A 95-YEAR-old sports club is appealing for one final push for donations to secure its future.

Hawcoat Park Community Sports Club needs less than £5,000 to reach its £30,000 target to survive.

The fundraising appeal comes after the club, in Hawcoat Lane, faces 'severe financial difficulty' due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The community sports club was able to reach its initial target of £10,000 to secure a matched £10,000 grant from Sport England. The club fundraising now stands at £25,201 and is still appealing for the remaining £4,799 to secure further funding.

Paul Burns, chairman of the 95-year-old club, said: “I think most people within the area at some point have had contact or have some memory of our sports club - even if it's going to a dance and meeting their next wife. It’s sports orientated but it’s more than that.

"We shut on March 23 for the first lockdown. All of our revenue comes from memberships and anything we can take over the bar and hiring out the hall. So once we closed down that ceased. We’ve worked out that more than 50 per cent of our revenue has been lost since March and on Thursday we’ll be closing down again.

"I don’t think I’m overly surprised that the community is coming to help because I think they recognise the need for the club. We have some of the best sporting facilities in the north west.

“Covid-19 has created an uncertain future for grass roots sports clubs, who are finding it very challenging to survive. It is no exaggeration to say it would be a disaster if these facilities were lost to the whole community.”

Simon Fell, MP for Barrow and Furness, is also rallying for the public to raise cash for the struggling sports club.

Mr Fell said: "Hawcoat Park Community Sports Club play a huge part in our community.

"It is the venue for the finishing line of the annual K2B walk, is home to many different sports sections, and it is a great venue to host private events and functions in our town."

To donate, visit: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/hawcoat-park-sports-club.