Fence posts pulled up and bottles smashed in drink-fuelled vandal attack at Innerleithen football club

Fence posts were pulled up and more than 30 bottles of beer were smashed in the incident.

Club chairman Stuart Robertson said it was heartbreaking that people could have so little respect.

He told us: “It’s incredibly sad.

“We don’t mind them coming together at the club as long as they don’t leave a mess, but this is ridiculous.

“I think it all kicked off on Sunday night.

“We even put a bucket down to make it easy for them to clear up, but even that was kicked upside down and battered.

“It’s a complete mess in the players’ dugout as well.”

He said the issues with vandalism at the pitch were ongoing ... last year the facility was daubed with sectarian graffiti.

He added: “Somebody even dug a hole in the stand ... I have no idea what that was for.

“The council has a team that will be going round the sites visited by these people, so hopefully that will put them off.

“We’re also looking at putting up cameras by the floodlights we’re putting up on the stand and that may deter them.

“We’ve done a lot of renovation work inside to make it a good place, and this happens.

“We live season to season, and rely on money from sponsors and the SFA, but this is money we shouldn’t have to pay out.”

The club’s manager Chris Anderson told us: “There’s a lot of great work going on behind scenes at this club and we won’t be put off by these vandals.

“Kids need to show more respect.”

Mr Robertson urged anyone who sees damage being done, or sees suspicious activity around the club to call police without hesitation.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Police received report of vandalism at Victoria Park in Innerleithen around 8.20am on Tuesday, 14 July, 2020.

“The vandalism is believed to have occurred between Friday, July 10, and Tuesday, July 14. Enquiries are ongoing.

“Anyone with information should call police on 101, quoting incident 0609 of July 14.”