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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Football club fire 'may be arson' | Football club fire 'may be arson' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Police are treating a fire at a football clubhouse in County Antrim as suspicious. | |
| Fire crews were called to the blaze at Carrick Rangers Football Club in Carrickfergus at about 0530 GMT. | |
| Flames engulfed disused buildings alongside the football pitch at Taylors Avenue and large plumes of smoke billowed into nearby streets. | Flames engulfed disused buildings alongside the football pitch at Taylors Avenue and large plumes of smoke billowed into nearby streets. |
| Chairman David Hilditch said there were "indications" that the fire had been started deliberately. | Chairman David Hilditch said there were "indications" that the fire had been started deliberately. |
| He added that the football stands and changing rooms had survived but there could still be a "massive financial impact" on the club. | |
| The fire caused difficulties for people living in Barnhill Cottages, a residential fold close to the club. | |
| Only one member of staff was able to get into work. | |
| Senior support worker Angela Williams, who has been in contact with her, said she was managing to cope in the situation. | |
| She said: "She has reassured all the tenants and everything seems to be OK." | |
| Ms Williams said she had moved one tenant because he had had his windows open and his house was full of smoke. | |
| "But they are all safe and everything is OK and under control," she said. | |
| Carrick Rangers are due to play their next home game at the grounds on 9 January. | Carrick Rangers are due to play their next home game at the grounds on 9 January. |
| A spokesperson from the Fire and Rescue Service said that three fire engines and an aerial platform attended the blaze. | A spokesperson from the Fire and Rescue Service said that three fire engines and an aerial platform attended the blaze. |
| Police have closed Taylors Avenue at its junction with Marine Highway. | |
| They said the nearby health centre can be accessed via Prince William Way. | They said the nearby health centre can be accessed via Prince William Way. |