Georgia May Foote has started a GoFundMe page to try to save Bury Football Club.
The former ‘Coronation Street’ actress wants to help her local team – which has been threatened with expulsion from the English Football League over ongoing financial issues – and she revealed her own emotional attachment to the club as she called on Manchester United legend Gary Neville to help.
She initially tweeted: "Really sad to see my hometown football club having to go through what they are.
@buryfcofficial Shall we start a Go Fund Me page? Can’t see one of the oldest teams in the uk close down. Especially when my grandparents met there #foreverbury @GNev2 r u in? (sic)"
The League One team – which insists it is "confident" of finding a solution – has been given an August 23 deadline to show the EFl its plans to pay off outstanding creditors, while the club’s first three games of the season have been suspended over a lack of "clarity".
Now, soap star Georgia – who played Katy Armstrong on the cobbles for five years until 2015 – has taken action in a bid to help her hometown team.
Writing on the new GoFundMe page – which raised almost £300 of a £1 million target – the 28-year-old actress added: "Not only is Bury Football Club one of the oldest teams in the UK. But it has the heart and soul of the whole town behind it.
"I, myself, am from Bury. Born and bred. My Grandparents met there. My sister had her 18th birthday party there. I watched many friends play there over the years. As have many generations of wonderful and dedicated supporters from and around our local town.
"This is a sad sad time for such an old club… And i am asking for everyone to not let not only the team but the supporters down by helping us out! (sic)"
Bury FC were given a 12-point deduction for the current campaign after entering a company voluntary agreement in an attempt to clear some debts.