Two boys have been identified in connection with an Oxfordshire criminal damage incident, which left a football club ransacked and sports trophies destroyed. 

The break-in at the Witney Vikings Youth Football Club involved criminal damage and theft at Burwell Meadow address in Witney around 7.20pm on Thursday, May 30. 

A Thames Valley Police spokesperson said two boys had gained access to a shipping container at the address where the Witney Vikings Youth Football Club is located. 

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The boys threw "six or seven boxes and a bag of footballs" from inside the container over the fence into the basketball court. 

The spokesperson said: "The boxes each contained 12 football trophies, each worth £500, and a bag of 10 footballs, worth about £100."

"Officers attended and identified the offenders, who were given strong words of advice, as well as helping to clear up the mess."

This comes after the Witney Vikings Football Club announced their shock online - sparking at least one hundred donations of more than £8900 from the community. 

The online fundraising page saw locals dig deep with some donating as much as £3000 to the community club. 

Club chairman Steve Bott previously said without CCTV, they had been concerned they would not find the culprits. 

Mr Bott told the Oxford Mail there were around 100 personalised trophies damaged in addition to some pitch equipment and footballs, but he said he was buoyed by the support.

He said: "Any money leftover will be ringfenced for setting up our new home/base when we get one."

"And the general support and love from the community gives the whole club a boost at the end of a challenging season.

"The club is run entirely by about 100 volunteers who are giving up their time for the community - they should feel valued."

County Councillors Cllr Liam Walker and Cllr Ted Fenton have indicated they will cover the cost of replacement trophies and will be talking more with the club in the coming weeks. 

Cllr Walker said: "It's devastating that such mindless vandalism has taken place in Witney and that Witney Vikings are now having to look to replace the damaged trophies.

"When I spotted the post on Facebook I spoke with my colleague ClIr Ted Fenton and we both agreed we can help by giving them some funding from our Councillor Priority Funds to help cover the cost of replacing the trophies for the young players.

"There is also a GoFundMe page which has helped raised thousands with the community coming together to support them, which is simply amazing."

Mr Bott said, going forward, the best way for locals to help the club was to support their bid for a new base in Witney. 

He said: "50 years of waiting is enough - we are one of the largest grassroots clubs in Oxfordshire and deserve a postcode!"

Thames Valley Police said anyone with information about the break-in should call 101 or make a report on their website, quoting reference number 43240253048.

Alternatively, members of the public can provide information anonymously to independent charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111 or via its website.