Pic: North Leigh FC
NORTH LEIGH'S FA Cup dream may have ended with a thrashing at Eastleigh on Saturday but the Southern League South & West minnows were given a welcome reward for their efforts – the entire proceeds from the game.
The National League big spenders were just too strong for their Step 4 visitors and ran out 6-0 winners with striker Ryan Bird netting four.
Towards the end of the game, it was announced that the Spitfires, owned by Stewart Donald, would be donating all of the match proceeds to the Oxfordshire club.
Donald, who lives in Witney, has sponsored his local club through his Bridle insurance company and has a long-standing relationship with North Leigh chairman Peter King.
A crowd of 889 watched the game as Eastleigh made it through to the first round proper of the FA Cup with the win earning them £12,500 which will now go to the side they defeated.
North Leigh commented: “Towards the end of the game it was announced over the loudspeakers that the total receipts from the game would be donated to North Leigh FC by the chairman of Eastleigh FC, Mr Stewart Donald.
“He is a local West Oxfordshire resident with very strong personal and family connections to North Leigh FC and NLFC chairman Peter King stretching back over 20 years.
“This wonderful gesture by Stewart Donald means that total receipts from FA competitions, both FA Cup and FA Trophy, this season will total circa £25k and as the club still remain in the FA Trophy with their next game on Saturday 29 October, there is the possibility of additional revenue still to come.”
