Friends with benefits as club receives over £27.5k this year

Speaking at the club’s AGM last week Colin said it was challenging times for local football clubs as they continue to try and find new revenue streams. But he praised the Friends who have once again risen to the challenge.

Friends Treasurer George Dougherty revealed they had donated £27,500 to the football club in this past season thanks tothe contributions of its 128 members.

The club chairman was delighted to hear the news and paid tribute to the contributors.

“I’d like to thank the Friends of Coleraine for everything they do for the club, it is very much appreciated,” he said.

“We are all working for one sole purpose and that is to put a successful team out on the pitch.

“As we all know the current financial climate is very challenging. Corporate sponsorship is getting harder and harder to find.

“We are working very hard behind the scenes to try and bring in new sponsorship as well as continuing to develop our Social Club, which has been another great source of income for us this past season.

“On the playing side of things we maybe plateaued last season, but the success Cliftonville had shows what is achievable.

“And I know with the support of the Friends, our other Supporters Clubs and fans will continue to work hard in a bid to try and help us experience the ‘Hollywood’ year they experienced.

“We will always stick to our budget and the manager works hard to put a competitive team out on the pitch within our budgetary contraints.

“Some players have left and a few have come in, but we have faith in the manager to put a competitive side out on the pitch as he has always done.

“That is the ultimate goal here at the club, the current financial climate makes things harder, but I know we will all work hard to achieve that goal.”

The Friends of Coleraine committee said it acknowledges the hard work and dedication of the current Board of Directors despite the challenging financial climate and recognises efforts to progress Coleraine FC both on and off the pitch. To this end the Board of Directors was re-elected unopposed at the meeting.