A trusted junior football coach has left families devastated after squandering thousands of pounds meant to send a children’s football team to an overseas tournament.

Michael Grisedale, 39, had agreed to arrange entry in the Spanish competition on the condition mums and dads clubbed together so he could pay fees, hotel costs and airports transfers. But instead, the father-of-two stole £6,401.39 raised by the parents – and gambled it away in online casinos until all the money had gone, a judge was told.

Grisedale, who coached an under-10s side in Greater Manchester, had been placed in charge of collecting the contributions from parents.

However, instead of securing the dream trip, the coach used the money to fuel a gambling addiction—leaving the funds gone.

“It’s Just Heartbreaking”

One parent, speaking anonymously, said: “This trip was supposed to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The kids trained hard all year and were buzzing to go. Now they’re devastated.”

The court heard the alarm was only raised three days before the competition was due to start when a hotel in the city where the team were due to stay contacted one of the parents to inform him the reservation had been cancelled due to non-payment.

When quizzed by police Grisedale, who ran the under-10s Vauxhall Astra team in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, and whose own son played in the squad, claimed there had not been enough cash available to pay for the trip and he gambled it away in a doomed bid to raise the extra money.

• At Chester Crown Court, Grisedale pleaded guilty to 11 charges of theft and was sentenced to 24 months in jail, suspended for two years, with requirements he completes 150 hours of unpaid work and 15 days of rehabilitation activity. He must also pay back the money he stole to his victims.•

A Call for Greater Oversight

The incident has raised serious concerns about financial accountability in grassroots sport. Many parents are now calling for stricter checks and transparency when it comes to handling team finances.

A statement from Northamptonshire Police reads as follows;

The incident occurred between 3pm and 4pm on Sunday, June 9, when several players from two under-13 teams became involved in a verbal altercation.

As the referee intervened to defuse the situation, a man entered the field of play, dragged the match official from behind and assaulted him. It is also alleged that another man assaulted two of the young players.

Officers investigating this incident would like to speak to anyone who may have been at the match and who witnessed either the referee or the players being assaulted.

Anyone with information is asked to call Northamptonshire Police on 101, or alternatively call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Please quote incident number 24000338550 when providing any information to make sure it gets to the right person as quickly as possible.

Today we spoke to Norfolk Constabulary who have now confirmed the following;

“Police were called to Bressingham playing fields shortly before 11.30am on Sunday 10 December 2023 following a report of an incident at a youth club football match between a spectator and referee.

A man in his 30s was arrested on suspicion of assault and taken to Bury St Edmunds Police Investigation Centre for questioning. He was later released under investigation while enquiries continue.”

Spixworth U13s have had their fixtures suspended by the Norfolk Combined Youth Football League amid the investigations, Spixworth Youth FC have reached out to Diss to apologise and have released the following statement via social media

“Spixworth Youth FC condemns the actions of a spectator at the U13 Youth Match this morning. The club takes a zero tolerance approach to this behaviour. We have reached out to Diss to apologise and will cooperate with all investigations.”

On Sunday (17 January) we were alerted to a football match taking place in #Billericay and our officers engaged with some of those involved.

They provided identification indicating they were part of an elite level football club and the match involved youth and academy players.

Based on this information officers took a view that this activity was allowed under the regulations on elite sport and no breach of COVID-19 regulations had taken place.

However, following further enquiries we now believe what officers had initially been told was not the case, the match had not been arranged by an elite level football club, and the match did breach the Government’s regulations.

We’re now taking enforcement action against those involved and yesterday (Thursday 21 January) we have issued a man from #Witham a £200 fine.

Enquiries are ongoing to identify others involved.

If you have any information about the incident or those involved you can contact us on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

The Kent online state it is believed a manager from a participating team is believed to have pushed a teenage referee to the ground in front of players as young as six.

