Skint non league club appeal for donations to keep them going

A skint non league club Prescot Cables have set up an appeal for donations to keep them going with bills needing to be paid.

The side, which plays in the eighth tier of English football, the Northern Premier League Division One West division, is trying to raise £10,000 with an online crowdfunder after lockdown meant they had no form of matchday income.

Joint club chairman Matt Roberts said: “We’ve lost every bit of income.

“We still have the rent, we’ve got a little break on the rates but we’ve still got bills.

“It’s pretty clear that the league’s not going to start in the middle of August, I think that would be too much pressure because we’re going to have to prepare.

“Our league have been very good in updating us. The problem is what they’re saying is it’s very government driven. The dates will be given by the government.

“Unfortunately, I think non-league football is a bit forgotten about. I think they kind of see it as kids’ football.

“We can’t play behind closed doors, we rely on matchday income.”

The club chief said they have a “drop dead date” rather than a start date, and because they of no income, it means they can no longer pay what is due.

The date wasn’t revealed, however Roberts said the grant funding the club had secured from the government and Sport England seemed to be coming to an end around the beginning of August.

He said: “There’s so many ifs and buts, so we’ve had to reach out to the fans.”

Along with a donation page, the side are trying to raise money in other ways, such as  spot-the-ball competitions, football cards and virtual quiz on Saturday.

The club has also emphasised wanting to give something back to the community, and held off asking for support for as long as it could, as so many are also out of work and struggling to make ends meet at a time like this.

Roberts said: “We’re a family, at the end of the day. We’re not just trying to take, take, take from the fans.

“We know it’s desperate times, but unfortunately without getting the games back on there’s no way of surviving.”

However, both Roberts and co-chair Jamie Weston, are optimistic that the club can survive.

Roberts said: “I think everyone will pull together to make sure we’re there next season.

“With everything that’s going on, and everyone pulling together, we’re very positive that we will be ok.”

You can find the Prescot Cables’ crowdfunder HERE.

£4,931 has been raised towards their target of £10,000, and if the fundraiser raises over that amount, the club will donate 10% of anything above this to local community groups in Prescot.

Fans reacted after the skint non league club made an appeal for donations to keep them going…

Mostly by the FA, who have wrecked it.

— Steve Fraser (@Saintbarca) June 26, 2020

Disgusting this. In the grand scheme of course football had to stop but it’s so important to so many people.

The FA needs to sort its shit out and look after clubs.

— Geoff Steel (@GeoffSteel3) June 26, 2020

Yes!!! We have cleared 2k inside day number 1. This is incredible stuff. Thank you to everyone who has donated to @PrescotCablesFC crowdfunder. 20% of the target inside 24 hours is amazing and oh god I’m going to have to wear a Liverpool shirt tomorrow aren’t I? ? I love you all pic.twitter.com/tMjmLlaR7O

— Sir Richard Richard ?? (@RichtMUFC99) June 20, 2020

Surely that’s loose change to a rich LFC or EFC player ? @LFC @Everton @Carra23

— Justin (@OneOClockGun) June 20, 2020

Done ?

— Chris Glover (@ChrisGlover28) June 20, 2020

and great to see contributions and messages of support from far & wide, and fans of other clubs ??

— Roy McDonald (@roverkopite) June 27, 2020

Prescot Cables was once considered a nursery club to Liverpool FC.
To celebrate Liverpool winning the Premier League, how about all the reds fans chip in a couple of quid to help a struggling non-league team 5 miles down the road?
Far better than another can of lager!!! https://t.co/TnRU4UPtEK

— Roy McDonald (@roverkopite) June 26, 2020