WITH only three games to go before the end of the season, a star-studded line-up of signed football memorabilia is being raffled to raise funds for Darlington Football Club.
Officials say they hope the money will help the Quakers beyond the end of the season as the club faces a substantial drop in revenue with no paying fans.
It was hoped that a charity game, scheduled for tomorrow, would help create extra funds for the club.
But after selling only 70 tickets, Quakers' boss David Hodgson was reluctantly forced to cancel the game.
Now, it is hoped that money raised by the raffle will help towards general running costs in the crucial months ahead.
Originally, it was planned that the items would go to auction at a sports dinner, but Mr Hodgson intervened with an alternative way of thanking the club's fans for their support this season.
"The whole point in the raffle is that it gives genuine Darlington fans the opportunity to win a prize," said Mr Hodgson.
The money will be used for pitch maintenance and new kit for the players.
The prizes have been obtained in conjunction with GNJ Sports Management Ltd and sports firm Umbro, which have supplied Liverpool and England striker Michael Owen's boots.
Raffle tickets are £5 a strip and are available from the club and outlets including Olympic Street Mini Stores, Farmway, Cummins Engineering and Darlington Borough Council.
The winning tickets will be drawn during half-time of Quakers' final home game of the season against Swansea on May 8.
* A beer named after club defender Craig Liddle has gone on sale at Binns, in Darlington. For every bottle sold of Liddle's Best, a four per cent strength brew, 15p will be donated to Darlington Supporters' Trust's crisis fund.
Prizes money cannot buy
The raffle prizes include:
* Signed and framed shirts from January's charity match, from Paul Gascoigne, Bryan Robson, Chris Waddle, Kenny Dalglish, Paul Dalglish and David Fairclough
* Signed David Beckham Real Madrid shirt
* Signed Thierry Henry Arsenal Champions' League shirt
* Signed Ruud van Nistelrooy Manchester United shirt
* Signed Michael Owen boots
* New England away shirt signed by squad
* Signed David James gloves
Read more about the Quakers here.
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