Who brought all the pies? Spalding United to host foodbank collection during home game with Rugby Town

Who brought all the pies? A football club will be holding a collection for a local foodbank at its next home game.

Spalding United is encouraging its fans, staff and members of the public to bring a donation along to their home clash with Rugby Town at the Sir Halley Stewart ground on Saturday (December 9).

The items will then be donated to Spalding’s Agape foodbank, which will distribute the goods to people feeling the pinch during the cost of living crisis.

The collection is the latest in a series of community projects by the club, which has included offering free entry to under 16s and the over 65s, plus free bacon rolls for the elder supporters.

“We try to do things to reach the people in the area. We want to make the club a community hub and help out anyway we can,” explained Tulips general manager Jonathan Barnett.

“Our secretary Gary Kent came up with the idea. We’d done things to help older people and the under 16s and he suggested that we collect for the foodbank.

“What a great idea. People are struggling right now and we wanted to help out.”

Collection bins will be left by the gates at the town-centre stadium between 1pm and 7pm, meaning even passers by can donate.

“Even if people don’t want to watch the football they can drop something off,” Jonathan added.

“We’ll ask the players to contribute as well.”

Saturday’s contest kicks off at 3pm.

The foodbank have supplied United with a list of popular items that supporters may wish to donate, including: tinned meat, UHT milk, jams and spreads, tea and coffee, tinned fruit and veg, pickles, crisps, biscuits, cakes, chocolate, stuffing, hot chocolate and children’s selection boxes.