TRIDENT TRIUMPH FOR SEASIDERS

BRIDLINGTON Town chairman Pete Smurthwaite has hailed the importance of grants in allowing the Seasiders to provide football opportunities for all.

The Pitching In Northern Premier League Division One East side are one of the most recent recipients of funding from the Trident Community Foundation (TCF).

For Brid, the money has allowed them to provide active participation in sport for people who are otherwise might miss out on social and competitive football due to their disabilities, learning differences or impairments.

And Smurthwaite praised the TCF for their vital and continued support of non-League clubs in a footballing world characterised by financial inequality.

He said: “It’s massive because you look at the money in football, you look at the Premier League, the wages and transfer fees – then we try to get £500 for something and get knocked back.

“Without that help

[of the TCF], you’re just relying virtually on a sole benefactor – who, in this case, is generally myself.

“It’s not good for the health of non-league football where it’s just down to the benefactors, because at the end of the day they’ll begin to think, is this worthwhile?

“We were really pleased to have got the grants that we’ve had recently, but we need to keep looking to see if there’s any more.

“It’s absolutely vital that there is grant money available.”

The Seasiders are one of the only clubs across the country to take advantage of the crucial funding that has been on offer since the launch of the programme in 2020.

“Applying is not that difficult to do,” he added.

“If any other clubs are interested, please have a look at it and try and get your share of what the Trident Community Foundation is offering.”

Find volunteering opportunities near you at https://pitchingin volunteers.co.uk/