SOMEONE has moved the goalposts – and sold them for scrap.
That was the angry reaction from a football club boss who has offered a reward for the return of the metal posts.
They were sawn off and taken from the field on Woodlands Avenue, Immingham, on Saturday.
Football club owner Councillor Willie Weir has offered £100 for information that will lead to the conviction of the thieves who stole the club's goalposts from the newly-refurbished field.
It was redundant for more than 15 years until Mr Weir took over the lease and organised a clearance of the site.
Two squads, The County Hotel FC and The County XI, were due to start playing on the pitch in the next few months.
Members of the two squads were due to take along paint pots and brushes to paint the goalposts and mark out the pitch today.
The grass seed was also expected to be planted soon, after a number of companies rallied round to clear the redundant site.
Councillor Weir said: "We are not going to let this stop us. We have had the JCB down there and will get seeding the grass so we can get football back on there.
"I have taken it on and we will get it sorted. But we are all angry because we were just getting ready to paint the posts. We have to stamp this out so I am offering a reward of £100."
He added: "It is also disappointing that after 15 years no one has bothered with the site and it was all overgrown.
"Having played at Stallingborough and Blossom Way up until now, the lads were looking forward to getting on to their new pitch. We have had pitches removed all over Immingham. It is unusual for someone to be developing a football pitch in the town."
Councillor Weir said he expected the posts have been sold as scrap metal and may have fetched around £30. The club boss said: "If they had wanted £30 I would have happily given them £30."
He praised the support he has received from businesses including Brian Kirkby, Drury Engineering, PK Construction and Westfield Shovels in getting the pitch fit for playing.
He urged anyone with information to contact Humberside Police quoting incident number AE1934415/2012 or call him on 01469 575805.
