A man has been arrested in connection with the alleged theft of funds raised to send an Ellesmere Port junior football team on a dream trip to Barcelona.
Parents and children had amassed £10,000 having fundraised for several months so Vauxhall Astra’s Under 10s could compete in the two-day tournament. But yesterday, with the boys due to head to Catalonia over the following 48 hours, parents took to social media to say the money had not been received by the tournament’s organisers.
One parent, whose son plays for the football team, wrote on Facebook: “Ever since we agreed [to enter the team into a tournament in Spain] we have grafted our bums off to raise sponsorship to fund the boys’ place there as it wasn’t cheap. We climbed Moel Famau whilst dribbling a ball, we begged businesses, we did what we could to get the boys over there to compete.”
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They added: “We have eight 10-year-old boys with broken hearts…they just want to go on holiday and play football with their mates.” Police today said a 38-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of theft in relation to the complaints.
A Cheshire Constabulary spokesperson said: “Following concerns raised regarding fundraising activities for a football trip abroad, a 38-year-old man from Ellesmere Port has been arrested on suspicion of theft. Victims are being supported by officers and enquiries in relation to the incident are underway.”
A spokesperson for Vauxhall Motors FC said it was “shocked and disappointed to hear the news”, adding that the trip was organised “independently from the football club”. A statement released by the club reads: “This is extremely disappointing for those involved, especially after the efforts and fundraising the children and parents have gone to, to make this trip possible. We have encouraged those individuals involved to report this to the relevant authorities, and the club will look to support those affected.”
A Gofundme was set up in the hope of raising funds to get the boys back into the tournament or into a subsequent competition. £8,000 was raised in around 24 hours, and on Monday afternoon, the team announced on social media the boys were back in the tournament and heading to Barcelona.
Parents said in a post: “It has only been by the interest and care of people we’ve never even met that somehow the money to fix this was raised in one day. We are still in disbelief, and cannot thank every one of you enough for donating, for sharing, and for caring to save these boys’ football trip and our faith in humanity.”
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