Vandals trash food kiosk at football club
A FOOTBALL club has been left “devastated” after mindless vandals completely trashed its food kiosk.
Crook Town AFC discovered earlier this month that its popular “Only Food and Sauces” kiosk had been broken into and smashed up causing thousands of pounds worth of damage.
The County Durham club’s chairman and treasurer Vince Kirkup said it looked like someone had “thrown a grenade in and shut the door” after vandals smashed up appliances and threw food everywhere. Vince also said the brazen vandals also had the cheek to help themselves to bacon sandwiches and cans of pop from the fridge.
In total, Vince guesses the attack caused around £4,000 worth of damage and has now set up a fundraising page to try and raise some money to go towards the repairs.
He said: “It was just mindless. Even if they stole the appliances and left the place tidy we could start again, this is just utter devastation.
“To think someone has such little thought for the club and the community to do such a thing. It doesn’t bear thinking about.” Vince believes the attack happened on Monday, January 31, but because the vandals pulled down the shutter, it wasn’t until the following Friday that it was discovered.
He said: “On Friday our secretary went in and saw the devastation. It looked like someone had thrown a grenade inside and shut the door.
“Once they finished eating they smashed the freezers and the fridge, smashed the doors off the sink units and kitchen units. They tried the till but there wasn’t any money in it so they smashed that too.
“They set the fire extinguishers off, threw food, smashed the appliances. They threw coffee powder all over, they tipped the oil from the deep fat frier on to the floor.
“And not satisfied with that, they squirted tomato ketchup and brown sauce all over. They even left the oven on and our secretary thought there was a fire because of the heat he felt walking in.”
The kiosk is run by Angela Thompson and is her “pride and joy” with Vince saying it’s more than just a place to grab food for the fans, players, and officials.
He said: “The food is very good but it’s a social focal point, people gather there to have a chat with a cup of tea or whatever they fancy.
“The kiosk was pristine. Angela who runs it treats it like her own kitchen, she takes such pride in it. Ground hoppers who visit stadiums across the county always comment on the quality of the food and service.”
Despite the devastation, Vince said the local community has rallied around the club and so far more than £2,600 has been raised.
Vince said: “It shows that in adversity, there are good people out there, people like ourselves who are doing the best for the club.”
Durham Constabulary is investigating the incident and confirmed enquiries are ongoing.