Setback for Northampton community FC after learning insurance will not cover Christmas flood devastation

A Northampton football club that was gutted in the Christmas floods last month has thanked supporters for all their help - but say still have a long way to go.

Spencer Community Trust FC are still picking up the pieces over a week after their clubhouse was devastated by flooding during the torrential rainstorm on December 23.

The pitch was totally submerged under more than four foot of water on Christmas Eve after the River Nene - which runs through nearby Kingsthorpe Meadows - burst its bank under the stress.

Now, after stripping out nearly all of water damaged furniture, the club is appealing for help from tradespeople and organisations to get them back on their feet in time for the summer.

Donate to the Save Spencer Community Trust Football Club fundraiser here.Chairman Ajad Miah said: "With the Covid-19 situation more than ever we still need that momentum to raise money and make repairs.

"We don't want to let the football club die."

Since the devastation last week, the team has raised over £1,400 through an online SOS appeal in just seven days. But they are still short of their £8,000 target to complete their repairs.

But in another round of setbacks, the club has learned that the damage will not be covered by their insurance - meaning they are faced with getting their grounds back on its feet on their own.

Meanwhile, another £6,000 will have to be found to replace the Spencer team's groundskeeper's equipment, which was damaged beyond repair.

Ajad said: "We're still optimistic. The clean out has gone really well and a few volunteers have really helped us out this past week. We can't say thank you enough for all the donations so far as well.

"We're reaching out to organisations as well asking for help from tradespeople and appealing to the Northampton FA.

"With Covid and the damage to our function room we cannot fundraise and there's no money coming in.

"We've been here since 1936. We're hope we will come through this and survive, but we need a lot of help."

It comes after the latest national lockdown has also put a ban on outdoor sports teams, which means Spencer Community Trust cannot hold its youth football programme either.

The team's clubhouse not only houses its youth football teams but is a hub for the community by feeding the homeless, holding events and raising money for charities.

For more information, visit the Save Spencer Community Trust Football Club fundraiser.