We're still collecting donations
On the 29th July 2020 we'd raised £15,188 with 234 supporters in 28 days. But as every pound matters, we're continuing to collect donations from supporters.
The aim of our project is to raise funds which will support the costs we will incur for taking part in the National League North play-offs.
by Altrincham Football Club in Hale, England, United Kingdom
On the 29th July 2020 we'd raised £15,188 with 234 supporters in 28 days. But as every pound matters, we're continuing to collect donations from supporters.
The overall cost of competing should we progress to the final, will be approx £50,000 to the club. Any additional funding will be put towards these costs, which will include additional Covid-19 testing for players and management.
The Altrincham FC playing squad and management team are now facing what could be described as their most searching examination of the season so far at The J. Davidson Stadium - Covid-19 testing.
Testing has now begun, and first results show a clean bill of health and has opened the way for an immediate resumption of training, in the build-up to our first play-off game, tentatively scheduled by the Vanarama National League for the weekend of 18th and 19th July.
The player's and staff will be coming off furlough imminently, and they will remain so, as long as our campaign continues.
There will be a weekly testing regime to ensure that all our players and staff remain Covid-19 free, and this will be extended to all officials, including stewards and media, in the run-up to a match day. Those directors required to be in attendance will be paying for their own testing, as you might expect.
When our first round of fundraising came to an end in April, we were clear that we wouldn't reach out for additional financial support from the supporters unless we had something specific that you could help with.
The Covid-19 testing for the playing squad and management will come at a great expense to the club. With the first set of tests having successfully taken place, we have started incurring costs for the exercise, which we now believe will total just over £50,000, should we go all the way to the final.
Therefore we are looking for your help. We would welcome donations of any amount, but we've also created a rewards programme for donations of specific amounts, for those who are able to help at different levels.
The stadium has been put through its paces, too, as club safety officer Nigel Bunce, recently appointed as Alty's Covid-19 officer, in line with National League instructions, and the club's chief medical officer, Dr Rob Jackson, oversaw the first round of testing regime at the ground.
This involved putting in place strict access controls and a mandatory "one-way" system in the ground to manage the process. Our thanks go to Rob and Nigel for shouldering these responsibilities at this time. In addition, club president Grahame Rowley and director Neil Faulkner are working hard with Trafford Council to secure the safety certificates required for us to be able to host matches again.
There is a huge amount of work to be carried out to meet the criteria laid down by the National League, and the club are responding with a flurry of activities, including a board call every couple of days to review progress, which is also attended by Nigel and club secretary Paul Carter.
Director Rob Esteva and manager Phil Parkinson are talking every single day to ensure that everything on the playing side, from training venues to player availability and even potential friendlies ahead of the play-offs, is under control.
The question of televising the ties, in both North and South divisions, is still up for discussion, with the National League board working with our broadcaster BT in an attempt to finalise plans for this particular subject.
This project offered rewards