Black and Gold Foundation kick-starts supporters’ club’s £10,000 appeal with first donation
Annan Athletic fans have launched a £10,000 fundraising drive to buy a digital scoreboard for Galabank.
Members of Annan Athletic FC Supporters’ Club (AAFCSC) are spearheading the campaign, which they hope will enhance matchday experiences and sponsorship opportunities.
And their efforts have been given an early boost with the Black and Gold Foundation providing a £1,000 kickstarter pledge which will see it become the board’s first main sponsor.
The supporters’ club, which has also pledged £500 for the launch, is encouraging donations via a GoFundMe page, as well as by bank transfer.
Representatives of the wide Annan Athletic family – from the club’s chairman to those representing ladies, community and walking football – showed their support as the fundraiser got underway.
Supporters’ club chairman Ross Johnstone said: “As a supporters’ club, we’ve contributed significantly financially to the first team over the past two seasons, but we also want to give something back to the fans – watching any game at Galabank – by improving the matchday experience. That’s why we’re going for the scoreboard.
“We think it will be a great asset for the whole club, as well as helping to raise revenue through the enhanced sponsorship opportunities that it could offer.
“Our fans are brilliant at getting behind initiatives like this and we really hope that they will rally once again to get this one over the line.”
It is hoped that the four-metre wide board will be installed as soon as possible once the fundraising target is met. Potential locations for it include between the dugouts.
Every team wearing an Annan Athletic badge – from community football to the ladies, walking football and disability sides through to Wullie Gibson’s first team SPFL squad – will be able to utilise the scoreboard.
The Black and Gold Foundation is Annan Athletic’s affiliated charity arm, with community and ladies sides operating under that umbrella.
Gary Cother, the Black and Golds’ chair, said: “We’re delighted to help kickstart the scoreboard fundraiser. This will be an asset which the whole club community will benefit from, with the great support we enjoy at games of every level. It’s a fantastic idea.”
The supporters’ club also recently bought a defibrillator for Galabank, as well as continuing its sponsorship of the ground’s covered terracing.
Annan Athletic chairman Russell Brown said: “This is another much-appreciated initiative by our supporters’ club – and it’s brilliant to see the whole club community getting behind it.
“We never take for granted the way in which the community rallies behind the club. We’re always striving to enhance the matchday experience at Galabank and a digital scoreboard is another way in which we can do that. It would be a really welcome improvement.”
To make a donation to the Annan Athletic FC Supporters’ Club scoreboard fundraiser, go to www.gofundme.com/f/galabank-stadium-digital-scoreboard. For details about paying by cheque or bank transfer, please email [email protected].
- The countdown to the new season kicks into full swing as players return for pre-season training at Galabank on Thursday evening. The fixture list for the club’s SPFL League Two campaign will be released on Friday.
