'Unbelievable' fundraising support for historic Liverpool bowling club trashed by vandals

Members of Walton Hall Bowling Club were devastated when vandals broke into their clubhouse and destroyed everything inside including trophies and cups dating back decades.

But now Walton Hall Bowling Club has had a huge boost after a fundraising campaign raised more than £4,000 to replace items that were wrecked.

The break-in at the end of September saw fireworks set off leaving a trail of destruction and fire extinguishers used to smash up toilets and sinks.

The clubhouse, based in Walton Hall Park, is owned by the council and used regularly by the local bowling team, many in their 70s and 80s, as well as other groups from further afield.

One of the things damaged in the attack was an honours board, showing the names of past trophy winners as far back as the mid-1960s. That was ripped off the wall and dumped on the floor, littered with broken crockery from the kitchen.

Club secretary John Rogers says the reaction they’ve had since has been a big lift to everyone involved.

“It’s been totally unbelievable the amount of donations we’ve had, and they’ve come not just from local supporters, we’ve had messages from as far as Southport and other bowling clubs in the league who’ve offered to donate.

“The Oliver King Foundation also contacted us and have kindly donated a defibrillator with full training for members which won’t cost the bowlers anything.

“Something good has come out of a horrendous situation.”

The club was actually targeted twice over two consecutive nights, but the extent of the vandalism on the second was far worse.

“It was broken into on Sunday night and the damage was minimal,” says John. “We secured the main door and entrance gate on Monday afternoon, only to get a phone call on the Tuesday to say they had got in again.

“This time they completely wrecked the place with no regard to what goes on in there and the history of the club.

“The club has existed in the park for well over 60 years without any trouble in the past and I just can’t understand the mentality of the people who do this and what they get out of it.”

A GoFundMe campaign was started for the clubhouse by Danny Hogan, a mental health nurse who set up a CIC called Urban Health UK to support people who may be struggling with their mental health.

Urban Health UK has been running Bowls for Health courses at Walton Hall, helping to make bowling more accessible and promoting its social and health benefits.

“When I found out what had happened I wanted to do something to help,” says Danny, “and I think the response to the GoFundMe has given everyone some hope. Now there’s a bit of buzz that they’ll get the building back and hopefully we can make it even better for everybody.”

An initial target of £1,000 has been hit four times over and more, so John is hopeful that all the items destroyed can be replaced.

“The council will repair the toilets, kitchen area and ceiling and hopefully we’ll get better security and CCTV which wasn’t there at the time it was broken into,” he adds.

“Funds raised will pay for replacing the cups and shields that were broken, tables and chairs that were destroyed, and amenities that we need for the bowlers as well as things like jacks for match day, mats and measuring tapes.

“We will not let these mindless idiots win, we will rise again.”