Football club finally paid bill (From Warrington Guardian)

Football club finally paid bill

11:00am Friday 26th October 2012 in News By Matthew Hobbs

A JUNIOR football club has finally been paid by a fundraising company months overdue following a probe by the Warrington Guardian.

Happy Fundraising buys second hand clothes and textiles collected by community groups, sports teams and charities.

It is run by brothers Lee and Chris Dobson, under other company name EU Textiles ltd, who then ship them out to Eastern Europe.

On June 29, 36 bags of clothes were collected from Gemma Robinson, a volunteer who helps run Grange FC in Woolston, a team for children as young as 5.

She was promised around £100 for the 161kg collection but by October had yet to receive any money.

The 28-year-old, of Pasture Lane, Woolston said: “I was shocked when we didn’t get the money but it was harder when I couldn’t give the lads new balls to use.

“It is not like they are taking money from me, they are taking money from children.

“I drove around everywhere to collect those clothes.

“We have 13 lads in our team and we started a new season with no balls.

“I’ve not told the lads anything because I feel like it is my fault.”

Gemma sent numerous e-mails and made phone calls to Happy Fundraising without success.

That meant the Warrington Guardian arranged for a collection to be made on Marsh House Lane in Padgate at sister Vicky Robinson’s home.

Reporter Matthew Hobbs then questioned Lee Dobson when he arrived to collect the delivery.

He could not explain why e-mails and phone calls chasing the money had not been answered but prompt arrangements were made for a new collection with Vicky.

Mr Dobson said that a move from the company’s former office on Bewsey Street in the town centre to St Helens had caused disruption to communication.

However, as of Tuesday the old Warrington address and phone number were still on the Happy Fundraising website. There is no notification that the company has moved.

In a statement he said: “This is a unfortunate one off occurrence and I would like to apologise to Gemma and Grange FC for any stress caused.

“This was caused by us moving premises just after the collection and unfortunately due to BT not transferring our number there has been a massive breakdown in communications.”

The money has now been paid.