AN amateur football team have been stripped of a vital asset the soccer players were banking on for next season.

Disappointed officials at Atherton LR are appealing for help to track down a full football kit which has been stolen.

The full replica Bolton Wanderers yellow change strip was presented to Atherton LR as part of a prize for winning the BEN Goldline Trophy last season.

Atherton LR secretary Steve Hartle said: "It's really annoying. We were delighted to win the kit and we had decided to use it as our first choice strip for next season.

"Now we don't know what we are going to do. It would have been special to wear it because some of the lads are Wanderers fans. And apart from that its hard to afford kits of that quality.

"We are in a difficult financial position and saving the price of a kit next season would have been a real bonus to us."

The club competes in the North West Trains Premier Division.

The strip, including a goalkeeper's kit was fully numbered from one to 11, were in three black Gola holdalls stolen from Mr Hartle's Westhoughton home.

Mr Hartle added: "If anyone gets offered a full set of yellow Wanderers kits at a bargain price, please ask questions about where they have come from."

Anyone with information about the football kits should call Mr Hartle on 01942 840906. A reward will be given to anyone who helps the club to recover the strips.

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