A football club must reschedule all its fixtures and fears it could be thrown out of the league after thieves stripped copper wiring from its six 40 foot flood lights.

Staff at Raynes Park Vale FC in Grand Drive discovered the theft on Friday morning when they found cables dangling from the towering flood lights.

Without light, the Combined Counties Premier club is now unable to hold midweek evening matches and has been forced to reschedule their weekend Saturday matches to 2pm.

Simon Moore, striker for Raynes Park Vale FC, said: "It will affect the club’s income as we can only play games at the weekend if we reschedule them to 2pm.

"We also hire out the club to other football teams who use so that’s not going to happen.

"We think it will cost about £2,000 to put right and that is money that the club just doesn’t have.

"There is utter disgust from all the guys here.

"There is a small group of guys who work really hard down there to ensure the club runs smoothly so it’s very disappointing."

Bosses at Combined Counties league have been sympathetic but there are fears the club could face grave consequences should they not find the funds to fix the lights. 

Mr Moore said: "For the next couple of months they are allowing us to reschedule, but that is only for a short term period so if we can’t get them fixed we could be kicked out of the league.

"We need these facilities to play in the FA Cup and other cups we play in."

The club is set to hold an emergency committee meeting on Thursday to discuss a way forward.

Anyone with information on the theft should call Merton Police on 101.