HEARTBROKEN Halesowen Town FC officials have begged the club's supporters to get behind them after they fell victim to a devastating break in at their Hawne Lane ground.

Burglars caused thousands of pounds worth of damage when they broke into the ground late on Sunday night and set about smashing the place up.

A large amount of cash, televisions and numerous other items were taken from the ground and particularly hit hard was the James Grove Lounge, which only opened late last year.

But there was also serious damage caused to both the club shop and press box.

Dismayed chairman Colin Brookes said: " They broke in from the recreation side of the ground and not the main road.

"Once they got into the ground, they wouldn't have been disturbed. I'd have loved to have been there when they broke in."

He added: "We can only assume it took place on Sunday night and what they couldn't take, they damaged.

"They stole two televisions from the James Grove Lounge and it looks as though they tried to take two more, but damaged them while trying to rip them off their brackets, so they just left them hanging there.

"They also broke into the till and took a substantial amount of money and gathered some of the dustbins from around the ground and used them to put bottles of alcohol in."

The break-in wasn't discovered until Monday lunchtime when cleaners arrived at the ground.

Mr Brookes said: "I feel sure there's somebody, somewhere who will know something about this break-in and we would ask them to come forward and inform the club"

The thieves also broke into the club shop and storeroom, but thankfully there was little there for them to take as a considerable amount of new stock wasn't due to arrive at the ground until Tuesday ahead of the club's first home game of the season against Belper Town.

As a result, supporters will still be able to collect their shirts as they were still at the manufacturers at the time of the break-in.

The burglary is the latest in a spate of break-ins at local sports clubs and Yeltz officials have vowed to step up their security as a result.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact the police on 101 or ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.