Blues ground development plans on hold while cardboard fans could raise critical funds

The club had a number of plans including upgrading the changing rooms to accommodate female match officials.

This is a new rule from the FA that comes into action next season.

The Blues also have plans to refurbish the dressing rooms ahead of next season.

Also on the list of improvements is for the canteen to be relocated with new equipment also installed, while the current area would undergo a refurbishment to turn it into a classroom and meeting facility that can be hired out.

The final key ground improvement is to put a new roof on the J&J Crump Shed to replace the current roof.

In order for the improvements to be fulfilled the club were reliant on an FA grant specifically for such matters and this was approved, however due to the current situation this was no longer possible and the system is now being reviewed.

While not all of these ambitions will be possible this summer the club have teamed up with the ‘Stay at Home - Be at the Game’, a project partly run by Town’s managing director Graeme Hinchliffe.

The project provides fans across the world with a unique opportunity to have their cardboard cutout picture in their club’s ground via the Be at the Game website.

For non-league sides such as Whitby Town, the project is a feel good fundraiser and it also provides financial donations to support the club’s fight to remain afloat during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Each cardboard fan at the Towbar Express Stadium will raise money for the club. The idea has already been used by some clubs in Germany after the Bundesliga restarted behind closes doors.

Anyone who supports the project will be able to keep their cardboard fan once the club can allow supporters back into the stadium and they will be displayed until then.

It costs £25 to have your cutout made and Whitby Town receive £7, with a payment also going to the NHS.

If the club can fill their 500 capacity main stand at the Towbar Express Stadium, they will receive more than £5,000 and this would be used to begin on some ground developments.

To get involved with the project head over to www.beatthegame.org and follow the on-screen instructions.