Anelka's Wanderers shirt stolen in football club raid (From The Bolton News)

Anelka's Wanderers shirt stolen in football club raid

4:10pm Thursday 18th March 2010 in

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A SIGNED Bolton Wanderers shirt was stolen from a local football club.

Thieves targeted the Atherton Collieries Football Club in Alder Street between 8pm on Wednesday and 8.45am on Friday.

They forced open the side door and, once inside, stole a number of items including a projector, a screen, a DVD player and a Bolton Wanderers shirt from the 2007/08 season donated by Nicolas Anelka.

It is signed by the team and was in a thin black frame.

The burglars also emptied kit bags and wheelie bins and filled them with large amounts of beer and spirits from behind the bar and the cellar.

They tried to steal two petrol lawnmowers but these were found abandoned in the grounds.

It is believed the thieves then dumped the wheelie bins in a nearby street, taking the booze with them.

Police are now appealing to anyone who has information to come forward.

PC Lawrence McDonald said: “The club are clearly devastated they have been targeted and desperately want their property returned.

“The football shirt, in particular, is only of value to these thieves if they try to sell it,” he said.

“I would urge the public to help us stop these criminals in their tracks and do not let them profit from their greed.

“If you are offered either this signed shirt or large amount of alcohol, do not buy them and call police immediately.”

Anyone with information can call police on 0161 856 7329 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.