MORE than 200 youngsters turned out for their weekly football league games to find thieves had stolen their match balls.

Managers at Shildon six-a-side Scheme Juniors Football Club were left trying to find enough footballs to carry on with the scheduled games on Saturday after the break-in at their changing rooms in West Auckland Road.

Tony Atkinson from the club said: "It is really sickening. There are at least 200 kids every Saturday and we take them to away matches on a Sunday.

"We have seven teams and it costs each team around £1,400 to run and to take part in the Russell Foster League. We work hard for sponsorship and match balls cost around £15 to £20 apiece. Replacing what is stolen is just more expense.''

It is not the first time that youngsters at the club have fallen victim to thieves.

Last year all their goal nets were stolen, placing their chances of hosting league matches in jeopardy.

On Saturday, they were left to play with training balls after a full bag of ten to 15 were stolen.

Mr Atkinson said: "I do not think that people realise the huge effort that goes into this club both from the youngsters and all the volunteers.''