A RUGBY club is appealing for financial support from the community to keep the club afloat.

Sedgley Park Rugby Union Club in Whitefield have set a target of £10,000 for a ‘fighting fund’ appeal.and are already a quarter of the way to the target after just four days.

The club say they have run out of financial options from grants and need the boost due to a lack of income over the last seven months.

The club have estimated lost turnover of around £150,000 to £180,000 with a profit of around £50,000 during the lockdown.

They added that club have mitigated the losses by obtaining government support, grants and furloughing staff, but that the pandemic had really hit them hard.

A club statement , said: “It was only the fact that we were in a strong position financially before the lockdown, that we are coming out of it in relatively strong health.

“However, as this crisis continues to hit, we are finding it more and more difficult to keep the club running.”

Tigers fan and fundraiser Dina Rickman, said: “Our beloved rugby club is struggling financially to make ends meet due to lockdown and restriction measures that have been necessary to combat Covid-19.

“All other grants and fund raising measures have been exhausted.

“We are appealing to our Sedgley Park family, friends, members and our

local community to come together to help us get through this.

“Our aim is to raise £10,000 and we are confident that if we pull together as one club and one community we will achieve our goal

Dina said that broken down the target was 100 people giving £100, 200 giving £50 or 500 people giving £20.

Dina, added: “Please join your fellow rugby club members and all we ask is you give what you can.”

After four days the appeal had raised £2,415.

To view the GoFundMe, please visit: https://uk.gf.me/v/c/tb79/sedgley-park-rufc-emergency-fund.