Funding support for Colony Park FC from Dons following vandalism incident
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Colony Park FC have received a funding boost as part of an initiative by Aberdeen FC to help them repair their facilities after they were vandalised.
At the start of April, the club’s home at Harlaw Road in Inverurie suffered thousands of pounds worth of damage at the hands of vandals.
Well known to most grassroots football enthusiasts in the north-east, the club have around 500 players across 18 teams from the age of six to 19 making them one of the largest in the region.
They took part in Aberdeen's Dons Day Out initiative which allows organisations to fundraise through football. They can attend a match at Pittodrie and generate money for their amateur sports team, community group, school or youth club.
The groups receieve money back on their tickets and the funds raised can be reinvested back into their organisations.
Colony Park were presented with £1,527.60, which included an additional donation from Aberdeen FC, and this money will be used to get the facilities at Harlaw Road back to their best.
Colony Park’s club secretary, Craig Sim, who co-ordinated the fundraising effort said: “We were delighted to take part in the Dons Day Out at Pittodrie this past Saturday, with around 170 of our players, parents and coaches pleased to cheer on a win for Aberdeen.
“Following recent damage to the pitch and pavilion at Colony Park Inverurie, a ground which we share with Colony Park Juniors, the funds raised by us taking part in Dons Day Out will allow us to contribute towards the costs associated with repairing the damage.
“Colony Park Juniors, have taken the lead on both the fundraising and undertaking repair work, including some preventative measures.”
Colony Park Juniors have launched an online fundraising page and it can be found at www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/colonypark
Aberdeen FC’s commercial director Rob Wicks said: “This is a great example of how our Dons Day Out initiative can bring people together for a day out at the football but also raise funds for important causes in the community like this one.
“Credit must go to Ryan Finnie in our ticketing team for reaching out to Colony Park and suggesting a Dons Day Out to aid with efforts to get the club back on track.
“It says a lot about the strength of community spirit in Inverurie, and also the feeling towards Colony Park, that so many supporters assembled at short notice to attend the match with Dundee and raise funds for their local grassroots club.”
In the Dons Day Out initiative groups buy a minimum of 10 tickets for any cinch Premiership matches at Pittodrie.
Aberdeen FC will then give the organisation 50 per cent of the total value of the group ticket purchase amount as money back
For more information email ticketoffice@afc.co.uk or call 01224 63 1903.
