BRIDGWATER Town Football Club is aiming to raise £12,500 to cope with the financial pressures caused by the season's termination amid the coronavirus pandemic.

A statement by the executive committee team said that the Western League club's ability to pay its bills had been "severely compromised", with all income having ceased.

The crowdfunding statement says: "Times like these help us to reflect that there is so much more to life than football.

"We are very proud that, over the past three years, we have helped raise over £25,000 for local charities that support the most vulnerable in our society.

"It remains our wish to continue being able to maintain that commitment going forward.

"With the 2019/20 season being made null and void, and with football coming to end in mid-March, all of our revenue streams immediately ceased.

"As a consequence, the club’s ability to meet our current and future overheads has been severely compromised.

"Additionally, we have been forced to call a halt to our plans to invest further in pitch improvement and the upgraded equipment required to maintain it.

"We are hoping that, with the help of supporters, former players, local businesses and the wider community we can raise £12,500 to help offset the short and medium-term financial pressures currently being experienced.

"Of course, we absolutely appreciate that these are incredibly tough and unprecedented times for us all, and are mindful of the huge sums that are, so deservedly, being raised in support of health related charities.

"Any donation at all will be really appreciated and will make a real difference in helping us to continue the process of rebuilding the club we all love."

The total on the fundraising page is currently £460.

***

ANOTHER club fundraising to keep itself going is Middlezoy Rovers FC, which has two Somerset County League teams, a women’s team, a men's over-35s team and a youth section (under-5 to under-10s).

The new clubhouse at the Aerodrome is in the final stages of the building process, but that has come to a halt and there are no fees coming in to pay for utilities.

The club is looking to raise £4,000, and said: "The next few weeks and months will be challenging for everyone and Middlezoy Rovers as a club is no different.

"The utilities are now connected in the clubhouse and no income coming in from subs, fees, tuck shops etc the financial strain is mounting.

"With no end in sight to the pandemic and no football being played again anytime soon, that equates to no income being generated.

"We are asking for anyone associated with Middlezoy Rovers - past, present, maybe in the future or within the wider community - to help the club if at all possible, and support your local grassroots football club."

The fundraising page is up to £1,886.