Football club postpones cup tie after mass fly-tip
Oxhey Jets FCA football club had to postpone its match after fly-tipping "on an organised scale" in its car park.
Oxhey Jets, who play in the first division of the Combined Counties League, were targeted twice by criminals this week at their ground in South Oxhey, Watford.
Describing it as "heartbreaking", club founder John Elliott, 70, said: "I'd say it was about six lorry-loads – it filled the car park at the club."
The club was forced to postpone its Hertfordshire FA Charity Shield clash with Wormley Rovers on Tuesday due to the mess.
Mr Elliott said the Jets' groundsman, Graham O'Brien, phoned him at about 07:00 GMT on Tuesday to break the news about the first incident.
"You know something's wrong when you get a call at that time of the morning," Mr Elliott said.
"Graham told me he'd never seen a fly-tip as big as that in his whole life."
Oxhey Jets FCMr Elliott said nearby residents reported hearing noises between about 21:30 on Monday and 01:00 the following morning.
"It seems like it was very co-ordinated, like an organised tip... Then on Tuesday night it happened again," he added.
Locks and chains on the car park barrier were damaged when the second incident took place, not long after Three Rivers District Council came out to repair them.
The deputy leader of the Liberal Democrat-run council, Sarah Nelmes, said it was "extremely disappointing" to hear of the fly-tipping.
"I am pleased that the vast amount of the fly-tip was quickly cleared and the site secured by our environmental enforcement officers the day after the incident, so the grounds can continue to be used and enjoyed by the community," she added.
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