THE chairman of Porthmadog Football Club has thanked the community for their support after the pitch was submerged in water and the clubhouse was damaged by Storm Desmond.

The pitch was completed flooded and there was a foot of water in the clubhouse as the atrocious storm wreaked havoc.

Describing the shocking scenes, club chairman Phil Jones said: “The entire pitch was under water with not a blade of grass in sight.

“The ground suffered considerable flooding in 2005 but this time it is far worse.

“There was a high tide at around 5am and this coupled with the torrential rain took the flood to a level where damage has been caused.

“There was a foot of water in the clubhouse, reaching a level above the skirting and it was just the same in the changing rooms.

“All at the club are extremely disappointed in view of the upgrading that has taken place at the ground in recent years.”

The club is now in the process of assessing the situation and deciding on the next steps.

Club members were relieved to discover the damage to the club wasn’t as bad as expected as there was no damage to the basic utilities, such as the electricity, in the building.

The heating is able to be used in the clubhouse and dehumidifiers are already in use to commence the drying out process. The boiler is also still in use but the carpets were damaged and will need professional treatment.

Mr Jones added: “Above all else I would like to thank the local community and the wider football community for their messages of support and offers of assistance.

“Many of these offers have come from far and wide and they are much appreciated by the club.

“The water is currently receding but more slowly than I had hoped but I remain hopeful that Saturday’s game against Caersws will still go ahead.”

A Monday night bingo session was also called off as a result of the flooding.