Football fans rally to help club pay £5,000 tax bill
WELSH non-league outfit Merthyr Town’s clarion call for donations to pay an outstanding tax bill has been met by generous supporters in less than 24 hours.
The fan-owned club has an outstanding bill of £5,000 which needs paying as it battles to avoid liquidation.
The Martyrs lost 80% of their players in a week dogged by financial turmoil and a mass boardroom walkout.
But they managed to field a team on Saturday, the majority of who were teenagers – including a 15-year-old goalkeeper – for the Evo-Stick Southern Premier League match against Chesham Town, which they lost 13-1.
The club launched a crowdfunding page on Saturday night with a target of £5,000, which was met by yesterday afternoon, to settle the unpaid bill and restore some stability.
The young players who turned out against Chesham were widely praised for their commitment and performance, with goalkeeper Ed Hewitson awarded man of the match. But for the club to get back on its feet, it said it desperately needs the support of football fans.
A statement on the JustGiving page said: “We’re raising £5,000 to save our community club Merthyr Town FC. There is an outstanding tax bill to be settled as soon as possible. Help us get back on track!
“Merthyr Town FC is now fanowned and our Penydarren Park stadium is a hub for community football teams including junior, youth and ladies teams. However being fan-owned means that finances can sometimes be tight and mistakes can be made.
“The club is committed to continue its award-winning community work, we were Uefa Grassroots Club of the Year in 2016. Sadly we need help right now to ensure that we can continue that journey. We are ready to make a difference but we need your help.”
Visit www.justgiving.com/ crowdfunding/mtfc-2017appeal