Teens cause £1.5k of damage after breaking into Winsford Utd's ground

Youths went on the rampage at Winsford Utd’s Barton Stadium just before 7pm on Monday, May 23, kicking in doors and smashing windows.

It was the second time in a month the ground had been targeted by vandals, after the club’s café was broken into at the beginning of May.

This photograph of the alleged vandals was taken by a neighbour of the club

Daniel Eagle, commercial manager at the club, said it was hugely disappointing the youths had been so reckless as he thanked the community for its support so far.

“Luckily for us, the people who live at the back of the ground noticed it and responded by letting us and the police know,” he said.

“They’d already broken into the official changing rooms by kicking the door through.

“They damaged the ceiling in the shower in there so will need to be replaced."

The youths kicked in doors to gain access to a storage shed

“They’ve also kicked the front door of the café and taken the radio and a couple of drills from there," Daniel continued.

“All in all, they’ve caused damage that will cost us about £1,500 to repair.

“For a volunteer-run club that’s an awful lot of money.

“From out point of view, it’s just unacceptable as there is so much work our volunteers put in.

“We’ve got people here every day doing things off their own back.

“But it has at least been nice to have some support from the community as a result of what has happened.

"I'd just like parents to be more aware of what their kids are getting up to."

The youths smashed windows and glass as they rampaged through the ground

A spokesman for Cheshire Police said: “At 7.10pm on Monday, May 23 police were called to reports of a burglary at Barton Stadium Social Club.

“The caller reported that they had attended the site following reports of youths in the ground.

“On arrival at 6.50pm they found that around eight youths, both boys and girls, had forced entry into the building.

“All of the youths fled the scene after being confronted by the caller.

“After the youths fled the scene, the caller checked the club and found that the youths had caused a large amount of damage to the building.

“This included broken windows, at least five broken doors and damage to panelling in the toilet area.

“A number of items were also stolen, all of which have been found and returned to the club.”

Doors and locks at the ground will all need replacing

Enquiries in relation to the incident are ongoing and anyone with any information in relation to the incident is asked to contact Cheshire police at www.cheshire.police.uk/tell-us, or on 101, quoting IML1276291.