Vandals leave football club with huge bill

Members discovered the damage on Monday evening when a committee meeting was scheduled to help organise a charity game for the over-35s team.

The group entered the clubhouse off Gypsy Lane to find graffiti and paint daubed across the walls and some of the floor, windows smashed and litter strewn everywhere.

Parts of the walls had holes in as a result of the damage, and one of the side rooms was badly damaged by the vandals.

Club secretary Steve Skrzeczkowski said: “It was just demoralising to see. So much work has gone into the clubhouse over the years - it’s 80 to 100 years old. It makes you wonder if we should carry on.

“The damage that’s been caused is up to £5,000, which is a shame.

“The only good thing about it is it’s happened out of season, so in a weird way it’s the best time for it to happen.”

Although the clubhouse was significantly damaged, the vandals did not target the changing rooms.

The club are considering demolishing the old clubhouse and moving into a new building just next to it, although the move is far from complete.

Mr Skrzeczkowski added: “The whole structure’s there, it just needs fitting out because it’s just a shell at the moment.

“We’ve estimated it to be between £20,000 and £30,000 to get it up and running.”

The police have been informed and were asking nearby residents if they witnessed anything over the weekend.