Grassroots sports clubs around the country are reporting a surge in damage to playing surfaces caused by off-road motorbikes, quad bikes, e-scooters and other vehicles, saying the attacks not only wreck pitches but put players and spectators at risk. The problem, clubs say, spans several counties and multiple sports, forcing local authorities and volunteer-run sides to spend scarce funds on barriers and repairs.
Players injured and matches endangered
In Kent, members of Cliffe Crusaders Rugby Football Club have suffered ankle injuries after riders churned up the ground at their home recreation pitch, while teams at the same venue have seen matches threatened by riders turning up during warm-ups. Head coach Chris Jones said the incursions have made him fearful for the safety of both players and spectators before fixtures.
"We're seeing more and more damage occurring from motorbikes, off-road vehicles, e-scooters and electric bikes that are putting people in jeopardy,"
Local councillors have been forced to respond. Cliffe and Cliffe Woods Parish Council said it has spent thousands of pounds installing barriers at the recreation ground in an attempt to stop incursions, with chair Barry Dibble describing the problem as longstanding and growing worse in the last year. He warned the extra security has been a heavy burden on parish funds.
Cricket squares and winter wickets targeted
Across the south-east, cricket clubs report deliberate damage to greens and squares over the winter months. At Burgess Hill Cricket Club, a rider was observed driving repeatedly along the square, while nearby St Andrew's Cricket Club had its wicket scarred by tyre tracks in advance of the new season. Sam Kirwin of St Andrew's told the BBC he had seen what appeared to be bike or scooter tyre marks on the pitch.
The consequences are practical and expensive: worn or rutted surfaces can make the ball behave unpredictably in cricket, increase the risk of twisted ankles in rugby and football and render entire fixtures unplayable until repairs are made.
- Sports affected: football, rugby, cricket and golf clubs.
- Typical damage: gouged turf, tyre ruts on squares and wickets, destruction of boundary areas.
- Local response: physical barriers installed, repair costs met from limited parish or club budgets.
| Club | County | Reported issue |
|---|---|---|
| Cliffe Crusaders RFC | Kent | Rutted pitch, player injuries, match disruptions |
| Burgess Hill CC | Sussex | Rider seen on square, tyre marks |
| St Andrew's CC | Sussex | Wicket damage, tyre tracks |
Law enforcement and new powers
Ministers have moved to give the police stronger tools to tackle anti-social use of vehicles. New legislation introduced in July makes it easier for officers to seize and destroy vehicles involved in such behaviour. Clubs and councils will be watching to see whether those measures translate into tangible reductions in pitch incursions.
For now, volunteer-run clubs remain on the frontline: they must inspect grounds before matches, invest in physical deterrents where budgets allow, and repair playing surfaces so fixtures can go ahead. As the new season progresses, the cost to community sport could rise if the pattern persists.
The issue highlights a fragile chain: damaged grass pitches hit amateur sport participation, erode the experience for players and spectators, and divert limited local funds away from coaching and equipment into repairs and security. Clubs say a coordinated response from policing bodies and sustained support for pitch protection will be needed to safeguard grassroots sport.
With matches at risk and injuries reported already, the stakes are high. The question for authorities is whether the new powers granted to police this summer will deter those who treat community pitches as off-road play areas, or whether clubs will continue to pick up the tab while volunteers try to keep games on.
