ALMOST £800 has been raised in one day after 'mindless vandals' broke into a local football club.

On Friday night (July 3), burglars damaged a number of door frames and smashed a window at The Rivermoor Stadium when they targeted Reading City Football Club, based in Scours Lane, Tilehurst.

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On Saturday, the club shared the news on their Twitter page, saying: "This morning when arriving at @Therivermoor to prepare for our Covid-19 compliant training sessions we were met with a scene of devastation as we were sadly victims of a burglary overnight."

A video posted shows the extent of the damage, with the club left completely ransacked following the break-in.

No money was stolen but a few items had been taken.

Victoria Pyke, club board member, said: "It is really difficult to accept the damage, as a group of us have been working so hard to update the surroundings.

"Just before Covid, our boardroom was fitted out to complete our in-house refurbishments.

"We have spent time building an outside bar, painting outside walls and we are a week into having our car park surface re-leveled.

"I wanted to release updates on our improvements, at the weekend, and now we are left with the disappointment of the break in.

"Such a shame for a community club, although the support has been immense too.

"Lots of support shown on Twitter has been a great morale boost, especially with the GoFunding."

An official statement from the club reads: "Everyone at Reading City Football Club is upset by the news that our clubhouse was targeted by burglars last night, arriving at the ground this morning [July 4] to set up for our Covid-19 compliant training sessions we found doors had been forced open and a window smashed along with the place ransacked as they looked for things to steal from us.

"Whilst a few items were taken from the clubhouse, no cash was stolen as the club has a strict policy that no cash is ever held on-site overnight and their attempts to steal the safe were in vain.

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"Sadly these mindless vandals have now left us with a repair bill, to which we estimate to be £750 as they forced their way through locked doors damaging them in the process, they also smashed a window in the process of this burglary, forced open our till and a sheet of Perspex put up over the bar to be compliant with Covid-19 guidance when we re-open was also cracked."

A spokeswoman from Thames Valley Police said: "Entry was forced through the doors and windows. A CCTV system was taken.

"The investigation has been filed pending further information coming to light.

"Anyone who does have any information is asked to call 101 or make a report online quoting reference 43200201379."

To view the fundraiser, click here.