Matson Rugby Football Club in Gloucester, Gloucestershire, is asking for help from the community after a vehicle was driven across its playing fields, leaving them unusable. A dog-walker discovered the deep tyre tracks on Monday, February 23, 2026, although club members believe the damage occurred the previous evening.
The damage has left the club facing the possibility of cancelling several youth games scheduled for Sunday, March 1, 2026, including matches for children as young as six. Because of recent heavy rain, the grass is currently too wet for staff to carry out repairs without causing more harm to the playing surface.
Chairman Lee Bayliss described the incident as a massive setback and is urging local residents to check their home security cameras or doorbell footage for any sightings of the vehicle. Anyone with information or video of the incident is encouraged to contact the club at [email protected] to help identify those responsible.
Following this latest instance of vandalism, the club plans to meet with Gloucester City Council to discuss installing a fence around the perimeter. The goal of the new fencing would be to secure the site and prevent vehicles from entering the sports grounds in the future.
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