A north Watford football club have vowed to tackle vandals intent on disrupting their season.

When officials from Everett Rovers have arrived at their home ground, adjacent to the A41 Northwestern Avenue, they have been confronted with broken and super-glued padlocks on the entrance gates.

Then once they gain access to the pitches, close to the former Leggatts campus of West Herts College, they find goalposts have been lifted out of the ground, changing rooms have been broken into, and graffiti.

Everett Rovers has more than 16 teams, with more than 300 players ranging from five years old to senior level.

The club has spent more than £30,000 in the past two years to renovate its pitches, but officials told the Watford Observer this week problems began when the area was fenced off, as homebuilder Wimpey prepares to replace the disused college with new housing.

Brian Austin, chairman of the club for the past three years, said: “It's a good family club and it's a bit annoying to find all the padlocks glued or broken.”

Glenn Peach, fundraising chairman, added: “There's nothing really valuable up here, just a few nets and goalposts.

“If we cannot get in on a Sunday, it causes all kinds of problems to kick-off times and referees. You can lose the games by default and it's not fair on the kids.”

PC Charlie Fellows, ward constable for Callowland, said: “We would be really keen to speak to anyone who has any problems so we can deal with them as soon as possible. We would strongly encourage them to come forward and report them.

“They can do this by contacting the neighbourhood officers, myself, PCs Julie Oakley, Caroline Durrant and Jonathan Wallace, via the non-emergency number 0845 33 00 222.

“There is also a neighbourhood officers’ surgery for Callowland outside the doctor’s surgery on Leavesden Road on October 22 from 10am till midday. We would really like to meet anyone with concerns here and help them.”