Target hit! Worthing pass £43,000 fundraising target six weeks early

Woodside Road will see major work this summer

The £43,000 raised in donations from fans, staff, past and present players and businesses will be added to £107,000 already in place to pay for major improvements at the Crucial Environmental Stadium which can now go ahead this summer in time for the new season.

The scheme is part of work needed to prepare Woodside Road for Worthing's hoped-for National League status.

After the target was reached, just 15 days after the venture was launched, Worthing said they would keep open the donor page and explained what any extra funds would be used for. They also thanked everyone who had donated.

They had allowed themselves up to eight weeks to pull in the money needed.

The club's message to backers said: "What a result! Congratulations to everyone and a massive thank you to all the fans, volunteers, supporters and friends of the club for giving so generously to this ambitious project! Thank you!

Worthing owner gobsmacked by quick response to crowdfunding drive"We have now met the target of £43,000 required for the new floodlights, toilets, bar and changing rooms. This work will get under way very shortly.

"Given this amazing level of support, which is still coming in, and the Rewards still available, we think it makes sense to keep the programme going until the original end date of July 9. Any additional money raised will be secured in an account established specifically for fundraising for infrastructure projects. None of this money will be used for ongoing operating costs.

"We have a number of projects the club and supporters would like to pursue including providing better accessibility with areas of level access for wheelchairs, easier-to-use steps in the main stand, replacing the grass between the east stand and gym and maybe even looking at a digital scoreboard.

"We can’t state categorically right now which projects will go ahead, in addition to the ones already covered by the £43,000, as we don’t know how much additional funds the club will end up with.

"However, after 9 July we will provide an update on what you have raised and where the club plans to invest the money. So, thank you again. Keep spreading the word and let’s see what we can achieve!"