Andover Town Youth Football Club has received a major boost after local business Perfect Bore Manufacturing Ltd donated £10,000, helping the club surpass its fundraising target following a recent fraud.
The donation came after the company became aware of the situation affecting the grassroots club and made contact with the club’s chairman earlier this month. The funds were identified as urgently needed to ensure the remainder of the season could continue without disruption.
The Andover-based precision engineering firm’s contribution marks a major milestone in the club’s recovery following a significant fraud which left it facing serious financial difficulty. The donation has ensured the club can cover essential costs and secure the remainder of the season for its young players.
Arnold Laughton, Managing Director of Perfect Bore Manufacturing, said the decision to act was immediate:
“We jumped straight onto this bad news and saw a grass roots club in our local town had been subject to a serous case of fraud, we spoke with the chairman of the club earlier Friday morning of the 2nd January, when speaking with him he said £10k was what was needed ASAP to allow the youth club to continue there season uninterrupted and we agreed to pledge the money on the spot and said it would be paid in the following days and todays the day we sent it across from PBM.
“We have always been massively supportive of all Andover town clubs and most important of all supportive of the youth clubs and what it brings to the children’s development.
“For us to make this donation was a real easy decision, and have since had communications with the club about sponsorship opportunities to help with the future of the club.
“We also are one of the headline sponsors for Andover Rugby Club and cherish this opportunity to be able to help in our community.
“We hope that the money is well received and help the Children to go on and finish there season, uninterrupted and with prosperous results.
Formed in Andover in 1988, Perfect Bore has built an international reputation for producing components to extreme and, in some cases, sub-micro geometrical tolerances, combined with exacting surface finish requirements. The company also provides research and development support for one-off prototypes and operates a dedicated manufacturing facility focused on quality, precision and on-time delivery.
Perfect Bore Manufacturing works with major OEMs and sub-tier companies across sectors including aerospace, oil and gas, nuclear, automotive, scientific instruments, medical technology and power generation. Its bore solutions are used in components manufactured by global names such as Airbus, BAe, Boeing, Moog and Rolls-Royce, supporting high-profile projects including the B787 Dreamliner, A400M and A350.
Club officials thanked Perfect Bore Manufacturing for its generosity, describing the donation as a vital contribution that secures the immediate future of football for its young players and highlights the strength of community support in Andover.
The club said the donation marked a turning point in its recovery. Nick Stephens, Chairman of Andover Town Youth Football Club, said:
“It’s incredible to have reached our £30,000 target with the help of a £10,000 donation from Perfect Bore Manufacturing and the generosity of everyone who donated. Every single penny has played a part in getting us here. This funding restores our club to the position it was in prior to the fraud and gives us long-term stability, including the certainty that we can kick off the 2026/27 season. Just days ago, this felt unimaginable, and we are profoundly grateful for the support shown to our players, our families, and our wider community.”