'Immense' support after football museum break-in

The owner of a football museum has said the support it has received has been "immense" after being broken into.

The Fans Museum in Sunderland, based in the city's former Monkwearmouth station, had its till stolen alongside other items in the early hours of Monday.

Michael Ganley, the museum's director, said it was the 20th time the building had been targeted, which had cost him about £20,000 over the years.

But Mr Ganley added he had to "persevere " because it was a community hub which brought "people together through their love of football".

A spokesperson for Northumbria Police said an investigation had been launched and inquiries were ongoing.

"We've just got to persevere and just not let it really get to myself," Mr Ganley told BBC Radio Newcastle.

"It is a community hub, it's free. The outreach, what we deliver, we need to continue."

Mr Ganley took over the building's lease in 2017 and opened the museum with his personal collection of memorabilia to "try and encourage positivity, encourage memories and bring people together through their love of football".

He added while the memorabilia had never been stolen or vandalised, the building's historical features had been damaged.

Mr Ganley managed to make the museum safe to open ahead of the Sunderland match on Monday and said he was "proud" at the response from supporters.

"The support that we received yesterday from around the world was immense," he said.

"I'm proud I can see just how impactful it is."

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