Body found close to where children were due to play football
THOUSANDS of people attending a football tournament in an East Riding village were caught up in a police investigation after the discovery of a body.
The body was discovered in woods close to the village of Sproatley following a search by police officers and the force helicopter.
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CALLED OFF: Sproatley Pavilion in Park Road, Sproatley, where the tournament was due to be held. Picture: Peter Harbour
Police are not treating the death as suspicious.
Hundreds of children, some as young as six, had been due to take part in the 43-team tournament hosted by Sproatley Juniors Football Club, one of the biggest events of its kind in East Yorkshire.
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They were moved away from the pitches, close to where the body was found, before the organisers called off the tournament.
Club chairman Simon Copeman said: "As soon as we became aware of what had happened, the first reaction of the Sproatley managers and the teams involved was to move the young children away from the area.
"Once we had done that, we called all the managers together so we could inform the parents.
"The club members rallied round and dealt with the situation very professionally."
Two under-seven teams had been due to play close to where the body was found.
Mr Copeman said: "As soon as we realised how serious it was, we had no other option but to cancel the game.
"Our primary concern was the welfare of the children.
"Our thoughts go out to the family at this traumatic time."
The Mail understands all the children in the tournament were moved away from the scene without seeing the body.
The Sproatley tournament had started on Saturday and Mr Copeman said it was too soon to tell if yesterday's matches would be rescheduled.
"In the long term, we will make a club decision as to whether we will try to replay the tournament," Mr Copeman said.
"If we decide to replay, there are other teams we will need to speak to.
"One of the things that has been mooted is a fun day for the village, with matches alongside an open day for the tennis club."
Yesterday's tournament was due to start at 10.30am, shortly after the body was discovered.
First aid volunteers on hand for the football matches offered their services to police but were unable to help.
Inspector Steve Beveridge was involved in managing the police operation in Sproatley.
He said: "A large number of police were involved in the incident, including a police helicopter.
"We can reassure the public that there were no suspicious circumstances and there is nothing for them to be concerned about."
Police had been searching for a missing person before the body was found.
The person who died is believed to be from the area, and is thought to have taken their own life.
Police are not looking for anyone else in connection with the death.
Hundreds of players aged between six and 13 were due to have taken part in the tournament.
Comments
by cloglet101
Monday, June 18 2012, 10:38PM
“If any of you have ever felt suicidal, you will know that daily events are irrelevant because desperation takes over. It's called depression, and sometimes it goes misdiagnosed, hell, I'd still have my own mother if she'd accepted the help, but by then she had already reached desperation, so I really do feel for his poor family. It doesn't make them selfish, it is an illness, just like arthritus, MS etc just because you don't see it, it doesn't mean it is not there. I think it's so nasty that you can all sit here slating somebody who in all fairness had hit rock bottom. Just think before you write, because you might just upset a relative of this persons on here, which is the last thing they need! Thinking of you all (know I don't know) but I can imagine your pain.”
by cloglet101
Monday, June 18 2012, 10:28PM
“What about this person, and the poor family left? Spare a thought for this person, and their family because whatever people are saying now, this poor family have just found out that their member of family whether it be child/cousin/parent/sibling etc was so sad they couldn't find another way out.
I'm sure that desperation/depression/big hole lead to this, it doesn't reflect on the person, and speaking from my own experiences, I hope nobody on here has to go through this in their lives because it is very hard/difficult to get over a suicide in the family. Perhaps just think about this person, light a candle etc but what matters most is that this person obviously felt like there was no way out, and that is a very sad position to be in, horrible for the family too.”
by Talent17
Monday, June 18 2012, 9:13PM
“Agreed.....sbbbb666”
by smoothkettle
Monday, June 18 2012, 9:12PM
“yes the kids football needed a mention but surely it is not the main story. The man who took his life was the main story.
My thoughts go out to his family”
by sbbbb666
Monday, June 18 2012, 8:44PM
“We've all put our opinions down but let us remember 1 thing, there is a family out there who are heartbroken and whose lives will never be the same!!!”
by Talent17
Monday, June 18 2012, 7:48PM
“@The snooper!!
no maybe he wouldnt of been in frame of mind thinking of a football match but if it is the LOCAL man they was searching for then im sorry he would of known that the tournament was going on as it had all day satuday and every other year for god knows how long. Even if football wasnt on.....KIDS play on that field!!!”
by peterw6889
Monday, June 18 2012, 7:00PM
“Well said smoothkettle. Some of the comments posted are beyond belief.HE WANTED TO BE FOUND TO SPOIL THE FOOTBALL ---- PEOPLE DIE. Only someone truly stupid who lacks compassion/sympathy would say that -- it really does reflect the i,m alright element in society.
My sympathy and best wishes to this mans family and friends”
by thesnooper
Monday, June 18 2012, 6:54PM
“@ Talent17
do you honestly think that the state the guy was in he would be thinking about a football match and thats assuming that he even knew in the first place, i cant stand the game myself so i wouldnt know when or where any game was”
by Talent17
Monday, June 18 2012, 5:59PM
“My 7yr old son was due to play less than 10yards away from this hanging body!! If he or my 10yr old daughter had discovered this they would of been traumatised!! I understand that this man must of been in a very low state of mind but what a selfish act n place to do it knowing that the field was going to be full of families the following morning!! My heart goes out to his poor family like the person in the earlier post has said....it's them having to pick up the pieces!! They must be living a nightmare!”
by myhull
Monday, June 18 2012, 3:43PM
“So the body isnt suspicious??
Then whats the problem, or have people forgotton that in the natural cycle of life that PEOPLE DIE!”