Much loved club Berwick Rangers have been left “heartbroken” after thieves broke in and caused damage to the stadium and club shop.
The Lowland League outfit now faces huge repair costs from the damage left by the culprits, after windows and doors was smashed while merchandise and alcohol were stolen.
Golf buggies had been driven on the speedway track, taking place overnight between Monday and Tuesday earlier this week.
A gas pipe had also been struck by one of the vehicles in the local area, leading to a major leak in Berwick-upon-Tweed.
Club Statement
This announcement comes with great sadness.
As many of you will be aware, the last few months has seen immense amounts of hard work, effort and money spent trying to make our facility better for the good of our community. pic.twitter.com/tbLKMB7UV8
— Berwick Rangers (@OfficialBRFC) September 12, 2023
CLUB STATEMENT:
This announcement comes with great sadness.
As many of you will be aware, the last few months has seen immense amounts of hard work, effort and money spent trying to make our facility better for the good of our community.
However, we have again been visited last night by criminals – with major damage and theft suffered by both Berwick Rangers Football Club & @BanditsSpeedway.
For Berwick Rangers, the club shop has taken the brunt of the damage and theft. The shop was upgraded in the close season, and we also invested significant money into having club merchandise and strips available on site for our loyal fans to purchase.
This really is a hammer blow to the team of directors, staff and volunteers that put so much time and effort into running our club.
We are working closely with @northumbriapol and are awaiting forensics to arrive to gather evidence.
However, the police already have plenty of images and CCTV footage of the criminals involved.
All of this came as we were working hard to prepare for a trading standards inspection, which the club passed with flying colours.
However, rather than being able to celebrate another success for the club, we are heartbroken to have to inform you of yet more criminal damage, setting back our work.
Berwick added: An update and request in relation to last nights events.
Following the break in we’ve been on the receiving end of Berwick Rangers are appealing for anyone with any footage (either from cctv or ring doorbells) from Monday the 11th of September between 10pm and 4am.
The individuals who broke in to the football club were sighted driving golf buggy’s in and around Shielfield Park and Etal Road.
The actions of the perpetrators were reckless and their recklessness could have turned into a major incident.
A gas pipe was struck by one of the buggies which led to a major gas leak in a local area.
Following the collision the vehicles were returned to Shielfield and parts of the struck pipe were in the vehicle.
We are also trying to trace any information on a white Audi outside the ground just after midnight acting suspiciously.
Following the theft of a large amount of club merchandise we ask for vigilance and if you are offered club shirts and / or training shirts to buy we would ask you to contact Northumbria police.
If you’d like to support the club in the repair process we have enabled that to be fulfilled by buy a “Support Ticket” which you can buy (to donate) below.
⬇️ Support the cause here ⬇️https://t.co/oAygvDFewI
— Berwick Rangers (@OfficialBRFC) September 12, 2023
Twitter users reacted with the much loved club left “heartbroken” after thieves broke in and caused damage to the stadium…
@hibsprogrammes: Awful!
@hibbymick: Sad so sad… a tremendous community club treated with disrespect
@KMac0385: @OfficialBRFC send me a message I’m a local locksmith in Northumberland and happy to help in anyway I can at no cost.
@Jon1982Mu: Disgusting. Sad to see and sorry you are dealing with this. Fingers crossed they are caught quickly 🤞🤞
@_Morlando_: So sorry to read this, it is incredibly frustrating after all the hard work of so many people.
@gmeldrum88: Disgusting, start a go fund me page I am sure the football community (myself included) would be more than happy to donate to help the club
@spenny7: Scumbags! Police will do fuck all as they and the law are beyond hopeless! Hopefully the wee bastards fall down a ravine or something!
@Jopher84329739: Horrible b%stards
@maniaconfloor: That’s horrific. Never let them beat you 👊
@rennie_mjr: Ach! That’s absolutely rotten. I hope the culprits are brought to justice & wish the club all the best. We’ll done to all the hard-working folk at the club. Don’t let them grind you down. The heart & soul of the game 👍.
@brennans12: Bloody heartbreaking
@GavinMRThomson: Shocking. Hope all the hard work pays off in the end!
@markegan7: Hate to see that. Was there earlier in season and thought stadium/pitch was looking fantastic. Keep up the good work and hope the culprits are caught
@PIEMAN_1962: what is wrong with people? hope you find those responsible and they are dealt with accordingly
@GrahamOrr15: Sad news. I hope you get the culprits.
@kevinsh1958: For anyone who loves our club this utterly heartbreaking. I hope the scum who did it are caught and locked up for a long time.
@Richard50942461: This is shocking news really hope the scum that did this are caught.
@campariwithice: Hard work and money wasted by a few vandals. Hope the police catch them and they are named and shamed.
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