VIDEO: Fire hits Bognor Regis Town Football Club

More than 60 firefighters were sent to tackle the blaze this morning and resources were pulled in from across West Sussex to try to keep it at bay.

The fire at the home of The Rocks in Nyewood Lane, Bognor, began at 5am today (Friday, August 15) and seven fire engines were sent to the scene.

The blaze ripped through the clubhouse behind a goal near the entrance to the ground.

Click here to see some footage of the fire being tackled and here for some fire brigade footage

Jack Pearce, general manager of the club, said: 'To be honest I've had better ways to start the day rather than being woken up to come down here to this very unpleasant sight.

'But these things are sent to try us. The fire has taken out one side of the club house. Part of the roof has gone and there is so much smoke and water damage - which is probably the worst thing of all.

'The suspended ceiling has had to come down to check there was no fire travelling through the roof. Even the new carpet we laid last week has gone. But, I know we'll get over this hurdle as we always do.'

It is believed the fire may have started because of an electrical fault, though arson has yet to be ruled out.

Mr Pearce, who has spoken at length with the fire investigators, said it looked like the fire started internally rather than externally.

At 7am today the exhausted firefighters began to scale back the operation as the fire had been put out but they will spend the rest of the day damping down and assessing the full extent of the damage.

The club played their first home game of the season last Saturday, and if the clubhouse is out of action for any length of time, it will hit revenue.

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