Football club reeling after yobs break in and steal equipment

CARNOUSTIE: Window smashed and balls taken in raid which will cost club £500

A community football club is reeling after vandals trashed their training base and stole equipment destined for impoverished African school children.

Carnoustie Panmure Youth Football Club was targeted between Friday evening and Sunday morning.

The culprits broke in through a window at the changing rooms behind the medical centre at Pitskelly Park.

A large number of footballs and other equipment was stolen, with the total cost estimated at around £500.

To make matters worse, the window which was boarded up following the discovery on Sunday was again smashed in on Monday.

Under-16s team coach Andy Millar discovered the theft after arriving at the facility to pick up some footballs for the club’s away match.

He said: “Equipment was being held in a box to be sent to Gambia for kids there. A relative is living out there just now so she’s helping with it.

I have had to fork out for some more balls for now and the money from parents will have to be used to cover this £500. ANDY MILLER

“It’s disappointing anyway but it does make it even worse. I have had to fork out for some more balls for now and the money from parents will have to be used to cover this £500.

“It’s money that should be used for something better than this.

“I’m pretty annoyed, to put it politely. The balls can only be bought in bulk so we can’t get them from local shops.”

Those living nearby reported finding some of the balls within their properties after the theft.

Teenage boys were also spotted kicking similar Precision-branded balls close by and in the street outside the local police station.

Mr Millar said: “We believe a few young guys are the ones to blame.

“We’ve got a few names so we’re obviously hopeful they’ll be caught by the police.”

A Justgiving page has been set up to cover the loss with hundreds of pounds raised already.

A spokesperson for the force said: “Police Scotland is investigating a theft from a storage unit at Pitskelly Park, Carnoustie, between 8pm on Friday August 31 and 1.30pm on Sunday September 2.

“Entry was gained by smashing a window, and sports equipment was stolen.

“If anyone has any information which could assist our inquiries, please call 101 or speak with any police officer. Our reference is CR/21382/18.”

Picture: Kim Cessford. Some of the young Carnoustie players affected by the theft of their equipment with coaches, back from left, Simon Stott, Scott Arthur and Andy Millar at the changing rooms.