Hamilton boys’ club football coach admits defrauding parents of £1350

Feb 24 2011 by Alastair McNeill, Hamilton Advertiser

A COACH at a Hamilton boys’ football club defrauded six players’ parents of a total of £1350.

Charles Kane, a part-time coach at the club from the start of 2009 until the end of last year, approached parents claiming the money was required for cut-price football strips.

Kane, who trained boys under the age of six, contacted six parents and was given lump sums to the value of £250 and £300 and four payments of £200.

But parents became suspicious when the kit failed to materialise.

Founded in 1977, Mill United FC is one of the most highly-regarded boys’ clubs in Scotland.

It has 400 young footballers and 85 coaches.

Players who went on to professional football include Rangers and Scotland captain Barry Ferguson, and Accies, Celtic and Aberdeen player Paul Hartley.

At Hamilton Sheriff Court last week, 37-year-old Kane admitted six charges of fraud.

The incidents took place between September 16 and November 5 last year.

Fiscal-depute Barbara Hughes told the court last Thursday that Kane had told parents he could purchase cut-price training gear, but was short of cash and needed the money to buy them.

He said the kit would be of benefit to their children... and parents trustingly handed over the money to him.

On one occasion, Kane went to see a parent at his workplace to ask him for cash. Colin Lickrish told Kane that he didn’t have any money on him, but went to a cash machine to withdraw £200 for the coach.

The accused told Mr Lickrish he would get his money back in two to three weeks and that no-one was to find out about it.

On another occasion, however, when Kane approached a parent he was told he wasn’t getting any money.

Kane obtained:

l £250 from Alan McGrillen at Etive Avenue, Hamilton.

l £200 from Colin Lickrish at Tweedsmuir Park, Hamilton.

l £200 from Ann Jamieson at Conniston Crescent, Hamilton.

l £300 from Arthur Lennon at Elm Way, Cambuslang.

l £200 from Mark Vinnicombe at Argyle Drive, Hamilton.

l £200 from Angela Curtis at Bogside Road, Ashgill.

Ms Hughes said police became involved when parents realised that they were not getting their money back.

Officers went to Kane’s home but he was not there. However, he voluntarily went to Hamilton Police Office and admitted the offences.

At court last Thursday, sentence on Kane – of Coronation Crescent, Larkhall – was deferred until August 3 for repayment of the sums taken.

Sheriff Marie Smart ordered him to bring £500 with him on that date.

A Mill United FC spokesman said: “We recently received our SFA Quality Mark Award which sets a national standard.

“We have established processes and procedures that ensure that any player, coach or parent who acts in a way that brings discredit to our club, will be removed immediately.

“This isolated incident was totally unforeseen by everyone involved and has been dealt with by our club committee efficiently and effectively and was reported to the police without delay.

“We will continue to ensure that we maintain our integrity and will not tolerate any behaviour that brings the club’s good name into disrepute.

“We thank the Advertiser for the positive reporting of our club’s successes over the year and would like to put this incident behind us.”