Bognor: Reaching £30k is wonderful - so let's go for £50k

The manager and coach have been blown away by the love shown for the club as they raise cash towards a major summer revamp of Nyewood Lane.

Now they are hoping the crowdfunding drive may bring in an extra £20,000 at a time when they have suffered a major loss of income following the axing of the final six weeks of the 2019-20 season in the coronavirus lockdown.

The Rocks launched the bid for £30k on Monday of last week - and reached it seven days later, having given themselves two months.

‘Rewards’ fans have bought include the chance to have names woven into next season’s home shirts and ten-year season tickets - 15 of which have been snapped up for £1,250 a time.

Still up for grabs are ground-naming rights and sponsorship of stands.

Pearce said: “It’s been delightful to see the response. We thank everyone who has got involved.

“It would be nice now if we could go to secure more pledges. Overall we are spending in the region of £300,000 and although we are getting major funding from the Football Foundation, the rest has to come from the club and from this fundraising.”

Blake said: “Absolutely blown away with the support and love for the club. Everybody should be very proud of what’s been achieved.

“Can’t wait to get going again and see all the supporters back at the lane enjoying and cheering the boys on.”

The club are starting work on a new 367-seat grandstand, a new terrace cover at the Seasons end of the ground, plus new floodlights, toilets and a sound system.

Meanwhile, talks between the Rocks and Eastleigh over the National League club’s bid for striker Dan Smith continue. The clubs have yet to agree on the compensation fee the Spitfires would have to pay Bognor for their leading scorer.

A deal is expected to be completed within the next couple of weeks.