VANDALS are threatening the future of one of North Durham’s oldest football clubs.

Annfield Plain FC, near Stanley, which plays in the Wearside League, has suffered repeated vandal attacks at its Derwent Park ground over the years.

After the latest incident, secretary Marshall Lawson warned that volunteers who give up their time to help run the club could be driven away if their work is constantly undermined.

And he appealed to people living near the ground to keep an eye on it and alert police when they see anything suspicious.

The club, which was founded in 1890 and once played in the North Eastern League with the reserve teams of Sunderland and Newcastle, has junior teams and a senior team that plays in the Wearside League.

Overnight last Thursday/Friday (May 16/17) The vandals broke into buildings at the ground, in West Road, and caused mayhem, emptying cupboards and doing more than £100 damage..

Mr Lawson said: “They just break in and cause wanton destruction, smashing everything in sight.

“They pull the fencing down, sometimes at weekends they get into the ground because it is out of the road and we find beer bottles strewn all over the field.

“Nothing happens for two or three months and then we seem to get a spate of wanton destruction.

“The exit from the dressing room to the field was built during the 1926 strike looks wuite attractive from a distance.

“But the vandals have systematically broken up the brickwork and they paint graffiti on it.

“Over the last two or three years we have had one of two people resign from the committee because they think it is just a waste of time.”

Mr Lawson said he hoped neighbours would keep watch on the ground.

PC Chris Watson, who is investigating the break-in, condemned the vandals and appealed for public help in catching them.

He said : “It is sad to think that a football club with such a long history, and with members who put their heart and soul into running it, is being targeted by mindless vandals. “I would urge anyone with information about the people responsible to contact police at Stanley on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”