Northern League clubs handed a lifeline by government aid boost
Wearside-based Northern League clubs have been handed a boost after it was confirmed that they will receive a share of a £10 million grant through the government’s Sports Winter Survival Package.
Sports minister Nigel Huddleston announced that clubs across steps three to six of the non-league pyramid will be able to apply for their share via the Football Stadia Investment Fund from yesterday.
Ebac Northern League Division One clubs such as Seaham Red Star, Sunderland RCA and Ryhope CW will be eligible to collect £10,500, and Division Two clubs like Sunderland West End can pick up £7,500 in funding.
Those figures increase for Northern Premier League clubs, with Premier Division sides South Shields and Morpeth Town allocated a potential £27,000 and North West Division clubs Dunston UTS and Marske United able to secure £15,000 in funding.
However, clubs will have to adhere to strict guidelines over how the funding will be used over the coming months.
Speaking to the House of Commons, sports minister Huddleston said: “We promised to support sports and target help to where it’s most needed.
"Today we continue to deliver on that with further
support for National League football clubs.
“The National League has already benefited from the government support schemes through a £10m government-brokered cash partnership with the National Lottery, and there will be more support for the bigger clubs on the way.
“Today’s £10m grant for lower league clubs in Steps
3-6 will act as a lifeline for around 850 clubs in towns and cities across England and help these clubs through this difficult period until we can get fans back in safely.”
The news was not as positive for the North East’s five National League clubs though, after Huddleston confirmed that those in the top two tiers of the nonleague game will be eligible
for loans, rather than grants.
However, there was some light at the end of the tunnel for Blyth Spartans, Darlington, Gateshead, Hartlepool United and Spennymoor Town, after it was announced that grants would be made available “if clubs at those levels can demonstrate they need grant-funding urgently to survive”.
On the National League funding, Huddleston said: “With precious public money, we are providing financial support to the National League Steps 1 and 2 in the form of loans.
"However, if clubs at those levels can demonstrate they need grant-funding urgently to survive, we will ensure that option is available.
"We will not let clubs go to the wall.
"Applications will be assessed by the independent board, through the same rigorous process that we apply to other sports.”
National League clubs continue to play behind closed doors matches despite the coronavirus-enforced lockdown, though those at levels below remain at a standstill.