborough Sports and Darlington in the next couple of weeks. As yet no-one knows where. It’s unfair on those away fans who want to book travel and accommodation. Resentment is building elsewhere.
The club should hold a public meeting so that the issues that concern many of us can be discussed honestly and transparently. We all want Farsley Celtic to flourish and progress, but the well of goodwill is rapidly running dry.