AFTER one home league win all season and with relegation on the cards, you'd think Eastwood Town FC have little to cheer.
But one teenage fan has other ideas.
Zander Shayler, 13, has raised nearly £300 for the club by running a tuck shop behind the dugouts at Eastwood's Coronation Park ground this season.
He wants it to pay for an end-of-season night out for staff and players.
Zander, of Bishop Street, Eastwood, said: "I love watching Eastwood. They have worked very hard this season so they deserve this money.
"Making money for the club and keeping it alive is all I'm really bothered about."
Eastwood Comprehensive School pupil Zander first came up with the idea of running the tuck shop when he was 11.
He began operating it last year, and made around £30 for the club.
The teenage businessman opened his tuck shop for business at Coronation Park for a 28th and final time this season during the Notts Senior Cup final between Carlton Town and Sutton Town on Tuesday.
His biggest-selling week saw Zander make £37 when 607 people watched Eastwood draw 2-2 with FC United of Manchester on April 13.
Eastwood played their last home game of the season at Coronation Park last Saturday against Blyth Spartans, losing 1-4.
The Badgers are due to finish bottom of the Evo-Stik League Northern Premier Division, and be relegated after their final league match of the season at Chorley on Saturday.
But Zander says he hopes to continue selling confectionery.
He said: "There used to be sweets sold when I first started going about four or five years ago.
"When the opportunity came along again I thought I'd take it. I buy the stock myself and I have some regulars who always like a Kit Kat.
"I hope to do it again next season and raise as much money as I can."
Zander, who is due to have trials with the club's under-15s side in June, added: "I would love to play for Eastwood one day."
His mum Karen, 47, a steward at the club, said: "He's a massive fan even though we've been relegated. Through the rain and snow and all the bad weather, he's never missed a match."
She and her partner, Stephen Walton, 56, a club supervisor on match days, gave Zander £10 to start his business.
"He's got a stock chart on his computer and also charts sales as well," she said. "When he comes to tell us how much he's made each match he'll say 'is that enough?' It doesn't matter if he's only made 5p, he's doing it off his own back. We're really proud of him."
Zander plans to present Eastwood Town with the proceeds at Coronation Park on May 18.
Club manager Chris Shaw said: "What Zander has done is a great honour and it shows just what people are willing to do for the club. With a few more people like Zander, and the continued support of our fans, we hope we will soon be back to where we want to be."
