What was meant to be the trip of a lifetime for a group of young footballers nearly turned into a complete disaster—thanks to the very man they trusted the most.
Parents and children from Ellesmere Port were buzzing with excitement.
Their under-10s football team, the Vauxhall Astras, had secured a spot in an international youth tournament in sunny Salou, Spain.
It was all set to be a magical experience—fun, football, and unforgettable memories.
But then came a gut-wrenching shock that no one saw coming.
Coach in Charge Steals Thousands from Parents’ Fund
Michael Grisedale, the 39-year-old coach of the team—and a father himself—had convinced parents he was organizing the dream trip.
He collected money for hotel bookings, airport transfers, and tournament fees.
Parents pitched in, and even kids did their bit through fundraising.
But instead of making bookings, Grisedale diverted the cash elsewhere.
Out of work at the time, he quietly dipped into the fund.
First, it was to pay off bills.
Then, in a desperate move to cover his tracks, he gambled the rest on online roulette.
A total of £6,401.39 vanished—most of it lost in virtual casinos.
Parents Only Found Out Days Before the Trip
The truth only came to light three days before the team was set to fly out.
A parent, Dean Carruthers, received a confusing phone call from the Spanish hotel.
Their booking had been cancelled due to non-payment. Panic set in.
Desperate for answers, Dean reached out to Grisedale—who didn’t pick up the phone.
Other parents soon learned the shocking news: the trip hadn’t been paid for.
Worse still, the organizer had disappeared.
Grisedale later claimed he had hoped to double the funds by gambling—but lost everything instead.
Community Rallies to Save the Day
With hearts broken and time ticking, local residents and wellwishers stepped in.
A GoFundMe campaign quickly raised the needed cash.
Against all odds, the kids made it to Salou and got to play in the tournament.
But the joy was bittersweet.
By then, Grisedale had fled 80 miles away to Blackpool, reportedly on police advice.
It was also revealed he had even stolen £200 from his own girlfriend, who had contributed to the trip.
Betrayal Leaves Lasting Emotional Scars
The emotional toll was huge.
Tony Davies, one of the parents, said the discovery left him “shocked, angry, and betrayed.”
He had worked tirelessly to raise money for the team, and the theft destroyed their efforts.
“If we hadn’t gotten that call from the hotel,” he said, “we would have been stranded in Barcelona.”
The team didn’t survive the scandal.
Within weeks of returning from Spain, the Vauxhall Astras folded.
Trust was broken, sponsors pulled away, and families were left disappointed.
Children Left Confused and Heartbroken
Another parent, Hannah Parry, shared how hard it was to break the news to her son.
“Michael was someone we trusted. My son adored him as a coach.
Telling him the trip might not happen was heartbreaking.”
She also said she now finds it difficult to trust people when they ask for money.
“You never really know what’s going on behind the scenes.”
Court Sentencing and Judge’s Strong Words
Grisedale eventually faced justice at Chester Crown Court.
He pleaded guilty to 11 charges of theft.
Though sentenced to 24 months in prison, the sentence was suspended for two years.
He must now complete 150 hours of unpaid work, 15 days of rehabilitation, and pay back the stolen money.
Prosecutor Oliver Saddington told the court how Grisedale planned the trip and collected payments ranging from £329 for kids to £275 for attending parents.
But no money ever reached the hotel or tournament organizers.
Grisedale Admits His Mistakes—But It’s Too Late
After his arrest in Kent, Grisedale made full confessions.
He told police he had panicked when funds ran short and turned to gambling in a misguided effort to cover the shortfall. It didn’t work.
His lawyer, Nicholas Williams, admitted the whole ordeal was a massive fall from grace.
Grisedale had once volunteered his time coaching kids—including his own son.
Now, he’ll be remembered for stealing from them.
Williams said, “The temptation was too great. He initially intended to pay it back, but it got out of hand.
He made a terrible decision to try and win it back through gambling. But as we all know, that never ends well.”
Judge Condemns the “Mean” Betrayal of Trust
Judge Natalie Cuddy didn’t hold back in her remarks.
She highlighted the huge effort parents and kids had put into fundraising and how Grisedale’s actions had deeply hurt them.
“This money wasn’t easy to come by,” she said.
“Children helped raise it. Parents made sacrifices.
You betrayed their trust, and your actions cast a dark shadow over what should have been a joyful experience.”
What Comes Next?
Grisedale is now trying to repay the money.
He has managed to scrape together £1,500 so far, and is working in a supermarket.
But the damage has already been done.
The kids got their trip, but the joy was tainted.
The team is gone. The community is wounded.
And for many parents, trusting again won’t come easy.
This painful chapter serves as a harsh reminder: when trust is broken—especially involving children—the fallout can be devastating.