A WAY of raising funds is to hold collections at sporting events, such as professional football matches, race meetings and dog track meetings, all of which attract large gates. Four London football clubs were helpful in 1970 and each allowed a collection at their ground that season. What follows relates to experience gained from these occasions.

General—Advantages include the small amount of work incolved and the high proportion of profit to the Institution.

The basic requirements are a large number of collectors for a short period, oilskins, and collecting boxes.

Some £400 was collected at the four particular London matches and it was calculated that after covering Depot transport costs, over 90 per cent of this was profit.

Young people are often prepared to help, bearing in mind that collectors are able to see the match. Since the collection is on private ground the 16-year minimum age laid down for street collectors does not apply, and Sea Cadet and Scout units can assist.

Preparations—Probably the most difficult part of the exercise is to get the club secretary, with the approval of the directors, to allow collectors to operate within the ground. One must emphasise within, because collections on the street side of the turnstiles would be a street collection, for which local authority and police authorisation would be required. It is important to consult the club secretary on points of detail, suchas placing of publicity material and stationing of collectors. Particularly in view of the Ibrox Park tragedy, clubs are sensitive to anything that might cause or aggravate bottle-necks.

Useful publicity may include an announcement on the public address system and a notice in the programme at a home game before the collection date, an announcement on the day, and a short article in the match programme on the day. Wording should be given to the club secretary at least a month in advance.

A headquarters will be needed as a rendezvous for collectors and for issue and return of boxes, oilskins and collectors' permits. If there is no suitable office at the ground a publicity caravan canMr Holness standing on the turf at Wembley in front of the Royal Box. This followed his appointment as reserve linesman for the Trophy Cup Final on April 28, 1973, between Scarborough ami Whitby. This was Mr Holness' lust appointment as an active referee and a climax to his footballing career.

Afterwards he was entertained by the Football Association and by the winning club.

be used. The standard equipment supplied with caravans can be displayed, and a site can often be found for a publicity ILB. At the headquarters should be a plan of the ground for indicating stations to collectors.

The choice of match and date will depend on the club as well as on the availability of collectors, but in general it has seemed better to avoid a 'sell out' match, since on such occasions the public are anxious to rush to their positions on the ground.

On The Day—The collectors should arrive at least two hours early so as to be in position 90 minutes before kick-off.

Exact numbers and names of helpers may be uncertain until they actually arrive. It is advantageous to select and brief a few responsible adults to take charge of collectors at the various entry points to the ground, and at the main stand and the supporters' club.

As they arrive, other collectors should then be distributed to all the collection points to fill up gradually an allocation based on the estimated total of available helpers. By this means one avoids having completely blank spots if in the event the number of helpers proves to be a lot less than hoped. A simple way of arranging this is to have a prepared revenue sheet for each collecting point, with the provisional allocation of helpers marked on it. You can then see at a glance the extent to which the plan is being fulfilled, and where late arrivers should be sent.

Possible times for collecting are before kick-off, at half-time, and after the match. Before kick-off is usually very much the best. Half-time (10 minutes) is too short for collectors to cover the whole ground and they are best concentrated in the stands; people are usually in a great hurry to get away once the match is over.

The headquarters should be manned throughout the operation for the return of boxes and issue if need be of new ones. All boxes and oilskins should be returned before collectors leave the ground, and arrangements need to be laid on for the counting and disposal of cash.

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