‘Unbelievably stupid’ youths aimed fireworks at training rugby players

Haddington RFC were going through their usual training routine in Neilson Park on the evening of Thursday, November 5 when half a dozen youngsters started setting fireworks off towards the squad.

Andrew Cunningham, club secretary, blasted those responsible and said: “We had more than 30 players and coaches on various parts of the training pitch.

“The noise of the fireworks going off alerted them and they were aware that they were being aimed in their direction.

“It’s unbelievably stupid – someone could easily have been seriously injured.”

The squad, led by head coach Rhodri Thomas, continued their preparations, before concluding their training session as normal, at about 8.15pm.

The issue of youths and anti-social behaviour has been listed as a priority at community and police partnership (CAPP) meetings for the last two months.

Constable Lynn Black, who chairs the meetings, told members about various incidents in the town in recent weeks at a meeting last month.

That included youths congregating in Ross’s Close and Ball Alley.

PC Black told the Courier police had received no official complaint from the rugby club but they had been carrying out a fireworks initiative at the end of the week.

A number of other incidents were also included in the police report given to the town’s community council last Tuesday night.

That included a group of about seven youths on Church Street who were “shouting, swearing and being a general nuisance”.

Also last month, police were called to Neilson Park following “a youth disorder call” whereby it was reported that youngsters had been dropping litter and being abusive to other members of the public.

The officer, who was not at the meeting, told the Courier a lot of work had been carried out with community wardens and Knox Academy to reduce youth anti-social behaviour and it was something they were looking to keep on top of.

She added: “It is a small minority.”