Staffordshire football club Stafford Rangers has surpassed the £50,000 mark in its fundraising efforts – money that will help to keep the non-league outfit afloat financially amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The club’s Stand Together campaign was launched at the beginning of the outbreak with the club, like nearly all non-league teams, losing out on a vast amount of revenue due to their season being cancelled by the FA because of the dangers of Covid-19.
The scheme enables supporters to attend ‘virtual games’ by donating money they would normally spend on a matchday to the club with the Northern Premier League side also allowing the purchasing of shares in Stafford Rangers Football Club.
The club said that it has had donations from all around the country as well as closer to home, and said it is now set out to try and bring in another £90,000 through “commercial activity with a goal to make the club debt free and ensure the club has a sustainable future.”
The initiative is being run by a ‘Business Continuity Group’, for whom a spokesperson stated: “We have the best fans in the country who love their football club and they have been so generous in their support.
“We now have a responsibility to look at all aspects of the club to deliver something very special to everyone that visits Marston Road. Our vision is to make Stafford Rangers the best club in non-league football both on and off the pitch.
“With support like this there is no reason why we can’t achieve this but despite the fundraising clubs like ours still face substantial challenges in the short term to balance budgets and find a way forward.
“We seek to try and meet our fans expectations but this has to be done very carefully as the future landscape is still an unknown.”
Northern Premier League chairman Mark Harris praised Boro’s fundraising efforts, saying: “Many congratulations to Stafford Rangers on breaking the £50,000 fund raising barrier!
“I am inspired by the innovative way in which the Rangers are reacting to the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic. The share sale and virtual match day experiences are superb ideas and it’s wonderful to see Rangers fans and those who care about non-league football coming together in this way.
“I hope that Rangers’ example will help other clubs to think creatively in keeping their clubs going until football can return. This is one of many fantastic initiatives being rolled out by our clubs and their incredible volunteers and supporters.
“To be fundraising and maintaining your profiles in your local communities is even more remarkable at a time when all traditional income channels have been severely impacted, if not wrecked completely.
“No-one knows how long this will last, so it’s more important than ever that – like the Rangers and its amazing fans – we all Stand Together.”
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WE HAVE MOVED! 