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It has been confirmed that Police attended the scene between 1pm and 1.14pm on Saturday and are now appealing for witnesses to the incident to come forward with information as to what happened. “It is being looked at by the police and after that it will be looked at by the Kent Football Association.

Deal Town Rangers Youth FC chairman Alan Clarke said to the Kent online: “An incident occurred at our two-day tournament between a manager and a referee. This was the biggest event ever with 110 teams from 30 clubs taking part, over 850 players in 305 games and in 10 age groups, It’s just a shame one incident marred the excellent event.”

A spokesman for Kent FA said the organisation was investigating the incident.

A spokesman for Grassroots Football – Paul Kirton which supports grassroots clubs throughout the UK – said reports of extreme violence are rare in comparison to the number of games played without incident. Although incidents of verbal abuse are currently at unacceptable levels and much more work needs to be addressed in this area, the reported levels of violence remains extremely low.

But while the organisation says incidents of this nature do happen and “can not be condoned” extreme incidents are very rare and there are a lot more positives in youngsters being part of the grassroots family.

For the full story http://www.kentonline.co.uk/deal/news/police-called-to-youth-football-127663/

The victim was playing for Lambourn FC’s under 16 side against a Burnham Juniors youth team when an altercation took place in the second half.

Police said the boy was assaulted by two men and suffered bruising to his chest and injuries to his face and leg.

He was treated in hospital but has since been discharged.

The incident took place at the George Pitcher Memorial Ground, in Britwell Road.

PC Matt Styles, investigating officer said: “We would be keen to hear to anyone who was at the match and witnessed the altercation to contact us.”

Call PC Styles on 101 quoting URN 1250 5/3 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Northumbria Police has released its most recent figures in relation to non-recent recent sexual abuse in the sporting community.

The force’s Operation Tide was set up to support and investigate increased reporting of abuse following reports across the country and in the media.

Since launching the operation in December last year, 25 victims have come forward in relation to eight suspects across nine different sporting clubs including Newcastle United and Sunderland’s Foundation of Light. This also includes some smaller local sporting clubs.

The force’s Operation Tide was set up to support and investigate increased reporting of abuse following reports across the country and in the media.

Since launching the operation in December last year, 25 victims have come forward in relation to eight suspects across nine different sporting clubs including Newcastle United and Sunderland’s Foundation of Light. This also includes some smaller local sporting clubs.

Following the statement from Northumbria Police, the Foundation of Light issued the following statement:

Police are looking into exactly what happened, but have confirmed they are investigating an assault on a teenager.

A police spokeswoman said: “We are investigating a report of assault in a park off Necton Street, Syston, at around 12 noon in which a teenage victim sustained minor injuries and was taken to hospital by the ambulance service.

“Our inquiries are in their early stages and no arrests have been made.

“Anyone who was there and has information about the incident is asked to call us on 101 quoting incident number 258 of November 6.”

Leicestershire & Rutland County Football Association, stated the following: “We are aware of the incident and are investigating, subject to the police investigation, which takes precedence in these matters.”

A spokesman for Grassroots Football – which supports grassroots clubs throughout the UK – says today’s reports of extreme violence are rare in comparison to the number of games played without incident. Although incidents of verbal abuse are currently at unacceptable levels and much more work needs to be addressed in this area, the reported levels of violence remains extremely low.

A cup game between Thornaby Village and Wrekenton Blue Star (Gateshead) was taking place from 2pm at Teesdale Park on Acklam Road. At around 3pm an altercation took place between several spectators and a local man left the park, returning with several other men all wearing balaclavas and carrying weapons.

One man was wearing a black jacket and blue bottoms but there are no descriptions for the other men.

No one was injured however the game was abandoned at half time due to this. According to reports, a local man had left the park in Thornaby following a row involving spectators and returned with several others, all wearing balaclavas and carrying weapons. The game was abandoned at half-time and police have appealed for information.

Cleveland Police would like anyone with information about this incident, particularly if they know the identity of the men in balaclavas, to contact us on 101. Information can also be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via their website