FURIOUS fundraisers from Winsford's Over Football Club have branded town centre businesses a bunch of Scrooges.

The club's committee members say they are sickened by the miserable amount of support they receive from shops and stores in Winsford.

And they feel it's high time that more businesses gave their backing to community ventures such as theirs.

The club's outburst came after committee members made a tour of Winsford Shopping Centre on Monday, requesting donations of Easter eggs for a bingo fundraiser at St Chad's Parish Hall on March 29.

After visiting all the shops and stores in the centre, Over's fundraising secretary Jackie Holtom and general manager Cheryl Fitzsimmons were disgusted to receive just two offers of support.

Cheryl said: "The work done by the club is very important. We take kids off the streets and give them hopes and dreams, and some go on to play for big clubs.

"But when we go to businesses in the town and ask them for support, they mostly just laugh at us.

"The club carries the banner for Winsford, and our under-13s have just won the County Cup. But after so much hard work being put in, all we seem to get in return is a kick in the teeth."

Jackie added: "There are more than 200 lads and 25 girls at the club, and half the families in Winsford have a connection with us.

"The town centre shops expect all those parents to shop there, but when it comes to supporting the club they don't want to know."

Jackie said she was angered by the response from certain shops, who said that they only give to "proper charities."

She said: "Some charities are Government funded and get tax relief, but we rely totally on grass roots support to keep us going.

"It costs upwards of £11,000 a year to run the club, and yet when we ask shops to donate a £1.99 Easter egg we get turned down."

Cheryl said that after after nine years of providing fun and facilities for local children, the club deserved more respect.

She said: "These businesses are always the first to moan about local kids, but they won't support a club which is doing something positive for the kids and the community.

"It feels like we are banging our heads against a brick wall."

Winsford's town centre manager Tracey Bateman said she was unaware that the football club had been asking for donations.

She said: "I can't really comment because we knew nothing about this. Over should have informed us that they would be contacting our tenants.

"I haven't spoken to any of the tenants about this, but I do know that we have helped Over with promotions in the past."

Anyone wishing to make a donation to the Over club's fundraising night should contact Jackie Holtom on 01606 861239.

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