What’s the point of carrying on?”

So says Mr Peter Kinch, chairman of the Littlemore Youth Football Club, and who wouldn’t sympathise with him?

Over the last month, mindless thugs have caused thousands of pounds worth of damage to the club’s facilities at the Cowley recreation ground site, off Long Lane and Herschel Crescent.

Goalposts, wiring, piping and even the changing room sink have been stolen, while urinals have been senselessly smashed.

Courageously, the club has vowed to continue holding games despite the changing rooms being left without power, but it’s all too easy to understand their despair.

Between 40 and 50 children turn out each week to play in the club’s under-10, under-11 and under-13 teams but of course they now have no changing room.

It is almost impossible to imagine just how callous the perpetrators of these crimes are – how infinitely small-minded and pitiless these ‘cowards’ must be.

This is a wonderful sporting resource for the whole community, encouraging youngsters to develop their leadership and teamwork skills in a safe and supportive environment.

Someone clearly knows who these vandals are; let us just hope they’re big enough, and smart enough, to own up to that and turn them in.