October 12, 2016
Police are investigating to try and find out who is responsible for tearing up a Camden football field in Fairview over the weekend.
Robert Kelley, the team's coach, started the Raiders to help kids between the ages of 5-14, the Courier-Post reported Tuesday. Kelley took to social media to voice his frustration – the damage to the field has made it impossible for the team to play any home games for the time being — and said he felt like something positive for the community was taken away by vandals.
"Jokers come out with these bikes and just literally destroyed our field. Destroyed the whole football field, where we play our home games at," he said in a video posted to his Facebook. "We practice on this field, everything and this is what they come and do. Are you serious? We come out here and try to do a good thing for these kids and this is the thanks we get."
Kelley said that the team's games will have to be played elsewhere until the field is fixed.
Surveillance cameras at Malandra Hall Community Center could also help figure out how the incident happened. The nearby baseball field was also damaged.
“This unconscionable act of vandalism is currently under an active investigation," said Dan Keashan, a Camden County spokesperson. "We are taking it very seriously, furthermore, anytime open space and park land is desecrated it is an affront to the neighborhood and our residents by denying children a place to play.”
A GoFundMe page for the team was created in February. It's raised $310 of its $15,000 goal.
