Arsenal will donate £50,000 to Sutton United for new changing rooms and classrooms.
The announcement was made after the Gunners knocked the U’s out of the FA Cup following a 2-0 win at Gander Green Lane on Monday, February 20.
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Sutton are estimated to have earned about £1m from their run before the Premier League club said it would donate its share of yesterday’s ticket revenue, which is estimated to be about £50,000.
U’s manager Paul Doswell suggested the money will be given as a charitable donation rather than a direct ‘refund’ of gate receipts due to FA guidelines on cash transfers between clubs.
Sutton have previously said money from the cup run would go towards improving the club’s facilities rather than spending the earnings on signing new players.
Among the planned investments include replacing the boiler, removing the old changing room baths and repaying a no-interest loan for the artificial pitch to Mr Doswell.
The U’s manager has told the club he would not press them for a quick payment.
Sutton manager Paul Doswell said: “Arsenal have handled themselves brilliantly throughout the competition. It really is a fantastic gesture.
“The charitable donation will go towards building two new changing rooms for the under-18 teams and for two new classrooms for our academy. The total cost of the project is about £90,000 so it will go a long way towards it.”
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