EVERY inch of Nelson FC's pitch will be scoured for booby-traps before players are allowed to take the field on Saturday.

Officials will make extra checks with metal detectors after last week's game was sabotaged by racist vandals who planted razor blades, nails and broken glass across the pitch.

Blades were also stuck at head height in the dug-out and on goal-posts - the incident is being linked with anti-white graffiti which was sprayed at the Victoria Park ground.

The club's chairman, Ken Broom, branded the vandals 'sick' and said the unprovoked attack could have maimed or even killed a player.

Burnley and Pendle Racial Equality Council have promised a full investigation and a Nelson councillor, Roger Abbiss, made a demand for the evil of racism to be rooted out of local football.

Mr Broom told the Citizen: "We were lucky in that we always check the pitch very thoroughly. Otherwise we might not have discovered the blades until it was too late.

"The pitch will be checked inch by inch before Saturday's reserve match. It's a painstaking job, with people on their hands and knees, but it needs to be done."

The club spent £20,000 this year on refurbishing Victoria Park and members pride themselves on the facilities. The cancelled match with Ashton Town cost £800 in lost revenue.

Mr Broom added: "This was the first time anything like this has happened, and it was absolutely unprovoked. Everyone is feeling totally demoralised."

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