WITH a great end to the season on the pitch and many talking points still off it, Basingstoke Town Football Club has still showcased it has the community at its heart.

Throughout the season the club has shown its support to its charity partners, and with the season now over it has presented both the Ark Cancer Centre Charity and St Michael’s Hospice with a £1,000 cheque after the club received the money from the Football Association Community Shield Charity Fund.

For this season fans voted to rename the club’s home ground as the Ark Cancer Charity Stadium in a show of support for the charity, which is raising £5 million towards a unique local cancer treatment centre in the Basingstoke area.

During the season, there were many highs and lows on and off the pitch, but the team ended on a high by winning the Hampshire FA Senior Cup beating AFC Bournemouth 7-6 on penalties after the game ended 0-0.

The club’s fans and officials have su p ported Ark and St Michael’s Hospice.

At the end of season presentation Mark Jones, director of fundraising and communications at Ark Cancer Centre Charity, and Iain Cameron, director of income generation at St Michael’ s Hospice, were presented with the £1,000 donations by Basingstoke Town FC chief executive David Knight.

Mr Knight said: “The club is pleased to have chosen Ark Cancer Centre Charity and St Michael’s Hospice as the tw o charities to benefit from the donation that the club has received from the Football Association Community Shield Charity Fund.”

Both charities will be receiving further support from Basingstok e Town FC when the club hosts a Charity Family Fun Day at the ground on Sunday, May 28 between 11am and 5pm. The event will feature a charity football match and a range of family-focused entertainment including a bouncy castle and face painting sessions.