Vandals damage AFC Telford United pitch with tractor

The Bucks, who are preparing for the upcoming National League North season, have been working on the playing surface to make sure it is ready for the start of the campaign.

But on arriving at the New Bucks Head on Monday, club officials discovered damage had been caused to the pitch.

Tyre tracks were left across the playing surface, with officials saying it was caused by the club's own tractor.

Posting pictures on social media, Football Operations Manager Luke Shelley said: "To scumbags who broke into @telfordutd at the weekend and damaged the pitch with our tractor

The vandals broke into the ground between 3pm on Saturday and Monday morning, using bins behind the East Terrace Stand to lift themselves into the stadium.

They then went into the ground staff's garage and gained access to the club's tractor.

The vandals drove the tractor on the pitch leaving tyre tracks and creating holes and divots in parts of the playing surface.

The pitch is at a crucial stage of its pre-season renovations, and the club is set to host important friendlies in the coming weeks.

League One Shrewsbury Town will visit the New Bucks Head on Tuesday, July 12, and League Two Walsall will play there on Saturday, July 16.

In a statement, the club condemned the vandals for the damage they have caused.

It said: "The work to repair this damage will now come at additional cost to the club, and places our grounds team under further pressure ahead of the Shrewsbury Town fixture in two weeks.

"It should go without saying, but any true supporter of the club would not engage in such mindless destruction."

The club has urged anyone to contact West Mercia police if they have any information regarding the incident.

Additional reporting by Ollie Westbury