A CROWDFUNDER appeal has been launched after vandals caused tens of thousands of pounds worth of damage to a football club's clubhouse.

Redruth United say they discovered the damage after travellers, who had set up camp on the club's grounds Clijah Croft, had left.

A video put up by the club showed terrible damage with sinks smashed, paint thrown everywhere and mounds of rubbish left behind.

 

Now a fundraiser has been started by club supporter Penny Pellow who aimed to raise £1,000 but by this morning had already raised well over £7,000.

On the Crowdfunder page Penny says: "Weʼre raising £1,000 to Redruth United Football Club are victims of mindless damage in the £1000's. Please help us rebuild our Club. Any donations are appreciated.

"Last night our clubhouse was mindlessly damaged causing £1000's of pounds worth of damage. This is the official fund raising page for the club and we appreciate any donations that people offer. We will come back bigger and stronger."

Redruth United Football Club says it has been 'overwhelmed' by the response.

Redruth United released pictures of the club's building and ground showing the damage to its pitches, buildings, tea hut and goals.

The Cornwall club club says the damage came after a traveller encampment settled on its ground at Clijah Croft and have reported it to police.

The travellers left on Saturday and the site is now secure, but the site has been left in a terrible condition.

Piles of rubbish were dumped, buildings were flooded, kids’ equipment wrecked and windows broken.

Posting on Facebook on Saturday the club said: "Devastated is an understatement! Destroyed our home.

"Travellers are still on site so we are hoping to clear, clean, repair, replace once they have left."

Posting after the travellers left, a club spokesperson said: "At long last the travellers have left.

"As you will have all seen from our previous video, the damage that has been caused is extensive and likely to run into the tens of thousands of pounds!

"However on a more positive note the club has been overwhelmed by the support shown to us by so many people to help with clearing up the mess.

"All the messages have been gratefully received. Thank you all.

"Whilst this has been so hard to see happen for all those involved with the club we are all determined to rebuild and to quote the Peter Crouch podcast come back stronger."

Club captain Dan Horler told the BBC there was just a month to get the ground ready for the first day of the season, but that the response from the local community had been "really heart warming."

"We are lucky to still have the building structure," he said.

"Everything has been affected, from the tea hut to the kids' football goals."

He told the BBC the damage was thought to have been caused by the group of travellers who camped on one of the club's four pitches on July 12 and left on Saturday.

The Crowdfunder appela can be found here