£10M emergency support package from The National Lottery gives lifeline to National League clubs while fans are unable to attend
Sutton United would like to thank National Lottery players for their support during these challenging times. We're grateful to benefit from a share of the £10million of funding that has been announced for 66 National League clubs as part of a unique partnership between the National League and The National Lottery which will ensure that this season can continue.
Club chairman Bruce Elliott said: ''At such a time of uncertainty for football clubs at our level, this funding is so important for clubs such as ours. We run over 30 teams, from our junior teams, our girls' and women's teams, the disability teams which have proved such a success and the walking football teams through to our first team at National League level, and it enables us to continue to support them. It's also crucial in order to continue the support of our 'community outreach programme' at a club which is so important to so many people in the local community, and which employs nearly 50 people. Protecting this, and the work of the other National League clubs, is essential for communities across the country. I can't thank National Lottery players enough for this lifeline.”
The partnership with The National Lottery will benefit all clubs in the fifth and six tiers of English football, so that they can continue to play behind closed doors after the return of fans was paused due to rising infection rates. As a thank you, National Lottery players, who make a difference every time they buy a ticket, will also get a range of benefits – including free tickets once stadia are safe to reopen, grassroots football opportunities and VIP experiences at Wembley Stadium.
Nigel Railton, Chief Executive of National Lottery operator Camelot, said: “The National Lottery and its players have been making a huge difference to communities across the country for the past 26 years, so we're delighted to be working with the National League to protect these all-important clubs and help them continue the vital work they carry out locally. They do a fantastic job and I can't wait to cheer on my local National League side when fans are allowed to return.”