Thieves have stolen hundreds of pounds worth of footballers’ belongings and cash after sneaking into the dressing rooms at a west Suffolk village football club.

The crooks made their way into the changing rooms at Cockfield United during the club’s reserve team game against Coddenham on Saturday.

And although Cockfield beat Coddenham 6-3, both sides lost out after the thieves stole wallets, mobile phones, bank cards and cash.

Coddenham player and club secretary David Thompson said that after a heavy defeat, the team’s day was made even worse when one of the Cockfield officials came into the away team’s dressing room shortly after the match and asked if anything had been stolen.

“One of our lads checked to see, his wallet was still in his jeans, but he had about £260 in there which had been taken,” said Mr Thompson.

“They’ve gone into the Cockfield changing rooms first, got all their stuff – there was a lot of people with stuff taken from their changing room – then they’ve got into ours, looked into our mate’s stuff first, got a big score and done one quickly. They didn’t touch anything else.

“It was a kick in the teeth. The police, they came out, but I don’t really think there’s much they can do about it.”

In total, five people had items stolen, with the thieves making off with wallets containing cash and cards, as well as two mobile phones.

A police spokeswoman yesterday said the changing rooms had been left “unlocked and unattended”, while the culprits are believed to have escaped through the fire exit of the away dressing room, which was wide open when the players returned after the match.

Mr Thompson said: “It’s surprising for it to actually happen there because it’s really out in the sticks.

“Personally, I don’t think there’s much chance of us getting any of it back. Other than putting a report in and ensuring the teams that visit there do know that’s happened, there’s not really much else to do.”

No one from Cockfield United was available for comment last night.

Anyone with any information should call PCSO Siobhan Hemmett from Babergh West Safer Neighbourhood Team on 101, quoting SU/14/673, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.