Working Together
Cheltenham Town are working together with the Robins Trust, Gloucestershire Live and Crowdfunder to raise £55,500 to install a new ADI.TV digital scoreboard at the LCI Rail Stadium.
To achieve this we want local businesses, sponsors and supporters to come together through a new Crowdfunder to play a part in something very special for the football club.
Simply put, we don't have the funding to fulfill the project which is important to the club on a number of levels.
We've seen in the past what crowdfunding can do, so we thought we'd try something different and we need everyone’s help.
What is crowdfunding?
Crowdfunding is a simple idea. The Crowdfunder.co.uk website allows hundreds or thousands of people to support great ideas like ours, pledging small amounts of money in return for a reward.
Crowdfunding is a simple idea. The Crowdfunder.co.uk website allows hundreds or thousands of people to support great ideas like ours, pledging small amounts of money in return for a reward.
You can visit our campaign page and if you like what we're trying to do, pick a reward down the right-hand side of the page and pledge your money using the simple process.
It'll only take a couple of minutes, and if we all play our part we'll do something very special.
It’s important to point out that this is not charity and we think we’re offering value for everyone who wants to back this campaign. We want to give as much back as we possibly can.
We want to use crowdfunding to 'pre-sell' digital advertising to local businesses and sponsors, and ask supporters to help play a part in securing a vital revenue source for the playing squad and club.
Our target is ‘all or nothing’ meaning we have to hit it to receive the money. Nothing leaves your bank account unless we reach our target so that means we need to all work together to make it happen.
Why are doing it?
• It's a fitting tribute to our dear friend and director Colin Farmer, who got the ball rolling
• To name the British Heart Foundation as the scoreboard's first 'charity of the year'
• To secure a vital new revenue stream for the club for years to come
• To improve the matchday experience for supporters at the LCI Rail Stadium
• To re-engage with the local business community
The scoreboard at the LCI Rail Stadium was a victim of the horrendous weather conditions in February 2014, and was unable to be repaired.
This is something we have wanted to do since then and our dear friend and club director Colin Farmer was the man to get the ball rolling.
Sadly he was unable to complete the job for the stadium where he made such a mark.
Through Crowdfunder we hope to finally install the scoreboard in the corner of the stand named in Colin's honour and the Hazlewoods Stand.
It would be a fitting tribute to a great man, and we'd like the British Heart Foundation to be our first ever ‘charity of the year’ with all the exposure that comes with it.
The digital scoreboard provides an important revenue stream for the club, which will ultimately be channeled into the playing budget. It’s a vital part of the club’s future growth.
It will also improve the match day experience for fans, who have stuck behind the club through thick and thin.
This is about the town getting behind the club and playing a part in its future.
For all the details about the scoreboard, a full breakdown of the costs and who’s supporting this campaign, watch our pitch video and head over to Crowdfunder.co.uk/scoreboard.
Did you know?
What they say
This is the first time a Football League club has turned to crowdfunding to raise money like this.
Clubs including Bath City (almost £350,000), Grimsby Town, Chester City and FC United of Manchester and have already raised well over £500,000 for facilities and playing budgets through Crowdfunder.
Last season Grimsby Town supporters raised more than £110,000. We may have beaten them four of the last five times on the pitch, but can we get near them off it? Come on you Robins!
What they say
Cheltenham Town Chairman Paul Baker is excited about the four-week campaign, starting today.
“This is more than just a crowdfund. It’s about everyone coming together to do something special for the future of our club.”
Commercial Manager John Finnigan is leading the effort and added, “This will create a vital new revenue stream for us and improve the match day atmosphere at the same time.
“It’s a really exciting project I hope the whole town will get behind.”
Boss Gary Johnson is behind it all the way: “Last season we showed what’s possible by pulling together to become Champions," he said.
“Now we need to do it again!”
Robins Trust Chairman and Fan-elected Director Clive Gowing also voiced his support for the initiative, “The scoreboard will be a great addition to the match day experience and something everyone could look back on and be very proud of,” he said.
Jon Palmer, Sports Editor at Gloucestershire Live and Gloucestershire Echo added his backing for the campaign, “This town and club have achieved some great things when they’e worked together, and this could be another classic example.”
Colin Farmer initiated talks on the scoreboard and worked closely with Kristian Ball at ADI.TV, who hope to supply the scoreboard if we’re successful.
“Colin was a wonderful man and I last met him to talk about the scoreboard in Portugal," he said.
"He had such a passion for the club and that really inspired me to do everything I can to support this Crowdfunder.”