Sittingbourne bid to raise £5,000 online: Weʼre raising £5,000 to plug the financial gap left with the season cancelled and this has put Sittingbourne Football Club in a precarious financial position

SITTINGBOURNE are the latest Isthmian League club that have set-up an online fundraising page in a bid to raise £5,000 during the coronavirus suspension crisis.

A club statement said: “As a passionate football club with the best fans in non- league football we are aware of the devastating economic impact that COVID-19 will have on the region.

“Weʼre raising £5,000 to plug the financial gap left with the season cancelled. This has drastically affected us. Six home matches plus an annual football tournament have been cancelled.

“This has put Sittingbourne Football Club in a precarious financial position. Money is needed to prepare pitches for the many teams that we host (men's first team, other men's, women's, girls, boys, and youth from Sittingbourne and surrounding areas) plus we have a number of other pre-season expenses to find.

“Six home matches that would have included two matches in particular over Easter that would have brought in much needed finance, will not now take place. Also a summer tournament that we regularly host has also had to be cancelled.

“We are aware, of course, that the current situation stretches beyond football and into the wider community as a whole. Beloved members of our NHS continue to work above and beyond to protect our families and save lives, and the club would like to offer them a gesture of our gratitude.

“For every £100 raised in our crowdfunding campaign, we will donate one match ticket for the 2020/21 season to the NHS staff in Swale.”

Commercial Director, Andrew Marjeram added: “Growing up in Sittingbourne the community are proud of where they have come from and hopefully with all the help people are giving us we can give something back as well to the fans and to the NHS.”

As well as the tickets to the NHS option there are various other rewards you can purchase offers for.

The Woodstock Park club are offering well-wishers to sponsor a seat with your name permanently on it.

The club are also purchasing a wall of fame sponsorship board to thank all of their well-wishers and they will donate 50% of the money raised to the National Health Service should they beat their five-grand target.

To donate, please visit https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/support-sittingbourne-fc-and-the-nhs-1