Lucozade looter breaks into Brent’s only rugby club

While Team GB are still celebrating winning silver in the Olympic rugby sevens in Rio, Brent’s only rugby club Kilburn Cosmos, are lamenting a big loss after their clubhouse in Gladstone Park was broken into and money raised for sports equipment stolen.
CCTV footage shows a young man, approximately 5’10” tall and weighing around 230lbs, breaking and entering through a window around midnight on Sunday 7thAugust, before emptying both the till and the safe before rewarding himself with an orange flavoured Lucozade. Taken away to be dusted for fingerprints, the police are hopeful that they will catch the burglar if he is in the system, but it is unlikely the club will ever be able to recover their loss from the crime.
Club Chairman James Birrell says “Rugby is an inclusive sport, and we as a club have been welcoming men, women and children to play and train with us for the last twenty years. We want to be able to continue to support local players to keep fit and improve their skills, but this is a massive loss for us and will be difficult to recoup the funds. Thankfully, rugby teaches you that when you get knocked back you’ve got to get straight back up again – so we are holding a day of festivities including a bake sale, raffle and rugby activities in Gladstone Park, and we have set up a Just Giving page too. We’re also on the lookout for sponsors for the club to ensure we’re around for the long-term, and to partner with local businesses. We’re really hoping the community can rally around us as they have done for years”.
The club are turning their annual Brownes Cup day held on the 3rd of September 2016 into a fundraising day – with rugby games to watch, a barbecue, bake sale and raffles with prizes donated from local businesses. The festivities kick off at 11am on the main pitch in Gladstone Park where Austral and Kendal roads meet, and the day is open to anyone and everyone, whether they know how to play rugby or not. Potential sponsors are also encouraged to come down to see how the club operates and to meet the players.
For those unable to attend, Kilburn Cosmos have also created a Just Giving page, hoping to raise £3,000 – the total amount of funds they need to afford sports equipment for the players.
Kilburn Cosmos are always looking for new recruits, and as an inclusive club, training is open to all ages and abilities, especially to those who have never played before and want to learn a new skill. All training is held in Gladstone Park, with men’s session’s every Thursday 7pm and Saturday 10.30am, women’s every Tuesday at 7pm and Sunday 12.30pm, and juniors (all ages) on Sundays from 10am.
Anyone with any information about the crime should contact Crimestoppers or Wembley Police. Local businesses interested in sponsorship opportunities can contact info@kilburncosmos.co.uk.
Those wishing to contribute directly towards the club’s sports equipment fund can visitwww.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/KilburnCosmos