RCA launch a fundraising appeal to improve floodlight facilities
Sunderland RCA have launched a crowdfunding appeal as they look to carry out “extensive” repair work on their floodlights.
The coronavirus epidemic brought an abrupt end to the 2019/20 Northern League season in March and the lack of home fixtures has robbed clubs of their main source of income.
That has hit finances around the non-league scene and it could not have come at a worse time for RCA.
The club held an inspection of their facilities recently and found that their floodlights were in need of repair to meet Northern League regulations ahead of any possible return to on-field action.
RCA’s volunteer-led committee and management team took the “difficult decision” to launch a crowd funding appeal via the Just-Giving website in order to meet the £3,000 figure needed to carry out the necessary work.
RCA manager Martin Swales told The Echo: “The groundsman and the electricians have been to the ground and there is extensive work needed on the floodlights.
“There’s a new regulation in the Northern League and they are checking electrics at grounds when they are doing inspections after a few clubs suffered issues last season.
“It’ s not compatible with the regulations at the moment so we would not meet the criteria.
“That’s why we have had to launch the crowdfunder to ensure that we can get the floodlights sorted in time for whenever the season returns.”
The local community have rallied around RCA after they launched their appeal and the donations started top our in almost immediately.
The club’s players played their part by donating £500 from their‘ players pool’ money for the season and the halfway point was reached over the last few days.
As of Tuesday lunchtime, the total raised stood at just under £1,700 and Swales is hopeful that the target can be reached over the coming weeks.
“It’s an achievable target,” he said.
“The players have played their part, it was Greg Swan sb ury’ s(R CA captain) idea to put their pool money in and that was £150, which was a great gesture from the lads.
“It’s a difficult time for everyone and people aren’t at work, they aren’t getting paid and there is a lot of uncertainty around at the moment.
“But hopefully we can get there.”