Chicago (CBS) — Decades of memories and equipment for a youth soccer team go up in smoke in seconds, leaving the team unsurprisingly devastated.
But the team is determined that the community will come together to help more than 100 young people return to the field.
On rainy nights like Friday night, mud puddles should be the biggest problem for the High Ridge Chargers football team. However, the team's entire spring season is currently uncertain.
“It's just heartbreaking to come here and see everything gone,” team principal David Lottie said. “Someone stole a car and parked it correctly. [in a park driveway] – You'll see a footprint – and set it on fire. ”
The flames spread to the team's storage container located in the park at Rogers Park, 7250 North Rockwell Street near Toohey Avenue and Western Avenue.
Lottie received the call Wednesday morning.
“When I got here, everything was open like this, but they had to break the locks and get in,” Loti said. “Everything was burnt down.”
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When Lottie says “everything,” he's talking about $30,000 worth of equipment that the kids on the team used for conditioning. All collected over several decades.
“Honestly, I used to play here a lot when I was a kid,” he said. “I think we hit the same pads when we were kids.”
high ridge charger
The Chargers have played at Rogers Park since 1959. Over his 65 years, the Chargers have influenced many young people.
This is the biggest hit this team has ever seen.
“This is one of those programs that changes your life,” coach Jason Goodnight said.
Coach Goodnight teaches many life lessons on and off the field. And he sees this as a teachable moment, too.
“Facing adversity like this is a normal part of life, not just in situations like this, and it's a lesson that you have to keep moving forward even when things get tough,” Goodnight said. Ta.
And now it's tough. Abdullah Masari, 13, lives nearby. He recorded video of the burnt-out storage container on his way to school the morning of the fire.
“It was very confusing,” Abdullah said. “I wondered if they did this on purpose or if it was an accident.”
Now, due to some criminal activity, the High Ridge Chargers are forced to experience the fallout from someone who stole and set fire to the car that caused the flames to spread.
Audie Fleming said: “The consequences of what they've just done are impacting more than the person they were trying to hurt, so maybe they should think about it before they do it.”
Now, the Chargers will rely on the community to keep the boys on the field for the season in April.
“We're looking at events that bring the community together. We might do a fundraiser,” Goodnight said.
The coaches are determined not to let the kids down.
The High Ridge Chargers are considered Chicago's oldest youth football team and were originally founded by Chicago Police Department officers.
