Heroes of Storm Doris saved 35 children when Knowle FC roof was ripped off

Football trainers have been hailed heroes of Storm Doris after leading 35 children to safety when the roof of a Knowle Football Club building was ripped off in high winds.

Head coach Ronnie Malcolm and assistants Kerry Woodhall, 18, and 19-year-old Nicole Butler were supervising the youngsters at a holiday club run by SDUK at the ground on Hampton Lane when 80mph winds struck.

The children, aged from five to 14, were enjoying their morning break in a building at around midday when the corrugated iron roof was torn away and flew into the nearby cricket field.

An immediate evacuation was launched with Ronnie, 46, and his two assistants carrying barefoot kids across the pitch.

The coach, from Chelmsley Wood, said: “It was scary but when you hear kids screaming and shouting, you’ve got to kick the fear out of your head and be professional.

“Luckily I had told the older children to go outside because where they had been sitting where the roof collapsed. It just suddenly peeled off and went flying across the pitch.

“I’m amazed that no one got hurt.”

He paid tribute to his two young assistants and said: “We were just grabbing kids, some were crying but they were like little soldiers. We did it as a team and the girls were superb.”

The coaches took the frightened youngsters to dug outs at the end of the pitch before Ronnie ran back in to get the children’s trainers and coats, as many had left them behind.

“We rang the fire brigade and they said I shouldn’t have gone back as it was dangerous with bits of roof hanging off but I didn’t like to see the kids upset,” said former pro-footballer Ronnie. “You don’t think.

“They’re our kids when they are in our care.”

Knowle FC Junior Secretary Dave Sykes said he was shocked to find the damage when he arrived on the scene.

“Children were sobbing,” he said. “Ronnie and the girls were heroes – they had to get the children out quickly.

“We just don’t know yet if we will be able to play our matches this weekend but we will have a committee meeting to decide.”

Tracy Lake is club’s Chairwoman. She said: “We would appreciate everybody’s support in helping us to get the club running again as soon as possible.

“If there are any local tradesman that could help, it would be appreciated.”

* If you can help in any way, please contact Knowle FC by emailing: knowlefc@mail.com

Read more: http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/heroes-storm-doris-who-saved-12653283