Thieves make off with football club's popular mobile cafe

Dozens of young footballers in Bottesford will be left disappointed this weekend after thieves made off with the mobile canteen where they buy hot food and drink.
The Hank Marvin's Lunchbox van stolen from Bottesford FC EMN-170221-150423001The Hank Marvin's Lunchbox van stolen from Bottesford FC EMN-170221-150423001
The Hank Marvin's Lunchbox van stolen from Bottesford FC EMN-170221-150423001

The vehicle, which is emblazoned with the name ‘Hank Marvin’s Lunchbox’, was taken from playing fields off Nottingham Road this week.

Owners Terry Albon and Damien Brown have been serving refreshments every Saturday for the last year to youngsters aged from four to 17 and their families during and after Bottesford FC junior matches.

The vehicle is worth about £12,000 and is also used by the duo at festivals and other public events.

Damien said: “We just want it back because it was our pride and joy. There are cameras all along the A52 so hopefully someone has seen it and the police can recover it. They would have needed a vehicle to take it away. We use a transit van so you don’t need anything particularly big to tow it.”

Losing the van is a big blow to Bottesford FC because it provided welcome hot food, particularly during the cold winter months.

Committee member Nick Dobney said: “It would be parked up there from 8 or 8.30 in the morning and it was very popular with everyone.

“We don’t have any real facilities at the site so to have this self-contained catering van was brilliant for us.

“They also donated money to the club - a decent amount - and we will now lose that as well as the hot food and drink.”

It is believed the lunch van was stolen sometime between 10am on Monday and Tuesday morning.

He added: “If anyone sees it I would urge them to tell us or tell the police.”