BAD luck has struck Tavistock Jets Football Club for the second time this year.

The club suffered at the hands of thieves just before the start of the season when newly laid turf was stolen from the goalmouth of a pitch used by the team at Pound, near Yelverton.

Now vandals have attacked the crossbars of both goals at the pitch on Whitchurch Down — and the damage appears beyond repair.

The pitch is owned by Tavistock Town Council but the goals themselves are the property of the football club.

'It's just not our year,' said Jim Lothian of Tavistock Jets. 'The Queen had her annus horribilis — we're having ours.'

Mr Lothian said the damaged equipment had kindly been taken to Steeltech at Pitts Cleave by town council staff, but after inspection, the firm said the two goalmouths cannot be economically repaired.

Jets treasurer Phil Waddle said replacement goals would cost the club £330.

'We will have to replace them, otherwise we won't have a home pitch for two teams.

'It will make a serious dent in our finances — that counts for a lot of children's subscriptions to pay for mindless vandalism,' said Mr Waddle.

Sergeant Peter Horgan, of Tavistock Police, said: 'If anybody has seen anything suspicious, or if they know of groups of people who have been hanging around the area, please contact us.'

The incident happened some time between Sunday October 3 and Tuesday October 5.