A JUNIOR football club is appealing for funds after youths destroyed valuable equipment in a "heartbreaking" act of vandalism.

Earlier this week, coaches at FC Unsworth in Bury discovered that two sets of goalposts had been broken beyond repair- causing thousands of pounds worth of damage.

The damage could see the teams at best without football for several months or even folded entirely at worst.

Club secretary Paul Walsh said: "The lockdown weather has been so nice so a lot of youths have been gathering on the playing fields.

"The padlock and the chains for the nets had been completely snapped and they were being used and from there it escalated to where more and more youths were turning up."

After initially allowing the youths to use the nets, minor damage, along with huge amounts of litter on the fields, led the club to locking them away once more.

However, the youths dragged them out again a few days later- snapping the posts and causing up to £5,000 worth of damage.

The club, which is entirely self-funded, is now appealing to the Bury and Greater Manchester community to help fund new goals.

Paul added: "From what I've seen, the community has been disgusted by it- we are just trying to get as much exposure as possible.

"We know it's difficult for everyone with the Covid pandemic, but we are just hoping to give these kids memories and let them enjoy their football.

"It's not like we can repair, so the kids just don't have them. It's heartbreaking."

The GoFundMe page is available by clicking here.

The fundraiser page adds: "The actions of these mindless, selfish idiots has effectively ruined the opportunity for more than 60 children to play football when the 2020/21 season starts.

"We need your help Manchester. Please donate what you can so we can get some replacement nets which will allow the kids to play football again- or we will potentially have to fold."