By Martin Walker
Ross Turnbull is urging the people of Newton Aycliffe to rally behind the town’s football club this summer.
The former Middlesbrough goalkeeper, originally from Aycliffe who joined Chelsea three years ago, says if everyone does their bit, his hometown club can build on the “great things” they’ve achieved in recent years.
Turnbull returned to his roots last week, complete with his Champions League medal after Chelsea’s dramatic European Cup Final win against Bayern Munich, to launch Newton Aycliffe FC’s ‘Give Us A Quid!’ campaign.
With a population of around 28,000, the club are hoping the summer fundraising stunt will drum up funds to enable them to make a number of new signings before the start of the 2012-13 season in August.
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Aycliffe finished ninth in the Northern League first division last season in only their first top-flight campaign, after winning the second division title last summer – they’ve climbed three divisions in the last five years.
Turnbull said: “Give Us A Quid! is a great idea, it gives everyone a chance to get on board and send in a pound – fans, people that can’t attend games – because the club could be even bigger than it is, and it’s great to have a club the town can be proud of.
“It’s a great football club that has achieved great things in the last few years.
“The club want to grow and to push on. The people behind the scenes have worked so hard, but hard work only gets you so far.
“They had a fantastic year last season, but a lot of it is down to finance. If you look at any league, the clubs at the top are generally those that spend the most money.”
There are three easy ways to donate to Give Us A Quid!
• PayPal: Go to paypal.com, click on send payment, and send payment to [email protected]
• Bank Transfer: Email Newton Aycliffe FC Treasurer Paul McGeary for bank details to make a transfer, [email protected]
• Send a cheque, made payable to “Newton Aycliffe FC”, to Paul McGeary, Treasurer, Newton Aycliffe FC, Aycliffe Sports Club, Moore Lane, Newton Aycliffe, Co Durham, DL5 5AG.
• More details, if required, can be found at the club’s website, www.newtonaycliffefc.co.uk
