YOBS smashed an out-of-control car straight through a concrete wall and onto a struggling football club's pitch, causing £1,000 of damage.

Thackley AFC Committee members believe a white Skoda was thrashing round the gravel car park, before it crashed tail-first through the solid panel fence.

Evidence suggests it hurtled over a terrace and became wedged in the metal crowd barrier with its rear wheels on the turf at the Dennyfield ground.

Another vehicle arrived to free the crashed car and tow it out before both sped off leaving and estimated £1,000 of damage.

Senior committee member Mick Lodge told how this was another "hammer blow" for the club following a serious arson attack on Mischief Night in November.

"It's someone mucking about who's lost control of a car so it's not deliberate vandalism, but it's still heartbreaking.

"And if anyone had been walking along behind the wall, they would have been killed," Mr Lodge said.

"We're a poor club and struggle to pay the bills without help from donations and sponsorship.

"It's a battle to keep the place going and each occurrence like this is a hammer blow to players, management and our finances," said retired civil servant Mr Lodge.

The 64-year-old told what witnesses believe happened on Sunday.

He said: "Bradford City women's team were to play Coventry so there was an 8.30am pitch inspection and that match was called off as the ground was rock hard.

"Then at about 11am a team coach spotted a black Peugeot parked up against the wall at one end of the car park and later heard a screech of tyres on gravel as a car roared off.

"Later when the damage was discovered there was broken glass from a rear window with a Skoda sticker on it and a piece of a white wheel arch.

"And also a white car with its back smashed in was then seen parked in a nearby road.

"The white car had gone backwards through the wall with such force that it was stuck in the twisted metal barrier which had then been cut with something like an angle grinder to free it," Mr Lodge said.

He said £1,000 donated recently by Idle's award winning chippy Towngate Fisheries would now be used to cover repairs.

"And this comes after all weather surface mats were piled onto three picnic benches and the lot set on fire on November 4.

"That wasn't mischief, it was malice and also wrecked the lighting around the artificial pitch by shorting out the electrics," Mr Lodge said.

Ward councillor Jeanette Sunderland said Thackley AFC was a valuable community asset and benefitted hundreds of adults and youngsters.

"They've been through some tricky financial times, but have very successful youth teams and can really do without this sort of mindless thing which just makes life more difficult," Cllr Sunderland said.

A West Yorkshire police spokesman said investigating officers had attended the scene and anyone with information on any vehicles involved should call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.