Saurus Press

Football club aims to raise the roof for cash!

Oct 3 2007 by Jackie Bow, South Wales Echo

A VALLEYS football club is selling its roof on an internet auction site to raise cash for the club.

Merthyr Tydfil FC has put the unusual lot up on eBay in a bid to raise funds for the club and help it realise its promotion dream.

The club is selling advertising space on 2,000 sections on the roof of the main terrace stand at the Penydarren Park ground for £500 a throw.

But the very first space is being auctioned off on eBay to the highest bidder.

Nine bids have already been lodged with a top offer of £160 so far – and with days to spare. The eBay auction may be a PR gimmick to bring a smile to fans’ faces but for the club affectionately nicknamed The Martyrs, the fundraising drive is deadly serious.

A new website www.millionpoundroof.com has been launched and companies signing up for roof space will also be given online advertising and have logos displayed on the roof.

The Martyrs play in the British Gas Southern Premier Division but the club has loftier ambitions, telling potential sponsors it is “only three successful seasons away from being a Football League club and this is a realistic ambition”.

Michael Fogg, director of Saurus PR, which is running the campaign for the club, said: “This campaign will capture the public’s imagination and provide some much- needed financial investment to a club with enormous potential. £1m will provide long-term financial security for the club.”

He said a number of recognised brands were keen to be associated with the site and the club, and potentially valuable affiliate deals have been agreed with organisations including the AA, Nationwide, USwitch.com and Zurich Insurance.

Merthyr-born club director and celebrity entertainer Owen Money, was delighted with the campaign launch.

“The company has a lot of great ideas and if it all comes off we are talking about £350,000 a year in revenue, which would take us up to the Conference,” he said.

“At the moment because of lack of interest, mainly from businesses in the area, we are finding it very difficult.

“Most of my sponsorship is coming from friends who might never have been to Penydarren Park. We could do with a little bit of help.

“There’s one player we want but can’t sign because we can’t afford the wages.”

The director said he was prepared to offer his talent free to potential company sponsors in return for support for his team. “I haven’t got a pot of money that I can dip into for the club but I have got a talent that I can give to people,” he added.