CARTMEL AFC are raising funds to improve their facilities and help the club survive the coronavirus crisis.

Fund raising activities such as football cards and the 100 club draw have already taken place with some of the proceeds raised going towards supporting local charities and key workers, as well as St Mary's Hospice in Ulverston.

The club has three senior teams who play in the North Lancashire League while over 60 players are currently signed to the club who also have a close affiliation to Grange Junior Football Club.

And the close affiliation has seen many of the Grange youngsters playing for Cartmel's senior teams in a partnership which has worked well for both parties.

However as well as playing in the League, Cartmel have also participated in various cup competitions across Westmorland, Furness and Lancashire, as the club aim to build and improve in a different league once the 2020-21 season gets under way

“As a committee we have been keen to make some changes and try a new challenge, and around Christmas we decided to put our plans into place ahead of the 2020/21 season," said Andrew Kendall, first-team manager.

“Before the COVID-19 crisis happened, we had already started the improvement works on our pavilion with our close friends and ground partners Cartmel Cricket Club and a lot of effort has gone into building a new referees' changing room, upgrading the showers, training floodlights and refurbishing the clubhouse inside and out.

"Our main fundraising effort every year comes from our members working at Cartmel Races on behalf of the club but with holding a usual race meeting looking ever more challenging this year we aren’t expecting to raise this much-needed and relied on income this year.”

Steve Chambers, club chairman, said: “We are unfortunately the only surviving senior football club in the Grange Area. We provide a much needed interest and hobby for a lot of local players and club members, and we want to provide the best facilities and conditions for these members that we can. As a committee we are now working harder than ever to raise money to keep the club going, with the creation of a monthly 100 club draw and a football card."