Legend backs drive to smash record

By David Watters

Gianluca Vialli is backing the online crowdfunding campaign to smash fundraising records for Prostate Cancer UK on Non-League Day 2016.

The former Italy and Chelsea striker lent his support this weekend after the EVO-STIK Northern Premier League’s clubs teamed up with their counterparts in the EVO-STIK League Southern, Ryman League and National League on the eve of the new season to reach a £10,000 target set by fan-funding platform Tifosy.

Now 52, the Tifosy ambassador and former Chelsea and Watford manager has been backing the campaign alongside former Non-League and England striker Les Ferdinand.

Vialli said: “It’s great to see so many fans getting involved in this campaign. It shows how many fans there are for Non-League football and people who care about such an important cause as Prostate Cancer UK.”

Launched on Saturday 6 August, the campaign runs until Friday 2 September, the eve of NLD 2016 on Saturday 3 September. With a host of rewards and prizes up for grabs – including official Non-League Day merchandise and the chance to play five-a-side at the Football Association’s national football center at St George’s Park - more than £2000 has already been raised.

Tifosy say the most popular rewards being claimed are Non League Day t-shirts and hoodies in a range of colours for donations of £20 and £30 respectively to the men’s health charity which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this season.

To help the EVO-STIK NPL's 68 clubs get the fundraising message out to their fans, Tifosy are also providing exclusive content over the course of the campaign for their social media feeds on Twitter and Facebook and the pages of their official websites, including text, tweets, images and videos.

The crowd-funding specialists, who are running the first online campaign since NLD was launched back in 2010, say the message is spreading. As well receiving donations from UK fans, contributions have come in from as far afield as the USA, Luxembourg, Germany, Uruguay and even Hong Kong!

For more information and to take part, head to www.tifosy.com/nld16. Alternatively, follow the campaign on Twitter @tifosy and on Facebook at /tifosyofficial.

For more information on Prostate Cancer UK visit: www.prostatecanceruk.org.

Follow us: @evostikleague on Twitter | Facebook www.facebook.com/evostikleague | The NPL Facebook Group www.facebook.com/groups/TheNPL/

Where next?

League statement: Ilkeston FC 22.08.16 Further to previous statements issued by the EVO-STIK Northern Premier League, the competition is yet to receive evidence of payment to creditors by Ilkeston FC.
Saturday's Premier Division action review Ashton United, Marine AFC, newly-promoted Stafford Rangers and Whitby Town are all still unbeaten in the EVO-STIK Northern Premier League's Premier Division following Saturday`s round of matches, writes Pitchero's Steve Whitney.

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