Chessington and Hook United’s store room was broken into with bolt cutters and a large amount of new equipment was taken.

Club official Andrew Ellis is asking the public and especially the football community to keep an eye out for the stolen goods – in particular the Combined Counties Mitre match balls, which are easily recognisable.

He said: “I know people have emailed and put out on social media asking people to keep an eye out for if someone is trying to sell them. I doubt we’ll get the bibs and kickabout balls back, but the match balls are marked.”

Because the equipment at Chalky Lane was so new, Mr Ellis believes the person or people responsible knew it was there.

He said: “Someone must have known. For it to be all new stuff – someone must have.”

The club, which does not have the money to pay anyone involved apart from the groundsman, will now have to buy all new equipment.

Mr Ellis said Sutton United has offered some kickabout balls and Chertsey Town has offered two match balls to get them to the end of the season.

Anyone who knows anything about the equipment or can help is asked to contact the club via its website, chufc.co.uk.