Thankfully, it would appear that Arsenal’s FA Cup fifth-round visit to Sutton United will leave a legacy behind that extends some way beyond a 23-stone bloke eating a pie.
FA rules prevented Arsenal from simply donating their share of the £100,000 gate receipts to Sutton.
However, as revealed by manager Paul Doswell after the match, the Gunners found a way to contribute a sizeable sum of money to the non-league side’s coffers regardless.
Paul Doswel says Arsenal have committed to £50,000 investment at Sutton to build two classrooms 👏
— James Benge (@jamesbenge) February 20, 2017
Speaking to the Evening Standard, Doswell said:
The reality is that Arsenal have been superb all the way through this.
We think they’re going to help us with the classroom, that’s what we’re trying.
[The donation] is going to go into the community fund and they’ve promised us £50,000 and that will buy two classrooms.
That is an amazing gesture from them and one we’re very thankful for.
The U’s have reportedly earned around £1million in revenue thanks to the high-profile fixture, though Doswell confirmed that the proceeds won’t be frittered away on the players, rather the wider community that continues to support the club.
The money will be spent on 100 children, 16-18, on site. We’ll buy new dressing rooms, new classrooms, all the toilets [will be fixed].
Everything you could want your house to look like, we’ll get it in order. It won’t be spent on players.
Good stuff.
That thar be the true magic of the FA Cup.