A Teesside non-league football club has committed to improving the local area with four pledges.
Redcar Athletic FC, based at Green Lane on the Redcar seafront, has launched a community foundation to tackle key issues across Teesside.
The Ebac Northern League Division One club has highlighted four local problems and proposed solutions for each, including foodbank donations, and a £100’000 entrepreneurship grant.
Redcar Athletic will look to improve the local economy; local environment; health and education; and inspire critical thinking.
Ryan McKnight, the club’s managing director, said the initiative is an important part of how he believes football clubs should operate.
“The playing and winning of games is a necessary activity,” He said.
“But it’s not anything to do with the core of football clubs’ existence.
“For me, a football club exists as a modern day replacement of the church, as the only place you can go to have a relationship with the place that you’re from.
“We’re trying to deliver out a set of core objectives, that I think transcends the usual activity of a football club.
“The primary focus of our club should be to enhance Redcar as a place: to live, work, and have your life in.”
Mr McKnight affirmed the club’s desire to inspire economic success within Redcar, where the area has previously lagged behind.
“Redcar is on the verge of a renaissance economically, if it allows itself to enter that phase,” He said.
“There is a lack of intergenerational ambition in our area.
“The region is about 2’500 businesses short versus the national average, so we are promoting discussion.
“Eventually, we want to promote a fund to incentive entrepreneurship in the region, and I think that is really important work.
“I would love to see our ground as a hub for potential start-ups, and entrepreneurial thinking.”
The initiative was announced at an internal relaunch event earlier this year, and is in the early stages of being actioned this football season.
One of Redcar Athletic’s existing commitments has seen the club collect extensively for the Redcar Area Foodbank, something that Head of Media Dana Malt believes is instrumental to supporting the community.
She said: “It’s very hard to live life, and live it fruitfully.”
“To give back to the community and people who are struggling is ever so important.”
With the cost of living crisis pushing some families to the limit, Redcar Athletic are sure to continue their investment in their local area, heading into the Winter months.
