A Shellharbour football club hit by thieves and vandals in the lead-up to its biggest time of year has been inundated with offers of support.
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Thousands of spectators are expected at Ron Costello Oval at the weekend as Shellharbour City Sharks RLFC teams reach their semi-finals.
But finals fever has been tempered by a senseless act of destruction levelled at the clubhouse last weekend.
Vandals broke multiple locks and doors and and made off with a NSW jumper signed by former Sharks junior Trent Merrin, and hundreds of dollars worth of beer, cider and bourbon.
Club secretary Mitchell Silk found the clubhouse walls covered in obscene graffiti, including words and phrases that suggested the vandals "probably didn't like our club".
"It felt like the whole place had just been disrespected," Mr Silk said.
"People like us - the chairman and the board members - none of us get paid, but we work just as hard at the football club as our jobs.
"We're a first-grade side, we pay our players. It's hard work to raise that money but we bust our backsides to do it and to think this is how we have to spend the money - it's frustrating."
Word of the break-in spread on social media, then radio, this week, prompting offers of cash and in-kind support from numerous area businesses.
The break-in follows a similar attack three weeks earlier.
Mr Silk said the club was considering installing security cameras to guard against future attacks.
In the meantime, it's finals time and Mr Silk is rapt with the support shown.
The Sharks' first-grade side will play Kiama on Sunday at 2.45pm.