Vandalism attacks put 110-year-old Castleford Bowling Club at risk of closure

Castleford Bowling Club on Roundhill Road had its windows smashed during a recent overnight attack.

Four of the club’s windows of the single-storey building were either cracked or put through, with the club barely able to cover the cost of replacing them.

Kathleen Kendall, the club’s secretary and treasurer, said: “We are struggling as it is, then this happens.

“Even having them boarded up has already cost £500.

“It’s going to cost just less than £2,500 to get the windows replaced.

“We are trying to get back on our feet - we have a lack of finances.

“We can claim on the insurance this time but if it happens again I don’t know what we’ll do.

“Everybody is absolutely disgusted, they can’t believe things like this can happen.

“We’re just hoping it’s a one off, but you can never say never.”

Started in 1910, Mrs Kendall says the club now has around 90 paid members and 30 lifetime members. But while many use the bowling green, there are too few using the social club.

She added: “We still get the membership fees each year, but what keeps us going is the takings from the bar in the club, and people are not using it as much as they used to.

“A lot of people in the town do not even know we are here.

“But we won’t be giving up, we’re trying not going to let it affect us.”

The incident happened shortly before 12.50am on Tuesday, February 11.

CCTV from the bar caught two culprits involved.

Anyone with details should call police on 101 quoting the crime reference number 13200075739.