NATIONS UNITED

Fan-run team find support from 25 countries

A GROUNDBREAKING fan-run football team have attracted members from 25 countries.

Lowland League club Edusport Academy were launched in their new form last month by ex-Motherwell striker Chris Ewing.

The side are run through website OurFootballClub. com, allowing supporters who pay £25 a year to decide a new name and kit, as well as voting on crucial budget and strategy decisions. They will also be able to stand for election to the board and recommend signings as part of a unique player-recruiting initiative.

Since being launched on February 7, the club claim to have attracted almost 1000 members around the globe, with sign-ups from as far afield as Finland, America, Australia, and New Zealand.

Ewing said: “We have members now from more than 25 countries.

“It is excellent to see people on the forums discussing the club, tuning in to find out results and asking questions.

“We are already discussing different names, potential strips and potential logos. We are looking forward to really creating an impact in Scottish football.”

Ewing founded the Edusport Academy in 2011 with the aim of helping talented young footballers to develop their skills.

The side won the 2016-17 South of Scotland League title to gain promotion to the Lowland League in the fifth tier of Scottish football. In February, Ewing announced plans to separate the senior team from the academy by launching the online membership scheme.

He aims to reach the Scottish Premiership by 2025.

The team groundshare with Annan Athletic at their Galabank stadium in Dumfries and Galloway.

Ewing added: “I am very excited about the future.”