Raiders cause £8k of damage at Wolverhampton football club

Bilston Football Club was ransacked and extensive damage caused during the raid in the early hours of Monday morning.

The club hosts its first pre-season game on July 12 and is now asking for help from members of the public to meet the cost of repairs and replacements.

Raiders broke through a fence leading onto the car park at the club's Queen Street ground before blasting their way through a wall to gain entry to the bar.

Once inside they ripped cupboards from the walls, smashed interior doors and cracked open children's sweets machines.

Charity cash estimated to be around £70 was taken along with numerous bottles of spirits, as well as a pair of shorts from the club's Bilston Bear mascot.

The club's alarm system and security cameras were also destroyed during the break-in.

Bilston's vice-chairman Denise Frankham said the support of the community had been vital as groups of supporters gathered at the stadium to help with the mammoth clean-up job.

"It is extremely upsetting that this has happened," she said.

An awful lot of damage has been caused inside the ground and the exterior wall will have to be completely rebuilt.

"I am extremely grateful to the people of Bilston for their efforts to help. They have done us proud."

The club is asking for help in a bid to ensure its first pre-season home game against Rushall Olympic - now managed by former Albion hero Richard Sneekes - goes ahead as planned on July 12.

"This is a setback but all of our attentions are focused on preparing for the Rushall game," added the vice-chairman.

"Obviously we need to get the ground ready so anybody who feels they can help us in any way will be gratefully received."

Building supplies and equipment are top of the club's wants list.

Mrs Frankham was part of a committee alongside chairman Graham Hodson who saved the club from the brink of extinction

The club plays in the top flight of the West Midlands Regional League. Last season they finished