WEST CHOOSE BEST

PLAYERS and staff at Northern League club West Auckland Town’s have thrown their support behind the NHS in their battle against coronavirus with an incredible gesture.

The performance of Gary Forrest’s side saw them rack up over £3,000 in their bonus pool and after a meeting between the management team and a players committee, fronted by club captain Lewis Dodds, they decided to donate their entire pool to the NHS. Goalkeeper coach Craig Turns told The NLP: “The decision came from the club’s management, club captain Lewis Dodds and the players committee. “We wanted to give something back to the NHS for all of the hard work they are putting in with everything that is going on at the moment. “Once we had a chat about it, we asked all of the players and we unanimously agreed that it was the right thing to do.

“The players put money into a pot every week and that normally gets dished out at the end of the season with each player getting a share. But we all agreed to do this for such a great cause.”

With the gesture, West have become the latest Northern League club to show their generous side as the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread.

Division Two club Heaton Stannington donated food from their postponed game against Ryton & Crawcrook Albion to the People’s Kitchen in Newcastle.

And Division Two rivals Jarrow have offered half-price season tickets for next season to current season ticket holders.