Two young Leeds businessmen step in to help Seacroft Sharks after brand new community room floods

Fez Mazhar and Josh Longford, of Dr Drainage, responded to Seacroft Sharks' cry for help after disaster struck.

The club had spent more than a year and thousands of pounds on a new child friendly family room when it flooded after a pipe burst last month.

In an online fundraiser, the club said it had run its budget "to the bones", with much of the work "potentially ruined".

Operations director Josh, 25, spotted a post on Facebook and leapt into action, offering to provide dehumidifiers to help dry out the premises.

Dr Drainage was only set up around the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, but the pair, originally from Pudsey but based in Headingley, have been doing their bit for the community since then, also providing food packages last year.

Managing partner Fez, 23, said: "We've been trying to keep on top of it and help people who are struggling at this time.

"Josh saw the post on Facebook but nobody was really commenting."

Josh drove to Preston on New Year's Eve to pick up the equipment, as it was one of the only depots left open.

Fez added: "We left them there and said there was no rush giving them back - however long it takes, we will cover the cost.

"Without drying out the premises they can't really do anything."

Seacroft Sharks posted a thanks to the pair on Facebook.

They wrote: "Massive thanks to Josh at Dr Drainage for kindly renting us two dehumidifiers and footing the bill not only did he do this he drove the entire way to Preston (only place open) to pick them up for us so we could start removing the remaining moisture ASAP!

"If you need anything doing drainage wise please consider Dr Drainage, great company and great bloke."

The club has set up an online fundraising page to try to raise £500 to cover the cost of repairs.

The page reads: "After over a year of hard work we had finally started work on our child friendly family room to create a welcoming environment for the junior rugby section as well as football and boxing only to find the place had been flooded due to a pipe bursting.

"Having worked hard with a local developer and running our budget to the bones we have now been set back thousands of pounds as the new wooden fittings, floor screeding and plastering is all either ruined or potentially ruined .

"We will continue to work hard with the Seacroft Community Sports and Social Club to deliver this for our local sporting community.

"Many people have suggested that they would like to support us getting back up and running. Providing some initial financial support to damage.

"Thank you so much if you are to support us. "

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