Gary Neville makes grand gesture to non-league Yorkshire football club

The Sky Sports pundit and part-owner of Salford City has donated following the cancellation of all football divisions below the National League due to the coronavirus pandemic, with a host of grassroots outfits struggling to make ends meet in unprecedented times.

The Northern Premier League side revealed that Neville’s undisclosed donation will go towards replacing their lost matchday income after launching a JustGiving fundraising web page.

Brighouse played their last home match of the season on February 22

When asked about his motivation behind the donation, Neville said he wanted to help the club as it was the last game he watched Salford City play with his late father in a match that was staged in January 2015.

The 45-year-old said: “Brighouse Town holds a special place in my heart, even though the result did not go in our favour with Salford City suffering a 3-1 defeat on the day.”

On the gesture from Neville, Brighouse chairman James Howard said: “We all at Brighouse Town FC are incredibly humbled and overwhelmed by the donation made by Gary Neville and others.

“This type of generosity clearly demonstrates that the football community is not just a business but a family and more importantly an integral part of our community right here in Brighouse.

“We have been contacted by other famous names and sports stars who want to share our story as this clearly has touched all from the professional game right down to grass roots”.

Also hailing the gesture, manager Vill Powell added: “It’s an unexpected but brilliant gesture and I can’t thank him enough. Everyone is aware of the impact this has had globally, and football is no different.

“For all football clubs it’s difficult times but for small clubs like Brighouse Town the impact of Covid-19 has been devastating as the income we receive fails to exist, so Gary (Neville’s) generosity and that of others in football 
and the local community is essential.”

The club have also received a donation to pay for new poles and netting damaged in a winter storm earlier this year.

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