Highland League side Nairn County offer help in the community amid coronavirus outbreak

Highland League side Nairn County have offered to help out in the local community as football grinds to a halt during the coronavirus outbreak.

Club secretary Ian Finlayson said it was time to repay the kindness shown when the club struggled with financial difficulties by helping out in whatever way they can.

CLUB. STATEMENT pic.twitter.com/3NeBLr3jdq

— Nairn County FC (@NairnCounty) March 18, 2020

The club’s social media channels will advertise local businesses in the absence of matches to report on, while players and officials will offer the time they’d usually spend at matches on a Saturday afternoon helping out in the local area.

They’ve offered to pick up shopping or prescriptions for people in self-isolation or even walk their dogs.

“When we were in financial trouble several years ago, we asked the community for help and the community responded,” Mr Finlayson said in a statement.

“We remember this and now it is our turn to repay this debt. In the coming days we will be in touch with local businesses to pay forward what we can for the coming season so that businesses will have that cash now when it is most needed, instead of next season.

“Further, we have no football to report, so we will devote our Social Media channels to advertising our local business sponsors and encouraging people to shop local and to consider making future bookings and buying vouchers now for local Hotels, hostelries, pubs and restaurants and all others to get some much needed cashflow into local business.

“With regards to our fans and the community as a whole. Well we are not playing football for the foreseeable future, so if we can help on a Saturday with anyone in self isolation, be it picking up your shopping, getting your prescription to you or even just walking the dog, drop us a message or give us a call and we will sort something out for you.

“Nobody knows how long this virus will be with us, it could be a long haul, but we want you to know that your Club is with you. You have supported us, now its our turn to do the same for you.”