FC United wave goodbye with charity collection

Evo-Stik Northern Premier League FC United of Manchester are hoping their fans will help them wave goodbye to Bury’s Gigg Lane on Bank Holiday Monday by riding to the rescue of a charity supporting the homeless and disadvantaged in the North West.

The Premier Division club are taking on Ashton United in their final game at the Football League ground before moving to their new home next season and are signing off by holding a food collection for Manchester-based charity The Mustard Tree.

FCUM’s officials say the club is stepping in to help for the second year running as demand for emergency food provision has increased greatly over recent months, leaving the Mustard Tree Food Bank Store in need of replenishment to avoid becoming seriously depleted.

FCUM have worked with the charity for a number of years and last year the club’s fans ensured a bumper collection, filling a Mustard Tree van parked at the ground with much-needed emergency provision of food essentials.

Club officials, who say the charity’s van will be parked at Gigg Lane again from lunchtime, say the essentials the charity’s volunteers are looking for include dried goods like cereal, tinned foods, fruit, nuts, eggs, packets, cartons, sugar and other staples like flour, pasta, rice and noodles. Personal items, including soaps, deodorants, toiletries, mouthwash and shaving cream, will also be gratefully received.

FCUM’s Press and Communications Officer Andy Walker urged fans to bring along donations as the club waves to Gigg Lane, their home since the club's foundation by fans.

He said: "For a community club like ours it's a fitting way to mark our final regular fixture at Gigg Lane."

Adrian Nottingham, chief executive of Mustard Tree said: "Last year we were really grateful for the support of FC United and its generous fans when a big Saturday collection gave a vitally needed boost to our food stores with six week’s worth of food added to our food store.

"We find that in hard times the solution to supporting those most in need comes from lots of ordinary people who generously share what they have. We hope that FC United fans can help out again this coming Monday by sharing what they have."