A car dealership group has stepped in to support a grassroots football team after it suffered two break-ins in the space of a few months.
Vertu is supporting Rosegrove Football Club in Burnley after the second incident left one of the club’s key facilities destroyed, threatening to derail its grassroots football programme for children aged three to 16.
The latest incident saw thieves smash a hole in the wall of the club’s pavilion café at its Queens Park ground, stealing a defibrillator, medical supplies, spare kit, cutlery, and even the contents of the fridge, including drinks and tomato sauce.
The café, which also served as a storage hub, has been forced to close, cutting off a vital source of income for the club.
Rosegrove FC runs 35 teams from under-fives to Under-16s and keeps its subscription fees low to ensure football remains accessible for everyone in the community.
The café plays a key role in helping the club continue to operate, generating much-needed funds to keep costs down for families.
After hearing about the incident, Robert Forrester, chief executive of Vertu, the UK’s fourth-largest motor dealership group, and a Burnley FC season ticket holder, contacted the club to offer support.
Vertu’s nearby Nelson Land Rover dealership has since made a £500 donation to aid the club’s recovery.
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Robert said: “Rosegrove is the kind of club that holds a community together.
"What they’ve built is remarkable, and it’s deeply upsetting to see them targeted like this - not once, but twice.
"We hope our support helps them get back on their feet and reminds them that people care."
His connection to the area made the gesture especially meaningful.
He added: “My dad ran a youth team close by, Pendle School Boys, in the 1970s, so I understand just how vital clubs like Rosegrove are to local people.
"We don’t want them to be dispirited and hope our support will help the club bounce back stronger than ever.
“I’m a season ticket holder at Burnley, and Vertu is a sponsor of the club, so we’re committed to supporting football in the area.
"I believe in the power of the game to bring people together and create a sense of community in a way that nothing else can.”
Michael Cain, chair of Rosegrove FC, said the donation had lifted spirits during a difficult time.
He said: “It’s hard to put into words how disappointing it is to be targeted like this, especially when we’re a club that works with hundreds of children and families in the area.
“We’re not a business with deep pockets; we run on passion, volunteers, and the kindness of others.
"To have our café wrecked and everything taken - including our defibrillator - was a real blow.
“But the support we’ve had from Vertu, other grassroots clubs, and people in the community has been incredible. It’s reminded me why we do this.
"It’s given me the encouragement to keep going, and to make sure the kids still have somewhere to play, learn, and grow.”
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