New Farnley clubhouse hit by arson attack

New Farrnley officials are counting the cost of a late-night arson attack which has caused extensive damage to their clubhouse.

Police and Fire Service investigators were at the scene for much of the day sifting through the charred remains along with insurance assessors.

Two youths were captured on the club's CCTV starting the fire at around 11.10pm on Monday evening.but they haven't yet been identified.

Club chairman John Baldwin expects the repair bill to be around £100,000. He said: "The metal on the roof is badly damaged and the interior has suffered huge damage.

"We will only know if the roof supports have been compromised when we are able to take down the ceiling and inspect them.

"This is a big blow for the club and such a senseless act. I was called by the Fire Brigade just after midnight to be told the building was on fire.

"It was a huge shock and seeing the damage in the daylight brought home just how much of the building had been affected."

The cafe that runs successfully at the club has had to close again just weeks after welcoming back customers to the Lawns Lane site.

Despite the fire, New Farnley are insisting that Saturday's home Premier Division League Cup game with Wrenthorpe will go ahead.

Wrenthorpe chairman Paul Marshall said: "Our sympathies are with New Farnley. This is absolutely awful and to be thinking about us and our game when they have so much else to think about, says a lot for them as a club."

League chairman David Young spoke to Baldwin this afternoon. He said: "It is sickening that a club like New Farnley should be the target for a senseless arson attack.

"The league will provide them with whatever support and help they need at this difficult time. No club should have to go through what they are having to deal with now."

League president Keith Moss added: "I really cannot believe that anybody can do such a thing to a cricket club. My heart goes out to John Baldwin and all at New Farnley. They have worked so hard to develop their faculties and this is a massive blow to them."