Burnham Ramblers FC launches £10k fundraiser after grounds damaged by Storm Eunice

Burnham Ramblers FC is appealing for help as it faces a costly clean-up from Storm Eunice, which it says has caused more than £10,000 worth of damage to its grounds.

The Maldon district was placed under a rare red weather warning by the Met Office for much of Friday (18 February), meaning there was a danger to life, as winds of up to 90mph battered the Essex coastline.

Residents are continuing to face disruption from the storm, described by the Met Office as the worst since the Burns' Day storm 32 years ago, as trees, roads, homes and businesses remain damaged.

Burnham Ramblers FC has now revealed its grounds, on Springfield Road, have suffered more than £10,000 worth of damage after the strong winds tore down fences and wrecked the stadium, goals, brick walls and dugouts.

A power cable also fell down on the fence line and the club's power was out for more than 36 hours, which meant its clubhouse bar lost a day's trade on Saturday (19 February).

The team's away game on Saturday to Halstead was also called off because of the weather.

Julia Goodson, who owns the bar, said: "We have sustained a substantial amount of damage and are clearing debris from the David Wilson Homes development at the moment too.

"The whole committee is volunteers - I own the bar but we all give our time to anything football-related."

A first team home game is scheduled to take place at the stadium this Saturday (26 February), but this depends on whether the committee can make the grounds safe by then.

The under-10s and under-12s teams are due to play on Sunday (27 February), which means the fencing and goals on the grounds must be repaired by then too.

"It's all hands on deck to try and make the grounds safe for Saturday," Julia said.

Together with Burnham town councillor Katherine Wilson, whose son is the team mascot, Julia has launched a GoFundMe appeal to raise cash for the repairs.

She has pledged 10 per cent of the clubhouse's takings on Saturday to the fundraiser.

You can donate here.

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