YOKER Athletic have issued an appeal to individuals and businesses in the area to give their backing to the club’s new youth academy and under-20s team – though they’ve acknowledged that a global pandemic was perhaps not the best time to put the structure in place.

Four new teams have now joined the Yoker family – though the club has revealed this week that the coronavirus lockdown made the challenges of getting everything in place for the new youth set-up even greater.

The Yoker Athletic FC Youth Academy was launched in early June, after a scramble to ensure club registrations were completed with Scottish Youth FA staff on furlough, to get the Yoker teams registered in their respective leagues, to get players registered and to ensure that coaches, first aiders and a child wellbeing and protection officer were all in place.

Read more: Yoker management duo eye more new additions to Whe-Ho’s squad

The new season for all the Whe-Ho’s teams now looks like it will begin in October, while a bespoke new kit is set to be launched in the next few weeks - sparking a renewed call for businesses to form partnerships with the club.

Steven Robertson, manager of Yoker’s under-20 development squad, said: “We are actively seeking shirt sponsors for our new home and away kits.

“This will give local businesses the opportunity to have their companies name emblazoned on the jerseys.

“Sponsorship will help the U20 development team cover some of their significant set up costs, like buying new strips and training gear, which is a huge financial outlay to any new team setting up.”

Businesses interested in finding out more about the packages on offer can contact media@yokerathletic.com.