THIEVING vandals who have been branded cowards have almost called time at a proud old soccer club.

For the third time in a fortnight thieves this week broke in to Atherton Collieries' club.

After the latest attack on the Alder Fold clubhouse, when beer and lager bottles and cans were taken, Collieries' secretary Frank Anderson blasted the thieves for ruining one of the oldest clubs in the district.

"There's nothing left for them to take, they've cleared us out. They've even stolen three satellite dishes.

"There's not a 50/50 tackle in any of them, they are all cowards, sneaking in when nobody is here," said Mr Anderson.

"Because of the number of break-ins we've had we don't leave any valuables or cash in the club. We daren't have one-armed bandits and we have to take everything out when we lock up after games."

In the latest raid the robbers took out a complete window frame to gain access and once inside stole cans of Foster's lager and alcopops.

It was the only one of the three windows at the front of the club which was intact.

The other two have been boarded-up because the vandals had previously smashed them with beer barrels.

Ex-player Steve Payne, chairman of the Colls' football club which was founded in 1916, says: "It is now getting to the stage where we are having to cancel functions.

"It is just breaking us down, we should be redecorating but we spend all our time repairing damage.

"When thieves are caught and go to court they should receive a penalty which is a strong deterrent -- it might put them off repeat offending."