Diamonds receive a financial boost after a campaign started in Spain

AFC Rushden & Diamonds have received a financial boost thanks to a fundraising campaign launched by a fan who has never seen them play!
AFC Rushden & Diamonds have received a financial boostAFC Rushden & Diamonds have received a financial boost
AFC Rushden & Diamonds have received a financial boost

Mike Paul, who lives in Spain, had got to know Rushden & Diamonds thanks to playing as them in the Championship Manager computer game and then played as the reformed club in the 2012 version of the game Football Manager.

He played the game along with an online community and contacted chairman Ralph Burditt to inform him of what he was doing.

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At the same time, Diamonds have been trying to raise funds to cover their costs during the Covid-19 outbreak while also trying to find a new main sponsor after Auto Windscreens were forced to pull out.

Mike Paul started the fundraising effort from his home in SpainMike Paul started the fundraising effort from his home in Spain
Mike Paul started the fundraising effort from his home in Spain

It all resulted in Paul launching a GoFundMe campaign, which has been supported by his online community ‘the Diamond Geezers’ and with over £1,700 now raised it has allowed him to become a shirt sleeve sponsor, which he has in turn dedicated to The Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM).

In his fundraising story, Paul wrote: “I didn’t feel like I could continue having a great old laugh managing AFC Rushden & Diamonds on the internet while the real-life club was struggling.

“So, I spoke to my viewers and readers about it, and it was suggested that we start a GoFundMe to try to replace the lost shirt sponsorship for the 2020-21 season.

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“Ralph then suggested to me that my original total of almost £20k might be a little ambitious - can’t blame a guy for trying - so we agreed that I’d instead try to rouse people to cover the £1,200 the club needed for shirt sleeve sponsorship.

“I also decided, after chatting with Ralph, to donate the sleeve sponsorship position on the kits to CALM in the event that we reached our target amount.

“I’m delighted to be able to say that, thanks to some incredibly generous individuals, we reached our £1,200 goal in just nine days.

“It was a phenomenal gesture from the football community, and as a result, the CALM logo will be proudly displayed on the sleeve of AFCRD next season, plus the two season tickets that also come as part of the sponsorship package will be donated to the local community.”

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Burditt said: “I am incredibly grateful for Mike’s support of the club during this time of need and to all those who donated to his campaign.

“I also really like what Mike is doing with his Twitch streaming, which is so much more than it seems on the surface thanks to the story and characters which he has built on top of Football Manager.

“There is also an online community around the stream which is something that can be very important to people during times like these.

“When speaking to Mike, I was pleased to find that just like AFC Rushden & Diamonds he is also a supporter of CALM and hence the whole thing came together naturally.”

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Anyone who would like to donate further can do so by visiting https://www.gofundme.com/f/afc-rushden-amp-diamonds-shirt-sponsorship-202021For more information about The Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) visit the website www.thecalmzone.net

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