THIEVES have once again targeted Farnworth Cricket Club and come away with little to show for it.

In the early hours of Monday a group broke into a shed at the club in Lavender Road, which was empty, before forcing their way into the clubhouse, which is currently boarded up due to construction work.

All the thieves came away with was the bike of the chairman, Phil Speak, and a radio belonging to joiners who are currently working on the clubhouse.

The club said they had taken the opportunity of lockdown to improve the clubhouse, creating a new outdoor bar area, and making many other improvements, with the last few months a very positive time for the club, with much to look forward to for the coming season.

However, incidents such as this, and a break in at the club in June last year, where thieves came away with around £14 are always disheartening to see.

Simon Booth, the club’s first-team captain, said: “It took them five minutes to get into the empty shed with nothing in it which was quite funny to watch.

“They then broke through some bricks and wooden panels to get into the clubhouse.

“They went for the gambling machines and tills but I don’t know what they expected to find with us having been closed for months.

“All they got was the chairman’s bike which they only saw right at the end having passed it a few times.

“There were no tools left either by the joiners, just a radio, which they took too.

“It just seems very stupid to break in now looking for cash, we’ve been closed for months.

“We’re completely redoing the bar area, inside and out, so the whole clubhouse is boarded up so it took them quite a while to get in, which caused some damage which is just annoying, and they’re all over CCTV.

“The joiners have fixed it now and made it more secure but it’s just disheartening to see again, but it is what it is, I just don’t know what they’re trying to achieve.

“It’s been really positive times for the club recently and we are just waiting for when we can get going again with matches and serving at our new bar. We can’t wait to welcome members and fans back.”

Greater Manchester Police have been approached for a comment.