Around 50 children were quickly escorted off a cricket pitch before their Friday evening practice session when the site was overtaken by a group of teens wielding weapons in an ‘organised’ fight
A children’s practice session at a cricket club ended in “tears” after a gang of youths armed with weapons took over the pitch to fight each other.
Kids were terrifyingly rushed away from the Maghull Cricket Club, near Liverpool, when teens wielding “knives, hammers and a garden spade” gathered on the site. Around 50 children, aged 9 to 13, had a junior practice session totally disrupted on Friday. The kids were waiting to start playing cricket before a “number of youths” took over their space and “engaged in organised fighting” much to the horror of the young cricketers and parents there.
Shocking images showed a crowd of teenagers, some on bikes, gathered together and another image caught two teens wielding a hammer and a cricket stump, in what appeared to look like a standoff, according to the Liverpool Echo. Some of the kids were hurriedly escorted off the pitch and were even reduced to tears by the terrifying sight.
A mum who witnessed the Friday night horror said: “I was there this evening with my eight and 10 year old. It was truly terrifying.
“I would like to just say a massive thank you to the adults, especially the men/fathers, involved with the club who quickly stepped in ushering the children to safety and stepping in bravely to defend them if needed. You didn’t hesitate to take action and it didn’t go unnoticed.”
A statement posted to Maghull Cricket Club’s Facebook page confirmed the horrifying incident and said: “Sadly, we must report to the people of Maghull another in a long list of disgraceful incidents that have blighted our club for several years. Tonight, during a junior section practice evening, a number of youths have congregated on our pitch and engaged in organised fighting, delaying the start of the session.
“A short while later, more youths appeared, fighting and threatening each other with hammers, knives, a garden spade and a stump stolen from our practice area. The 50 or so youngsters practicing, aged between nine and 13, had to be escorted off the pitch by our coaches for their safety, some in tears.”
Merseyside Police today launched an appeal for information about the “altercation involving a large group of youths” and revealed no injuries had been reported. A statement from the cops said: “It was reported that at around 7.30pm a large group of youths aged around 14 years had converged on to the club’s field on Old Hall Lane, and some of the males were carrying weapons and began fighting amongst themselves. They then made off towards Liverpool Leeds canal.”
The statement added: “Officers attended and following a search of the area detained a number of youths. They were stop searched and no weapons were found on them.”
Maghull Sudell Cllr Phil Hart said the incident was “heartbreaking” and he would be taking the matter “very seriously”. Replying to the Facebook post, he said: “This is absolutely heartbreaking to read.
“I’m so sorry that your young players, coaches, and volunteers – and the wider community – had to witness and endure something so frightening. Our pitches and parks should be safe spaces for young people to enjoy sport, not scenes of violence and fear.”
