Sunderland Fans' Museum hopes to 'educate' vandals who damaged games table left out for people to enjoy

The New Bridge Street venue left the football table outside in its grounds so that passers by and people on match days could enjoy a game.

The Museum says video footage captured from the site caught the moment two boys, who are both believed to be in their teens, smashed up the table, leaving it in bits on the ground, at around 5pm on Monday, September 14.

And now bosses at the attraction, which currently remains closed as it works on plans to reopen safely under Covid rules, say they plan to release the video in a bid to track down those responsible – unless they get in touch to make amends.

As the museum thanked people for their “amazing support” it shared a post on social media which said: “The table football is bent and twisted, and you will see that from the videos how this [has] happened, but if they get in touch I can save major embarrassment and maybe educate them with the impact on their actions.

"Not the best start of the day when you see a machine worth a considerable sum of money damaged and abused.

“This has been outside for many reasons, firstly to let the local students play on an evening but also for families to enjoy on match days and when they are passing.

"We've had no bother at all, until 5pm on Monday night, so not only have we the full footage very very clear, but now we have a piece of the museum broken.

"We will show the footage, as I believe we do try and help.

"It's sad people want to abuse what we do for our city.”

The museum – led by Michael Ganley – is continuing to work on its efforts to reopen, with visitors set to enjoy two new displays inside the former Monkwearmouth Station Museum building – the signs from Roker Pie Shop, after they were gifted by the new owners of the business as they turned it into Sarnies & Sundaes.

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