A DEVASTATING fire led to fears a Hampshire football club could fold.

But, days after the blaze caused about £10,000 of damage at Hamble United FC, the club has been given a much-needed boost – thanks to the generosity of the local community.

Everyone from the footballing Freemasons group run by the dad of former Saints star Adam Lallana and Saints legends Matt Le Tissier and Francis Benali to groundsmen and businesses have pitched in to help the stricken club.

Shipping containers at Hamble’s ground in Satchell Lane are thought to have been targeted by thieves using a disk cutter, sparking the blaze on Thursday.

The damage was originally estimated at around £5000 but is in fact double that amount, and left the club facing a bleak future.

Although nothing was stolen, the fire has left players and volunteers counting the cost of tractors and line marking equipment destroyed.

Strimmers, a fridge-freezer, paint and kitchen equipment were also ruined.

Hamble United have two men’s teams, but also 170 children are involved in the club and it has seven teams and a soccer school.

Manager Gary Curtis told how since the story broke online on the Daily Echo on Thursday, people have been getting in contact to see how they can help.

Mr Curtis said: “It has gone mental. If it carries on this way I will be able to build a new clubhouse.”

He said that since the fire there have been offers flooding in to help, including TJ Waste who offered a skip and a groundsman who has offered to help cut the grass and mark the pitches, while the players have also been pitching in to help.

And footballing Freemasons group The Football Lodge, run by Adam Lallana’s dad Dave, is also looking to help the stricken club.

The lodge say they are in the process of seeing how much of the equipment they can replace and how they can help.

Sean Whelan, who runs Whelan Pest Prevention and is also involved in the Football Lodge, said when he saw the story he knew the lodge could help Hamble’s cause.

Mr Whelan said: “We asked Gary at the club to do an inventory and we are going to see how we can help.“Once we get the shopping list from the inventory we will go out and get that.”

Mr Curtis added: “On Thursday I had lost all faith in people but since we got it out there the response has been phenomenal.

“The way it is going I think we are going to be fine because people are being generous, the biggest thing is to replace the container and get some new gear; if we do that it will be great.

“The Echo coverage has helped, it’s been on YouTube and we had Francis Benali and Matt Le Tissier tweeting it, it’s been really really good.”

Hampshire police are still investigating. If anyone has any information they are urged to call 101 quoting 44160291212.

n Anyone who can help the club can email garycurtis@hambleunitedfc.co.uk.