Nambucca Heads armed robbery: Police appeal for information on Sport St cash holdup

The manager of a Mid-North Coast club targeted in a “traumatic” holdup has described how his second in charge, who was tied up and threatened with knives, got through it. Here’s what we know.

Nambucca Leagues and Sports Club and manager Ben McPherson.

The manager of a Mid-North Coast club targeted in a “traumatic” holdup has described how his second in charge, who was tied up and threatened with knives, got through the ordeal.

Ben McPherson is the manager of the Nambucca Leagues and Sports Club, which was targeted by two masked men on Sunday night.

A pair of men stormed into the building and demanded money, tying the worker to a chair before fleeing the scene with an amount of cash and the security footage, according to NSW Police.

The club was in the process of closing and all members and guests had left.

Mr McPherson said his second in charge, who does not wish to be named, escaped physically uninjured and returned to work on Tuesday.

The robbers made off with CCTV footage.

While he said the 54-year-old “took it in his stride”, he acknowledged the staff member has been very “shaken up” and fellow staff were monitoring his wellbeing and offering support.

Mr McPherson, who has worked at the club for the past 10 years and been the manager for the past seven, said all staff were trained in various de-escalation techniques and the worker called on these strategies on the night.

“He just relaxed and told them ‘take your time, get what you want’ and did everything correctly to lessen the danger of getting injured,” he said.

The sports fields at the Nambucca Leagues and Sports Club.

Staff are taught to respond to potential robbers clearly and openly, but not to look them in the eyes, Mr McPherson explained.

The staff member who was tied up has been with the club for the past seven years.

Mr McPherson praised the police response to the incident and said officers were there promptly after the alarm was first raised about 9pm.

He said he only remembers one other similar incident during his time at the club.

Police have urged anyone with information which may be relevant to phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or to lodge a report online.

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