Daggers receives money from Premier League to make stadium improvements

The funding will help set up the streaming service

Dagenham & Redbridge has received funding from the Premier League to help get through the start of the new National League season without fans.

Spectators are not currently allowed into matches due to coronavirus restrictions.

The Daggers will use money from the Matchday Support Fund grant to continue to set up its streaming service, so fans can watch games online, and to ensure the Chigwell Construction Stadium is Covid-secure.

The Matchday Support Fund is managed by the Football Stadia Improvement Fund (FSIF), which is financed by the Premier League and supports non-league and Women’s Football Pyramid clubs with the cost of improvements to their grounds.

That follows the recent Pitch and Club Preparation Funds, which saw £8.7m in grants awarded by the Premier League, The FA, and the government’s Football Foundation to prepare the country’s playing surfaces and facilities for the return of football.

Daggers Managing Director, Stephen Thompson, said: “The Matchday Support grant is a great help to not only us but all the clubs eligible for this grant throughout the non-league pyramid and we are extremely grateful for the support.”

? The Daggers are celebrating receiving funding from the @premierleague to help us return to action safely!

Read more information by clicking ?@TheVanaramaNL @FootballFoundtn @JonCruddas_1 @AndrewRosindell @margarethodge @JuliaLopezMP @SamTarry #COYD??

— Dagenham & Redbridge (@Dag_RedFC) October 8, 2020

Meanwhile, a petition launched calling on the government to allow limited numbers of fans into stadiums has received more than 180,000 signatures.

As it has received more than 100,000, it will now be considered for debate in parliament.

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