SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — Some young soccer players in Sumemrside will have to borrow some nets after theirs were destroyed overnight Sunday.
The broken soccer nets belonging to the Summerside United Soccer Club were found Monday morning. They were used by the mini program, for players ages seven to nine.
“Somebody decided they didn’t like the nets, so they decided to break them into a bunch of pieces and leave them scattered all over the ground,” said Stephen Campbell, president of the club. “Pretty disappointing, I guess is the easiest way to put it.”
The club has reported the loss to Summerside Police Services and Campbell hopes someone will come forward with information.
Now the club needs new nets, but it’s doubtful the replacements would arrive before the end of the season in three weeks.
“To lose equipment, especially this time of year, is definitely not going to be the best thing for the kids for the balance of the summer until they can be replaced,” said Campbell.
New, the vandalized nets cost more than $2,000 but Campbell said the club will be looking to replace them with “a more economical set” of used nets.
“It’s a volunteer organization that runs on a break-even basis and tried to provide sport to all those that want to play it,” said Campbell.
The club has more than 600 members, aged 4 to 18.
For now, the minis will have to make do with nets that are larger or smaller than usual.
“Hopefully we can come up with some way so the kids don’t miss out,” said Campbell.
