‘Non-league fraternity will pull together to help’

William Telford Business Editor

05:00, 28 Jul 2025

The aftermath of the arson attack at Bristol Manor Farm FC where a car was driven onto the pitch and set alight causing an explosion(Image: Bristol Manor Farm)

A fundraising campaign launched after an arson attack on Bristol Manor Farm Football Club has raised nearly £4,000 in just a day. Staff and supporters of the Southern League club were left “devastated” and “heartbroken” after the vandalism caused thousands of pounds of damage at the NL Services Stadium in Sea Mills.

Police started an investigation after a car was driven onto the pitch and set alight in one of the goalmouths on Friday night “exploding” into flames. It meant Saturday’s home friendly against Avonmouth had to be switched to an away game and there are doubts about the club’s ability to stage home games at the start of the new season.

But fans have rallied around and a fundraising campaign on the JustGiving website accumulated £3,882 in donations in just over 24 hours. Already, 124 people have pledged cash to get Bristol Manor Farm back on its feet.

The Farmy Army Skittles Team pledged £100 and said: “An amazing club to support, with amazing people.” Jenny and Martin Heale donated £300 and said: “Hope this helps The Farm back on home turf.”

Among the donors, Jamie Beddard said: “Love the Farmy Army.” And Linda Hutton said: “Together we can make a difference. Let’s rally behind Bristol Manor Farm FC and support their cause.”

There were even donations from supporters of other clubs, including a Merthyr Town fan who wrote: “Best of luck for the coming season.” Other donations came from fans of Clevedon Town, Bristol Barcelona FC, Evesham United, Sheffield Wednesday and Wrexham.

A Bromsgrove Sporting FC supporter made a donation and said: “Non-league fraternity will pull together to help.”

Bristol Manor Farm said the attack had led to “shock and heartbreak for our entire community”. The arson happened between 11pm and midnight on Friday and came two hours after an earlier vandal attack on the ground, in Sea Mills.

Two young men and two young women were captured on CCTV spraying graffiti, containing “negative” slogans. Club chairman Jon Line said the two incidents may be linked and thinks the arson was a deliberate attempt to prevent the Southern League club playing home matches.

He is concerned the stadium, traditionally known as The Creek, may not be playable for the first home game of the season against Willand Rovers on August 9. He said the damage will run into thousands of pounds but the final figure is not yet known.

The fundraising campaign is hoping to raise £6,000 following what the club called a “devastating act of vandalism”. Mr Line called it “a deliberate act to sabotage the pitch for the next few weeks.”

He said it is believed the car was driven to the end of the ground near the River Trym and then reversed onto the pitch. It went into the goal area and was set alight, destroying a section of the playing surface, goalposts, and nets in “a big explosion”.

Bristol Manor Farm was founded in 1960 and currently plays in Division One South of the Southern League: the eighth tier of the English football pyramid. The club has recently appointed a new manager and has several new players.

Mr Line said that everyone associated with the club had been “devastated” by the vandalism – but that it had made them resolve to bounce back. The team recovered to beat Avonmouth 2-1 and Mr Line said: “It (the vandalism) saddened us, we were a bit down to start with, but it has actually brought us closer as a club. We are trying to live in a cohesive community and build this club.”