A football club in Spalding are 'devastated' after being burgled and vandalised on New Years eve

Spalding United FC say they're heartbroken after being burgled and vandalised.

Lincolnshire police responded to a call at around 11.25am reporting a burglary at Sir Halley Stewart Field on 31st December.

We had damage to goalposts, the changing rooms, and the press box

Several items were stolen, and paint was thrown on and off the pitch by those who broke into the premises.

Volunteers helped to clean up the damage in time for their New Year's Day league fixture against St Ives Town.

The club say they're overwhelmed by the community support.

Fans of the team pulled together and raised money with a raffle to help replace stolen items.

It's devastating for the football club

Leigh Porter, chief executive of the club, said:

"It's devastating for the football club."

"We're a club run by volunteers and the local community who give an unbelievable amount of time."

"For someone to go in and damage not only the work they've been doing over the past few years but to give them extra work moving forward is heartbreaking."

"Any damage to us is bad because it involves extra time and effort and money, which the club always has to be careful about and work hard to generate."

"We had damage to goalposts, the changing rooms, and the press box, and paint thrown in areas on and off the pitch."

"Our fans were phenomenal with the collection, and we've had lovely messages from other football clubs who you'd deem to be your rivals in any other scenario and lots of offers of help."

Any damage to us is bad because it involves extra time and effort and money

Police say the crime is thought to have taken place between 4pm on 30 December and 10.45am the following day.

Investigations are ongoing.