A FUNDRAISING appeal has been launched to support a local junior football team’s trip to Holland, with a car wash taking place tomorrow.

Fifteen players from Sandy Lane Football Club’s Under-14 age group will travel to Prinsenmeer, near Eindhoven, next month to represent the UK in the Aviko Cup Tournament where they’ll play against teams from across Europe.

They will be the only UK team to take part in the tournament.

Now managers from the club are appealing to businesses and members of the local community to dig deep and make donations to help fund parts of the trip.

Under 14’s manager Mahdiyar Nejadhamzeeigilani said: “The difficult thing about grassroots football is that whilst there are a lot of youngsters wanting to take part, and it’s an excellent opportunity for both physical and personal development, we simply don’t have the finances available that academies or larger clubs can rely on.

“A great deal of hard work goes on behind the scenes, on a voluntary basis, to ensure the club’s survival and give the youngsters the opportunity to play competitive football and develop.

“We’d be absolutely delighted if any local companies could find it in their heart to support this exciting trip to Holland. This could be by way of financial donations which we can use to purchase equipment and supplies, or by them making donations of food such as bread, cereal, snacks and drinks for the players.”

A number of fundraising events have been planned, with the first being a charity car wash at Fairweather Green fire station tomorrow. The event runs from 9.30am to 2.30pm Funds from the event will be divided between the Firefighters Charity and the Holland tour.

On Saturday and Sunday, May 14 and 15, Sandy Lane JFC Under 14’s players will be bag packing at Morrisons Girlington store on Thornton Road.

Anyone willing to donate to the Holland trip, can contact Mahdiyar NH Gilani on 07545 581 767.