A Masterton soccer club was on target to host a nationwide tournament until somebody moved the goalposts - by stealing them.
Douglas Villa Masters president Darren Kerr is looking for anyone who might know the whereabouts of five stolen portable goals, which are crucial to a tournament the club is planningfor September.
The junior goals are heavy metal frames in three interlocking parts, a crossbar and two back supports, and are sized for intermediate-age players.
Five crossbars and eight back supports were taken from behind the Douglas Villa clubrooms in Queen Elizabeth Park, some time over the past three weeks.
Mr Kerr said the thieves would have needed some heavy transport to remove the frames.
He suspects the frames may have been stolen for sale as scrap metal and said the police and local scrap merchants were told about the thefts.
Without the posts, the club would have difficulty hosting Douglas Villa's annual junior tournament, which last year featured 90 teams from around New Zealand and this year was expected to be even bigger.
Mr Kerr said this tournament attracted up to 3000 people to Masterton, with 1000 children and their parents, and its cancellation would have "an effect on the whole community, not just our club".
"The tournament is our major fundraiser, so we can keep junior fees down."
If the original posts can't be found, Mr Kerr said the club would also be keen to hear from any Wairarapa businesses who might like to donate money to help replace them.
