A soccer club has once again been burgled by thieves and this time thousands of euro worth of equipment used to stream their games has been stolen.
Gardaí are investigating the burglary at midlands soccer club Athlone Town AFC.
The theft of €3,000 worth of media and electrical gear occurred in the early hours of Thursday morning.
It is the second time the club has been hit. A substantial amount of cash was taken along with a number of files being ransacked in 2017.
In a statement club management said:”We regret to inform our fans and the public that Athlone Town AFC has once again been the target of a burglary.
"In the early hours of January 25th, 2024, our club fell victim to a theft in which electrical equipment valued at approximately €3,000 was stolen.
“This is more than just a loss of equipment; it’s an attack on the spirit of our club. We are determined to overcome this setback and continue our mission of bringing football to our supporters.”
The club explained that the equipment is “crucial” to their operations, particularly for streaming matches, “which connects" them with their supporters.
“This repeated occurrence is extremely disheartening. Our club has always strived to bring our football to as many people as possible and these incidents severely impact our ability to do so,” the statement continued.
“We appeal to anyone who may have been in the vicinity of our stadium around 3 am on January 25th or anyone who might have information about the incident.
“Furthermore, if you come across individuals selling electrical equipment under suspicious circumstances, we urge you to report it to us or directly to the gardaí in Athlone.
“We appreciate any assistance the public can provide in this matter.
Thank you for your ongoing support and vigilance. “
The club and Athlone based gardaí are asking for anyone who was in the vicinity of the club around 3am on Thursday to contact them on 0906-492600.
