WE was robbed! A team of angry footballers were left shouting the old football cliche after their match on Saturday - but this time they meant it literally.

Returning to the dressing room after a hard-fought draw at St Helen's, the lads of Nelson FC reserves were dismayed to find that some local "scallies" had broken in.

The thieves stole everything - except for some players' false teeth!

Defender Alan Riley told the Citizen: "One or two of the lads wear dentures, which they take out for matches.

"I wouldn't like to specify who they are though - they'd probably kill me!

"St Helen's club officials locked the changing rooms at the start of the match, and when we went back at half time, our things were still there.

"But at the end of 90 minutes we discovered that someone had broken in through the shower-room window.

"Wallets, wedding rings, jackets, boots, jewellery and cash cards all went missing, and things had been thrown across the room.

"The people at St Helen's were very apologetic but we were very angry."

Team captain Lyndon Murgatroyd said: "It is a sad reflection on modern-day society. We do our best to act and behave responsibly and in a sporting manner, while some local scally makes off with our hard-earned possessions.

"The police were called and they said they would be calling on some suspects. In the meantime, we will have to work out whose insurance we can claim on."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.