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SWINTON LIONS PRIDE BUILDER LAUNCHED

26 April 2018

Introducing – Swinton Lions Pride Builder

The fans’ led independent squad building fund.

 

Following Swinton Lions’ re-launch last year under new Chairman Andy Mazey, great strides have been made to secure the future sustainability of our historic club. In just six short months since it was on the brink of folding, the club has recruited well both on and off the pitch, improved links with its local area including schools and amateur clubs, developed closer ties with its host Sale RUFC and local rivals Salford Reds, and set up a Foundation and RFL Category 3 Academy. Loyal Swinton fans have readily bought into Andy’s ‘New Era’ vision for taking the club forward, through record season ticket sales and by supporting the many fund raising and publicity initiatives led by the club itself and the thriving Swinton Lions Supporters’ Trust.

 

However, the off-field optimism and vibrancy has not yet been matched by success on the field and being aware that the club has the lowest spend in the Championship, Swinton fans have been discussing how they can further help the club improve the strength of its playing squad.

 

The solution they have come up with is a squad-builder fund that will be run along similar lines to Batley Bulldogs’ successful BISSA scheme. The aim of the fund is to provide a new income stream that is totally independent of (but complementary to) the existing efforts of both the club and the Supporters’ Trust. It will be run by fans and the income raised will ONLY be released to the club to help it sign players.

 

The fund has been named the “Swinton Lions Pride Builder” and the first generous donations were collected at the recent home game versus Sheffield. A dedicated bank account has now been opened and fans, wherever they live, can contribute however much they like by setting up a monthly Standing Order or electronic bank transfer.   Ad hoc cash donations and fund raising events will also be welcome.

 

This new initiative has been widely welcomed by those associated with the club. Fans both locally and from around the world have already pledged to donate.

 

Swinton legend Bob Fleet, (who with Ken Gowers, John Speed, Alan Buckley and John Stopford formed one of the most feared back lines ever seen at club level in the 1960s) said, “The tenacity of the Lions’ fans is truly inspirational……count me in”

 

Stephen Parker of the Supporters’ Trust said, “The Club, the Trust, the Foundation, the Academy and now Pride Builder are all parts of the wheel that is Swinton Lions. We all rely on each other to keep on turning.”

 

Former Lions’ Secretary Steve Moyse said. “Heritage and Future, there is no finer incentive than that. My family connections with the Lions go back to 1883 so I just hope it’s not backdated! I’m in.”

 

Chairman Andy Mazey said, “The Pride Builder Fund is an outstanding and encouraging development. We are generally in a stable position, so supporters’ generous donations can now contribute directly to new players and improving the squad rather than paying historic debt. I would like to offer a big thank you to those who have stepped up to manage the whole process, and to those who are contributing generously to the fund.”

 

Standing Order forms will be available in the Steve Smith (downstairs) Bar at home games.

They are also available by emailing [email protected]

Those with access to electronic banking can donate to:-

Swinton Lions Pride Builder

Sort Code: 30-92-92

Account No: 37544168

LIONS STRENGTH ~ LIONS FUTURE

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