IT BECAME clear to everyone at Clayborn this week just how dear Liversedge Football Club are to the community and surrounding districts when they were inundated with donations and offers of help from higher-ranking neighbours.

The club asked for help after a break-in which led to the theft of football equipment and stock from the bar in the clubhouse.

They have had a troubled last few years and came close to folding when they went almost six months without a home game the season before last following a particularly wet winter.

Sedge manager Jonathan Rimmington said: "The thieves, vandals, whatever you want to call them – I know what I'd call them – broke in through the front of the clubhouse.

"They had the cheek to break into Bob's (club president Bob Gawthorpe) shed near the turnstile, where he keeps all the spades, forks wheelbarrows and things, and they used those tools, our tools, to smash their way into the main building.

"They got through two metal gates, I don't know how, and our treasurer lives on the next street and he didn't hear anything. They must have been in there for some time and they cleared out the bar – but the thing we missed most was the kit and balls.

"We launched a JustGiving page on social media and the target was £1,500. In just over 48 hours it was over £1,100 and the club stopped it there. We had nearly all the money we needed and we'd also had offers from some of the pro clubs.

"The Leeds United chairman rang us and invited us up to their Thorpe Arch training complex. They are going to sort us out with training kit, some tracksuits and footballs.

"We were also contacted by Huddersfield Town and they've given us some balls and shirts and that's brilliant. It's great to see that good will towards our club."

Liversedge were also in the news earlier in the week after Gawthorpe received a special award from the Football Association for his dedication to the game and Liversedge FC in particular.

Rimmington said: "It's absolutely fantastic for Bob to be recognised in this way and I think the FA deserve a mention for handing him this award.

"Bob is a true legend at Liversedge and everyone at the club is absolutely chuffed to bits for him. He's one of a rare breed and he's a real gentleman. He's done every job possible at this club and, after being here since 1967, it's his club.

"What an achievement for him to be rewarded for his hard work and dedication and I honestly don't think we'll see his like ever again.

"He's still up at the ground every day, even though his knees aren't too good. Old footballers' knees are always dodgy and he still works so hard."