A TEAM of disabled footballers is today facing a £400 bill after thieves stole the entire squad's kit from the back of a car – despite the box being clearly marked with the club's name.

A TEAM of disabled footballers is today facing a £400 bill after thieves stole the entire squad's kit from the back of a car - despite the box being clearly marked with the club's name.

A box containing 16 pairs of Ipswich Town Disabled Football Club's new season's shorts and socks was taken from the back of club founder Ben Hennon's car.

Mr Hennon, 21, of Scopes Road, Kesgrave, said: "For many people in the club this is more than just football. For a lot of them it is their life and they love it.

"It gives them a social life and something to look forward to.

"It was really hard telling them we would not have the new kit because it had been stolen."

The Ipswich Town Disabled Football Club was established in 2003 for people who have one of seven different forms of disability.

Mr Hennon, who has cerebral palsy, decided to set up the club after it became impossible for him to play in local leagues.

A sub-woofer was also taken from his car while it was parked in the driveway outside his Kesgrave home.

He said: "I think they'd obviously gone in to nick my audio equipment, seen this box of brand new Ipswich Town kit, and thought they'd have that as well.

"It was clear from the label on the box this was for a disabled club.

"I'm totally gobsmacked anyone could do this."

The box only contained socks and shorts as Mr Hennon had already taken out another box containing the shirts.

He said: "I went indoors to do something and did not lock the car.

"I meant to go back and lock it up but it started raining and I forgot about it.

"The next thing I knew was when I went out to the car in the morning and the door was open.

"I know I should've locked it but you just don't expect people to have the nerve to come onto your driveway while you are in the house.

"Grange Farm is hardly an area where you would expect to see lots of car crime."

The kit was stolen from Mr Hennon's car while it was parked outside his home in Scopes Road, Kesgrave, between midday on Friday 17 and 10.30am on Saturday 18 September.

Three males wearing hooded tops were seen in the area around 9.30pm - 10pm.

If you have any information about the theft, or the current whereabouts of the items, call Pc Lisa Root on 01473 613500.

Can you help out the team? What do you think of the crime? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or send us an e-mail to eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk

Criteria for playing for ITFDC:

Blindness or visual impairment

Deaf, hearing, or balance impairment

Learning disabilities. This does not include emotional or behavioural difficulties or dyslexia

Missing or shortened limbs

Cerebral palsy

Physical impairment caused by injury or disease

Mental illness