South Normanton Athletic's promotion celebrations were soured this week when their Lees Lane home was hit by vandalism.

The Shiners were promoted to the Premier Division of the Northern Counties East League after finishing third in Division One last season.

But their promotion was conditional on certain works being carried out to their Lees Lane ground to bring the stadium up to the Football Association's requirements for Step 5 of the National Leagues System.

The works have to be completed by 1st August, and the club were well on the way to meeting that target.

But when vice-chairman Derek Miles arrived at the ground on Wednesday morning he was met by a heartbreaking situation.

"We have a truck at the ground which is not taken on the road but is used for moving stuff around, and that has been destroyed and debris scattered all over the ground," said Mr Miles.

"We badly need this vehicle to get the work done, and not having it available will severely hamper our chances of meeting the deadline set by the league - and could cost us a heavy fine.

"Also we have had goal nets stolen, which of itself is not insurmountable, but is discouraging nevertheless."

Among work to be completed is the installation of larger dugouts, extending the roof of the seated stand forward to ensure that the front seats are adequately covered, and the building of another stand which has now been put on hold.

Mr Miles added: "We have notified the police, but we will hang back from asking the Northern Counties East League for special dispensation until the situation is reviewed.

"We are striving to give the community of South Normanton a club to be proud of and it's soul destroying when our efforts are wrecked in this way.

"It's not so long since Ashfield United gave up in the face of similar vandalism at their Lowmoor Road ground.

"They reached the stage of saying 'enough is enough' and it would be tragic if we were forced into the same situation."