Ryman League initiative will raise a few eyebrows, admits Turvey

THE RYMAN League are supporting their stationery sponsor’s £500,000 fund raising drive for Red Nose Day next month.

All home matches played by the 66 clubs on Saturday March 7 and Saturday March 14 will feature bright red footballs. At all of these matches, collections will be made and cash collected given to Comic Relief.

In a statement, Alan Turvey, the chairman of the Ryman League, said, "The charity challenged us to 'Do Something Funny for Money', so we thought that a Red Nose style football would do the trick. We've had clearance from the Football Association but expect our initiative will raise a few questions and eyebrows!"

Kypros Kyprianou, the group chief executive for Ryman added, "It's great that Alan and his team have found an imaginative way to get involved. The red footballs are a winner but it is best that we avoid the red cards."

As well as raising funds through matches, Ryman Stationery is fundraising through its 240 stores nationwide. Ryman stores nationwide are selling quirky Red Nose Day pens, fun sticky notes, pencils, handy notebooks and large erasers for £1 each that will raise smiles as well as funds. The stationer's employees are also raising cash from friends and family through sponsored walks, runs, hops and even truck dragging.

Not to be outdone by his colleagues, business owner Theo Paphitis has turned his gunmetal grey Maybach 62 car - one of the world's most luxurious saloons - into an eye-popping colourful red and white splattered automobile. The car will be on the road up until Red Nose Day.

Visit the Ryman League website: www.isthmian.co.uk

Visit the Ryman website: www.ryman.co.uk