Lottery win for troubled football clubs

SIXTY-SIX clubs outside the Football League will share £10million of National Lottery funding to keep them afloat during the pandemic.

The National League sides – together with the North and South feeder divisions – comprising the fifth and sixth tiers of the sport in England will benefit from the scheme.

They were facing bleak futures after the return of fans to matches was paused due to rising Covid-19 infection rates across the country.

Under a deal brokered by the Government, the National Lottery will support the clubs until fans can safely return. Similar funding is set to follow for lower league clubs in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Alongside the help being announced today, National Lottery players will also get free tickets once stadia are safe to reopen, grassroots football opportunities and VIP experiences at Wembley.

It comes after the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport assured the National League that emergency financial support would be forthcoming so that it was able to start the season earlier this month.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: “I know from a brilliant club in my area that National League football clubs are the beating heart of their communities and too precious to lose.

“This £10million fund will provide a bridge to help clubs survive this immediate crisis while we work together on the safe return of fans.”

Nigel Railton, chief executive of National Lottery operator Camelot, added: “Millions of National Lottery players love football, so our partnership will also see them receive a range of great benefits.”