A WEST FIFE football club have been "humbled" by the community response after their ground was broken into for a second time in three months.

Oakley United's Blairwood Park was targeted some time between between the evening of Tuesday, May 26, and the morning of Wednesday, May 27, causing damage costing an estimated £1,000.

The club, which plays in the East of Scotland Football League, has been closed due to the coronavirus pandemic and officials said that alcohol, equipment including training tops and kitbags, a firestick and some cash had been taken.

Police Scotland have confirmed that a 15-year-old was arrested and charged in connection with the incident.

Although some of the items have been recovered since, Oakley's community spirit has shone through, as businesses and individuals have rallied to support the club.

In addition to repairing damage caused to their clubhouse and pie stall, Oakley have paid for CCTV to be installed at the ground, which was installed for free by DK Electrical.

The family of former player Scott Lammie, who died in 2009, have been unable to organise an annual memorial match, which also includes a fundraiser for good causes, in his honour due to COVID-19. However, after learning of the break-in, they set up a justgiving page with the aim of raising £1,000 to help the club and, so far, it has received £858 in donations.

There has also been a raffle conducted by the White Gates pub, in Comrie, to help, while bingo players that use club premises, as well as a host of individuals across the community, have made contributions to the pot.

Fraser McAlpine, who is on the club's committee, said that this was the third recent break-in they have had to deal with, and commented: "We've had to install CCTV but DK Electrical installed it for free and the money raised by the community has reimbursed it. It's absolutely fantastic.

"The three break-ins have probably cost us between £2-2,500, which is a huge amount of money.

"It's a sad state of affairs that we have to put CCTV up in the park. We're getting roller shutter doors fitted in the clubhouse, which is another cost to us, but we have to keep the buildings secure. It's not just for things of monetary value, there's pennants we've been given from other clubs, pictures of the old teams, trophies that we've been given and that players have earned, and a defibrillator.

"If someone takes that, it's £250 to replace, and what if someone needs it?

"If it hadn't been for people in the community, we'd have had to dip into money we didn't want to spend. We've still got to pay for things like the electricity, water rates and broadband.

"Everyone in the community has been fantastic. It's quite humbling to see that people care.

"We'll try and sort something out for them – maybe we'll try and have a free gate for the village – when we're back up-and-running."

A spokesperson for Police Scotland added: "Police Scotland received a report of a break-in at the clubhouse of Oakley Football Club at Carnock Road in the village overnight between the evening of Tuesday, 26 May and the morning of Wednesday, 27 May.

"A 15-year-old male has been arrested and charged in connection with the incident. He will be reported to the relevant authorities.

"All property removed from the premises has been recovered."