Anger after Darlaston Town football club targeted in raid
A football club was raided by thieves who broke in and caused £3,000 worth of damage.
Darlaston Town Football Club, on Bentley Road North, in Walsall, was burgled between 2pm on November 5 and 5.40pm the next day.
A committee member and two 15-year-old boys from the youth team made the shock discovery at 5.30pm on November 6.
The burglars targeted the pavilion, damaging the pool table, removing three TVs from the wall and taking all the stock from the cellar and bar – including spirits, bottled beers and ciders soft drinks and chocolates.
The beer pumps were left open ‘maliciously’ to flood the bar, according to staff, and a Poppy Appeal Charity Box was taken along with bar staff tips.
Vending machines filled with sweets were smashed and the money was taken.
Club chairman, Neil Chambers, said: “Volunteers walked in to find it in absolute shambles. It’s devastating. We work our socks off for every penny, providing opportunities for children to play football and some scum break a window and then just devastate the place.
“The committee member saw a light on and cans on the floor and wandered what was going on.
“He saw that in the main bar area it was flooded – they had turned on the taps just for the sake of it.
“They ripped out the safe, which was bolted down, and carried it away. It will cost about £3,000 to repair – a lot of money that we can’t afford.”
A spokesperson for West Midlands Police said officers were investigating. Call 101 with any information.
