A CWMBRAN football club may have to give up its clubhouse after metal thieves carried out an almost identical attack for the second time in less than a year.

Lucas Cwmbran’s secretary Ray Allford was taking forms to the Lucas Girling pavilion on Monday night, so players could register for the new season, when he discovered the break-in.

He found thieves had ripped out a 5ft high boiler and copper pipes leading into the showers.

“As I was walking towards the pavilion there were tyre marks across the playing field, so they must have driven as far as they could, carried the boiler out through a hole in the hedge and to their vehicle,” Mr Allford said.

In October, thieves took the copper piping out of the showers, but found the boiler too big to remove.

But this time the criminals completed the job, causing at least £1,000 of damage. Mr Allford said the club has been broken into at least six times in the last three years.

Due to the frequency of break-ins, he said very little is stored at the clubhouse, but thieves have often taken what was left.

“I don’t think we will repair it as it has been vandalised so many times,” he said.

Last year’s attack left £5,000 worth of damage as water from the boiler flooded the property.

While water damage has not been so bad this time, Mr Allford said the clubhouse will still be out of action.

He is now hoping to come to an agreement with the nearby Oasis Club, who have previously come to the rescue.

However, in the past, some of the club’s games have had to be cancelled because only only one squad can use the changing rooms at a time.

Gwent Police said officers have attended the scene of the burglary and believe it took place between 1.30pm on Saturday and 6pm on Monday.

Anyone who saw anything suspicious should call 101.