Cardboard fans to the rescue

LoWEr league clubs in England will glimpse a potential financial lifeline today with Borussia monchengladbach set to roll out 13,000 personalised cardboard fans.

as Gladbach’s Borussia Park hosts its first Bundesliga match behind closed doors against Bayer Leverkusen, non-League Lewes will be watching, having become the first team to join the English version of the ‘Stay at home, be at the game’ scheme.

The isthmian Premier League club, who are fan-owned with 1,600 shareholders, are set to offer supporters the opportunity to mark their presence in cardboard once football returns after the coronavirus break.

Fans will be asked to donate money as part of a crowdfunding exercise, with a minimum price for each cutout likely to be around £25.

Lewes marketing director Charlie Dobres said: ‘This could be a lifeline for clubs. if nothing is done, this could be an extinction-level event for clubs. it’s a really great scheme, a personalised way for fans to show support to a community asset.

‘it’s likely that football will come back behind closed doors next season so whenever the faces are installed, they can be seen on broadcasts. Whether it’s on a non-League team’s YouTube channel or in the Championship on television.’ FoUr second-half goals gave hertha Berlin a 4-0 victory over city rivals Union in the Bundesliga last night at an empty olympic Stadium. Strikes from Vedad ibisevic, Dodi Lukebakio, matheus Cunha and former manchester City defender Dedryck Boyata moved hertha into 10th place, four points clear of Union.