This is a request for help for a community. I coach at the Leeds Academy of American Football where my son plays Flag Football (think “Tag Rugby” but you can throw the ball forwards!), we facilitate U17 and U19 contact variations of the game within the same setup. The Academy has only been in operation for 3 years and has exploded in popularity, so much so that we can’t keep up financially with the demand.

American Football is a very expensive sport to play and we provide our players with all the equipment necessary – helmets, pads, uniforms, balls, flag belts etc - and cover field costs, ambulances (required for contact games), referees; all for a relatively low subscription fee.

Due to the success of the U17 & U19 teams last year our costs went way beyond initial expectations – a playoff run for both teams that was neither expected nor budgeted for – and has left a hole behind financially.

Sponsors are difficult to come by for what is still a niche sport in this country, exacerbated by sponsors needing to be suitable for children. In addition to this, the flag football team are linked with Leeds Beckett University so we cannot charge those guys any subscriptions. School PE budgets are being slashed too, cutting out a valuable source of external coaching income.

This Academy is in itself a community, made up of many people from different backgrounds, some of whom struggle to pay the bare minimum we require. These kids deserve a chance to play the sport they love, a lot of whom find American Football after failing to find their role in football, rugby, cricket teams. Some of these kids only fit in at the Academy and that is something we are hugely proud of.

We want to provide the Academy with enough funds to provide its valuable service to these youngsters keeping the cost to its players low. As it stands our competitive 2016-17 season is on the line, let's change that and help this fledgling community project become an institution for many years!