Guildford Athletic Club caretakers says they’ve received “some amazing outreach and support” since the Now-Leader published a news story about a break-in at their clubhouse in Surrey. Members of the club, one of Surrey’s oldest soccer organizations, scrambled to replace stolen equipment after thieves made a mess of their facility at Hjorth Road Park on the May long weekend. Stolen was a television, POS system for payments, soccer balls, nets, ball pumps and other club equipment worth close to $5,000. “It has been a difficult
setback for the club and our volunteers,” club president Jennifer Woodley said in a story published online May 27. “Unfortunately, we also did not have insurance coverage for the stolen equipment, which makes replacing these items even more challenging for the club financially.” On Monday (June 1), Woodley said several people and organizations have donated cash and equipment including Vancouver Whitecaps FC and Whitecaps Foundation. “They are currently speaking to their partners to help replace the stolen balls, nets, cones, ball pumps, etc., and are
also discussing a monetary donation to help us replace the non-equipment-related stolen items,” Woodley told the Now-Leader. Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke and Surrey Fire Fighters Charitable Society have also reached out. “(Firefighters) donated an incredibly generous $5,000 to get our club back up and running quickly,” Woodley reported. “We have also had some incredible support from our GAC (Guildford Athletic Club) families, with many members sending personal donations. We are incredibly humbled and grateful for the immense support and generosity.” Guildford Athletic Club, home to
around 800 young soccer players, was founded more than 60 years ago, in 1965. “We’ve never had a break-in here like this, and I’ve been here a long time, nearly 30 years,” club registrar Manjit Basra said May 26. “We’ve had to buy some equipment, otherwise we couldn’t run some programs,” she added. “Some parents have had to take balls home to blow them up because they have a compressor at home, things like that. That’s all time-consuming, all of those things. We’ve had to
really scramble.” Club members say they’ve had increasing safety concerns at Hjorth Road Park including the discovery of drug paraphernalia in bathrooms and vagrants camping out. “We have lots of volunteer coaches who don’t feel comfortable dealing with those situations including female coaches,” Basra noted. “Like many community clubs,” Woodley added, “we rely heavily on volunteers, fundraising and community support to keep programs running. While (the break-in) is discouraging, the support we have already received from families and the soccer community has reminded us why
local sports organizations matter so much.”
Guildford Athletic Club, Surrey, Hjorth Road Park, soccer clubhouse theft, Vancouver Whitecaps FC, Whitecaps Foundation, Surrey Fire Fighters Charitable Society, Jennifer Woodley, Manjit Basra
Wow thieves really went after soccer gear? Wild.
So they didnt have insurance?? That’s honestly messed up. Glad people are helping but still… why would a club not be covered for something like that?
Firefighters donating 5 grand is cool I guess. But I’m just thinking like… why is it always small organizations getting hit and then big teams show up last minute? Also $5,000 doesnt seem like that much for all the stuff they listed.
This makes me so mad. Like first it’s a clubhouse theft then next it’s somebody stealing the kids’ stuff again. Insurance should be mandatory for places like that, no? Hopefully they catch the people because it said May long weekend so maybe it was teens? Idk I just hate it.