Soccer club under siege
THUGS have trashed a soccer club in Cairns for the fifth time since April and bashed its caretaker after startling him as he was lying naked in his room.
The Leichhardt Soccer Club at White Rock lost thousands of dollars after alcohol and drinks were stolen and food was damaged during raids at the weekend.
On Friday, louts used a fire extinguisher to spray foam around rooms.
The caretaker was bashed and the club was broken into on Saturday.
Club games were stopped yesterday after players found smashed glass on the field.
Parents and players were forced to clean up the mess before games could resume.
"The club is just holding on," junior club president Tony Stocker said.
"Business is tough and people are limiting their outings.
"When things like this happen, it’s just devastating."
Caretaker David Parker, 38, told The Cairns Post he was reconsidering his job after intruders burst through his door as he lay in bed on Saturday about 11pm.
He said the group threatened to stab him.
"I was just minding my business watching the cricket and my door opened and there was a big figure standing there," Mr Parker said.
After grabbing his cricket bat and walking outside to confront the man, he realised there was a group of seven drunken people.
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Vicitm: Leichhardt Soccer Club caretaker David Parker has been attacked by a mob of drunken thugs. Picture: CHRIS HYDE
Picking up the pieces: Members of Leichhardt and Mareeba junior players stopped play to pick up glass shards. Picture: CHRIS HYDE
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