Football clubs dealt 'hammer blow' after thefts

Sports clubs say they have been left "devastated" after being targeted by burglars who stole high-value machinery.

Devon and Cornwall Police said an orange 2024 Kubota ride-on lawn mower and trailer worth £30,000 was taken from Ogwell Youth Football Club, near Newton Abbot, after a storage area was broken into overnight on Friday.

The following day, burglars broke into a lock-up at Bude Town Football Club and stole a New Holland Boomer 25 Compact tractor, valued at £16,500.

The clubs said the burglaries had dealt a "hammer blow" to daily operations. Police have asked anyone with information or relevant footage from the incidents to contact the force.

Ogwell Youth Football Club, who have about 140 players aged from five to 16, said they are now facing an "unexpected and significant" financial burden following the burglary.

"Without the ability to maintain the pitches or repair the damage caused during the break-in, we may be forced to make some extremely difficult decisions that could impact opportunities for these young players," the club said.

"The mower was bought in 2021 and aside from the initial cost has had £8,000 also spent on essential repairs."

Chairman Matheu Gladman told BBC Radio Devon he thinks the burglars knew what they were after as there was "a lot more expensive kit such as goals that they did not even touch".

"It's devastating for us," he added.

Bude Town said the theft had been an "absolute hammer blow" as the tractor was "probably the club's biggest asset".

Speaking to BBC Radio Cornwall, first team manager Steve Hackett said: "We were given an FA grant to help towards the tractor and when we got this piece of equipment it was absolutely brilliant.

"It was going to make our lives a lot easier, it was just a massive upgrade on what we had before."

PC Neil Sommerfeld said the burglaries in Ogwell and Bude were the latest in a series of break-ins targeting sports clubs over recent months.

He said sports clubs were vital to their local communities and often relied on volunteers to survive.

"Targeting sports clubs shows no regard for the players, volunteers, supporters and coaches at these clubs", he added.

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