VANDALS ran riot on a village football club’s ptich casting a shadow of doubt over this weekend’s fixture.

Woolverstone United Football Club’s changing rooms were broken into and a vehicle was driven over the pitch, carving up the turf.

Secretary David Hazelwood said: “Someone drove onto the pitch and ploughed it up with a 4x4. It’s made a hell of a mess and will take a long time for the marks to come out.”

The Kingsley Healthcare Suffolk and Ipswich Football League Division Four team is due to play at home against Stradbroke United on Saturday and Mr Hazelwood is hoping the pitch will be fit to play on, if the weather allows him to carry out work.

“I’m going to get the roller on it so hopefully no-one will be able to tell the difference,” he said.

“If I can do that there shouldn’t be any problem with it for Saturday’s game. Mr Hazelwood said other teams had experienced similar problems so the club was not alone.

“The damage looks a lot worse than it actually is,” he added. “If you skid on wet grass it’s going to blacken the top.”

The break-in and criminal damage happened overnight between Sunday and Monday.

A Suffolk police spokeswoman confirmed the incident had been reported and that “considerable damage” had been caused. Anyone with information should call Pcso Jo Adams, from the Babergh East Safer Neighbourhood Team, on 101.

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