A FOOTBALL club has been given a helping hand to help it recover from an arson attack at its stadium.

Radcliffe Borough FC was hit by a devastating fire earlier this month, in which the press box and PA system was destroyed.

Fundraisers Paul and Benjamin Fox have this week presented club chairman, Paul Hilton, with a cheque for £700 raised through charity auctions to help with the repairs.

Mr Hilton said: “Paul got in touch with us in the immediate aftermath of the fire.

“At first they wanted to raise £300, which would have been amazing.

“Then last week he told me it had gone up to £500, and by the time they came down with the cheque it was £700.

“I didn’t know what to say, we really couldn’t have imagined that we would get this level of support from the community.

“It’s difficult to find the right words to express how thankful we are.”

Mr Fox, an artist who launched the ‘Paul and Ben’s Auctions for Charity’ Facebook page with his son earlier this year, was keen to help the club as soon as he heard about the disaster.

He said: “I started this charity fundraising last May when the Bury FC supporters’ minibus needed money to keep going.

“We raised £220 with a signed painting, so I thought I would keep going with it.

“We have helped 36 charities this year and have raised just over £11,000.

“When I heard about the fire at Radcliffe Borough, we knew straight away we wanted to help.”

Mr Hilton, who watched his side clinch a dramatic win over Ramsbottom United on Boxing Day, added: “We have had some quotes back on fixing the stand and it will cost in the region of £20,000 to £30,000.

“It is something we will be getting on with in the new year, when everything is open again after Christmas.

“The Ramsbottom match was a great occasion. It was a real derby, the atmosphere was fantastic and we had a massive turnout.”