By Martin Walker
European Cup winner Ross Turnbull is adding his support to a fundraising campaign by his local non-league club.
The Chelsea goalkeeper picked up a Champions League medal last weekend as an unused substitute when the Blues beat Bayern Munich in a dramatic penalty shoot-out on Saturday night.
It caps off a remarkable season for the former Newton Aycliffe youth team player, who earlier this month won an FA Cup medal when Chelsea beat Liverpool at Wembley.
Now Turnbull is getting behind a drive by his hometown club to raise vital funds for the 2012-13 season.
The ex-Boro keeper is urging people – fans, residents and exiled Newtonians – to donate at least £1 as part of Newton Aycliffe FC’s ‘Give Us A Quid!’ campaign.
The County Durham club have set up a specific PayPal account so fans can make easy and secure online payments, while cheques can also be sent in the post.
Aycliffe finished ninth in their first Northern League top-flight campaign last season after winning the second division title in 2011.
Now they’re aiming to improve again this summer by retaining their current squad and adding two or three “quality new signings” to the ranks.
Turnbull, who played for Aycliffe’s youth team before signing professional forms with Boro, swapped Teesside for London in 2009.
The 27-year-old said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for the people of Aycliffe to really get behind their club.
“I keep up-to-date with their progress via the internet and two of my best friends, Sean Tarling and Darren Craddock, both play for them so they keep me in touch, and the club’s progress over the last few years has been phenomenal.
“I know this fundraising campaign will enable them to improve their squad and hopefully give them a platform to push on next season.
“This is an easy way for people to do their bit. I know the club are always looking to progress, and the manager wants to make some quality new signings this summer, but they’ll only be able to achieve that with the support of the town’s people, as well as regular fans to games.
“So we’re asking everyone to donate at least one pound. Obviously, the more they can give, the better, but if everyone can give a little, it will make a big difference.”
CLICK HERE TO SEE BBC RADIO TEES INTERVIEWING TURNBULL IN NEWTON AYCLIFFE TODAY
Aycliffe chairman Gary Farley added: “We have a fantastic support-base, some of the biggest average attendances for our level of football in the country, but this campaign is to enable fans who can’t get to games to do their bit.
“It may be people who live in Aycliffe who don’t particularly want to watch games, or people from the town who now live far away, this is a great chance for everyone to pitch in and help us continue the outstanding progress we’ve made in the last few years.
“Of course, we’re grateful to Ross for his support. We were as proud as anyone to see him win the Champions League on Saturday night and we’re thrilled for him and his family.”
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