£10M emergency support package from The National Lottery gives lifeline to National League clubs while fans are unable to attend.
Leamington FC would like to thank National Lottery players for their support during these challenging times. We are very grateful to benefit from a share of the £10M of funding that has been announced for all 66 National League clubs as part of a unique partnership between the National League and The National Lottery which will ensure that this season can continue in a sustainable way for our club.
With 32 boys and girls teams; U19 Youth team; 2 post-16 teams in an education partnership with Moreton Morrell College; Ladies team; Veterans team plus a blossoming Under 7-16 Academy and a Pan-Disability coaching programme, the club is truly at the heart of the community. In addition to this, the club runs a wide ranging schools programme plus a whole host of coaching, fitness and well-being initiatives plus school holiday camps. The funding ensures that the good work of the club can continue.
Chairman Jim Scott said, “This helps support the vital work we do in the area. We have almost 600 players taking part in team and organised games every week with another 100 volunteers, coaches and managers supporting that. If you add in all the additional schools and community programmes we probably have another 600-700 interactions each week. When we eventually get fans back in our stadium it means that in any given week we can have about 2000 individuals involved with the club in various forms of activity.
We are a huge community asset. Protecting this, and the work of the other National League clubs, is essential for communities across the country. I can’t thank National Lottery players enough for this lifeline.”
The partnership with The National Lottery will benefit all clubs in the fifth and six tiers of English football, so that they can continue to play behind closed doors after the return of fans was paused due to rising infection rates. As a thank you, National Lottery players, who make a difference every time they buy a ticket, will also get a range of benefits – including free tickets once stadia are safe to reopen, grassroots football opportunities and VIP experiences at Wembley Stadium.
Nigel Railton, Chief Executive of National Lottery operator Camelot, said: “The National Lottery and its players have been making a huge difference to communities across the country for the past 26 years, so we’re delighted to be working with the National League to protect these all-important clubs and help them continue the vital work they carry out locally. They do a fantastic job and I can’t wait to cheer on my local National League side when fans are allowed to return.”
