Fundraising fans exceed all expectations

FC United of Manchester’s fans have smashed through the ambitious £46,000 fundraising target they set themselves to finance community facilities at their new home in the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League next season.

FCUM officials announced on Monday that more than £50,000 had been pledged since the Premier Division club joined forces with the public fundraising platform Crowdfunder.co.uk to help kit out the club’s new Broadhurst Park home in Moston, pictured.

Before playing their last game at Bury’s Gigg Lane in April, supporters were set a target of raising £26,000 in just eight weeks. After teaming up with the increasingly popular online funding source, the ‘Kit-It-Out’ campaign sailed past the initial target with a month to go and another £20,000 was sought for facilities which include a function room and commercial kitchen.

Pledges were still coming until minutes before Monday's 5.30pm deadline for the campaign to close, bringing the total raised up to a staggering £51,395. The club's delighted officials say the surplus funds will now go towards FCUM's development fund targets.

FC United General Manager Andy Walsh said: "Our supporters have shown what can be achieved when fans own their own club. Donations have come from all over the world. Fans across the game have backed the call for supporters to have a voice at every club.

"Our Community Share scheme is now closing in on £2M. There is still a lot to be done, but the funds raised by ordinary fans demonstrate the power we all have to change football."

Crowdfunder has already launched over 2000 projects and raised over £1.5m for community initiatives, clubs, societies, businesses, social enterprises, start-ups, schools and students.

Phil Geraghty, Managing Director of Crowdfunder, said: “It has been an exciting time watching the FC United campaign launch and become so successful. This project is one of our most brilliant examples of how communities can come together to change the future for something they believe in.

"Crowdfunder has enabled this fantastic group of people to achieve something incredible. It's not just about the startling amount they fundraised - it's about the legacy for the community and the proof for grass-roots communities across the UK that together - they can change the world.

"This is a loud bold statement that Crowdfunder is giving opportunities for people everywhere to come together and bring about sustainable change via the crowd."