Non-league clubs’ novel ways of fundraising – including chance to play in the same team as a former Pompey coach and lifetime season tickets!

Worthing FC supporters quickly raised £43,000 for new floodlights, bar, toilets and changing rooms at the club’s Woodside Road ground.

They reached their target with time to spare ahead of the July 9 closing date, with the current total approaching £46,000.

Bognor Regis Town FC are aiming to raise £50,000 for ground developments and playing squad budgets.

Helped by a range of attractive rewards, supporters have raised almost £34,000 so far

Rocks players Tommy and Ashton Leigh - the sons of former Baffins Milton Rovers boss Steve - are among those who have donated.

Among the Bognor rewards are:

£1,250 for a 10-year season ticket. They have sold 15 out of a maximum 25.For £21, you will have your name woven into the fabric of next season’s shirtA £50 donation gets you your name on a personalised plaque behind the new main stand - 97 already sold (maximum 250).For £2,500 you can raise a team and play against the Rocks first team at Nyewood Lane.

Robbie Blake - Pompey’s coach between 2015-18 and currently a coach at Bognor - will play for your team, and manage it as well if you want.

For £3,000 (excluding VAT) you can sponsor the West End Stand, or the North Stand.For £15,000 (excluding VAT) you can have ground naming rights for two years. That package also includes four season tickets, reserved Directors Box seats and full boardroom hospitality at every match.

Worthing, meanwhile, have sold 10 lifetime season tickets at £1,500.

Fans have also bought 226 bricks - at £50 each - which will form a Wall of Fame built into the club’s new stand. They have also sold 15 signed and framed Worthing FC shirts at £150 - signed by playing squad and staff - as well as five captain’s mascot packages at £50 each.

The club have also produced a commemorative T-shirt (£40) for a season which will never be forgotten - but not for the reasons they had hoped.

Worthing were seven points clear at the top of the Isthmian Premier Division (step 3) when the season was halted due to the pandemic.

They had only been promoted from the Isthmian Division 1 South - the same level of the pyramid as Moneyfields - four years ago.

Worthing were denied possible promotion, despite having played 80.9 per cent of their league games, due to the FA’s controversial null and void scheme.

That’s a bigger percentage than National League leaders Barrow (80.4 per cent) and NL South table-toppers Wealdstone (78.5 per cent), who are both expected to go up as champions on a PPG basis.

Another innovative fundraiser saw four 45-minute sports massage sessions with Worthing’s Hollie Charles all sold for £30 each.

The chance to sponsor the club’s South Stand for £10,000 in 2020/21, though, remains unclaimed at present.

A third Sussex club, Lewes, have also hit on a novel way for supporters to engage with their club.

The Isthmian League Premier Division outfit are inviting fans to be their eyes and ears of the local football scene.

Chairman Stuart Fuller and manager Hugo Langton asked supporters to volunteer for ‘scouting’ missions, and the initial response was favourable.

Langton led a Zoom session for half-a-dozen or so interested fans explaining how they could help.

Fuller said: ‘Many fans watch other teams play when not following Lewes, whether that may be other Isthmian League clubs, local Sussex clubs or football further afield.

‘We would love to hear your thoughts on the players that stand out, strange free-kick and corner routines or simple thoughts on the teams involved.’

The chairman added: ‘Hugo is an A-licence UEFA coach and has his own scouting business and can tell fans exactly what to look out for.

‘Clearly this is not aimed at those of our fans who watch Brighton in the Premier League when they’re not watching us. But if someone, for example, is going to see Peacehaven play East Preston they may pick up useful information.

‘We plan more Zoom sessions for other interested fans soon.’

Could this be a plan Hampshire non-league clubs could follow …?