FELTHAM Rugby Club are appealing for help as they attempt to bounce back from yet another arson attack.
Feltham's happy existence at Hanworth Air Park has been disrupted twice in recent months.
In August, their changing rooms were gutted by fire after they were ram-raided by joyriders and lit alight.
Having borrowed a portable changing room to keep on playing, Feltham have now had their clubhouse attacked by arsonists, who set a fire in the kitchen, which damaged fixtures, fittings and memorabilia.
Club president Frank Parlsow said: "We are appealing from help from anyone locally who would like to support the club, whether financially or by donating replacement memorabilia.
"The clubhouse has been our home for more than 30 years, and in our previous guise as Old Twickenhamians we go back to the 1940s.
"We believe the structure of the clubhouse is sound, but there is heat and smoke damage, and we are still working through to see how much can be salvaged.
"It destroyed a lot of stuff, including old photos, and those are history and memories we will never get back."
The insurance claim on Feltham's clubhouse is progressing and Parslow expects the various renovations to take aboutd six months.
He said: "There is no power in the building because there was damage to the wiring, so the Royal Naval Club around the corner have kindly allowed us to use their bar and kitchen.
"And Hanworth Villa FC are kind-ly loaning us use of showers while we wait for electricity to be supplied to our temporary changing rooms. The worry is that we might lose some players when, rugby-wise, we are actually having a good season."
Indeed, Feltham are currently third in Middlesex Merit Table Division Four, and resume playing after a four-week break with a home game against leaders Old Streetonians tomorrow (Saturday).
Parslow added: "We're slowly sorting ourselves out and we'll come out the other side and be stronger for it. Any help our fellow clubs or rugby supporters can offer will be gratefully accepted."
For more on Feltham RFC and how to help, email Frank Parslow at frank.parslow@onetel.net.
