Sports Desk
LONDON: A multi-million dollar lifeline was announced Sunday by the country’s Culture and Sports Secretary Oliver Dowden to help lower league football clubs in England. The 13 million U.S. dollar lifeline from the National Lottery aims to keep struggling clubs afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS) said the support will benefit the 66 clubs in the fifth and six tiers of English football to continue to play behind closed doors after the return of fans was paused due to rising infection rates.
“The emergency support package, which will reach clubs quickly via the Football Association (FA), is in recognition of the important role National League clubs play in their local areas, being a source of pride to their towns, giving children opportunities to get active, and being at the heart of their communities,” said a spokesperson for DCMS.
Mark Bullingham, CEO of the FA, said: “This financial support is crucial as these clubs are the heartbeat of their communities and it would be a travesty if they were not able to survive.
“The return of fans to stadiums remains a priority for us and we will continue to work to reintroduce spectators safely as soon as possible.” Dowden said: “I know from a brilliant club in my area that National League football clubs are the beating heart of their communities and too precious to lose. This 10 million pound fund will provide a bridge to help clubs survive this immediate crisis whilst we work together on the safe return of fans.”
DCMS said the UK government is now working with the National Lottery to ensure similar initiatives with the Welsh, Scottish and Northern Ireland Football Associations. DCMS added: “Work continues to ensure fans can return to sporting events as soon as the public health picture allows. This includes the Sports Technology Innovation Group (STIG), made up of medical experts, sports authorities, and representatives from the tech sector, which is looking at innovative solutions to enable the return of spectators without the need for a coronavirus vaccine.
