Kashima Antlers is working to improve its academy, which is a player development organization, and has begun developing a dedicated academy ground near the clubhouse. We would like to ask for your cooperation in the form of crowdfunding support for the funds needed for this development.
This project was planned primarily by Atsushi Yanagisawa, a club alumnus and youth team coach, Mitsuo Ogasawara, who serves as the academy's technical advisor, and Koji Nakata, who is the Club Relations Officer. With the cooperation of Kashima City, Antlers' hometown, donations will be eligible for Kashima City's Furusato Nozei (hometown tax donation) program. Those who provide support will receive various thank-you gifts (returns) from the club, commensurate with the donation amount, including tickets to a special match between the academy and Antlers OBs scheduled for Sunday, December 26th, and various交流会.
The new academy ground is envisioned not only as a base for player development but also as a place for interaction among local children. Based on the Antlers Academy's philosophy of imparting soccer skills and fostering children's hearts, we aim to cultivate regional sports culture and develop people.
Applications will be accepted until Sunday, October 31st. Under the slogan "Antlers' Future Together," we ask for your support and endorsement of this project so that the entire Antlers Family can support and develop the youth organization that will be the foundation of the club.
＜Project Overview＞
■Project Name
Crowdfunding Project "Antlers' Future Together"
■Special Page URL
Club Special Site: https://www.antlers.co.jp/lp/crowdfunding_2021
Application Site: https://readyfor.jp/projects/antlers_GCF2021
■Organizer
Kashima Antlers × Kashima City
■Target Amount
300 million yen
■Public Period
Friday, September 3, 2021 - Sunday, October 31, 2021 23:00
■Format
Donation type / ALL-IN type
*A format in which collected donations can be received regardless of whether the target amount is achieved.
■Details
This is a Furusato Nozei-type crowdfunding project utilizing "READYFOR," Japan's first crowdfunding service operated by READYFOR Inc. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, CEO: Haruka Mera). Through the "READYFOR Furusato Nozei" system, donations to the project are eligible for tax benefits. As this project is for Kashima City Furusato Nozei, please be aware that there are restrictions on the thank-you gifts (returns) that can be offered when residents of Kashima City make a donation, due to the Furusato Nozei system.
■Example of Thank-You Gift (Return)
Content: Academy vs. OB Special Match Viewing (30,000 yen - 50,000 yen course)
Details: OBs who have built the Antlers' tradition will play against academy players who dream of playing as Antlers players in the future.
Date: Scheduled for Sunday, December 26, 2021
Expected Participating OBs: Yasuhito Honda, Akira Narahashi, Masashi Motoyama, Atsushi Yanagisawa, Mitsuo Ogasawara, Koji Nakata, and others.
*Expected participating OBs will be announced as they are confirmed.
■Comment from Atsushi Yanagisawa (Youth Team Coach)
"A ground built with the cooperation of so many people is very appealing, and in the sense of 'everyone working together to nurture future Antlers players,' this project is a club-wide effort. In player development, the environment is extremely important. Having a dedicated environment where players can concentrate in one place, rather than moving between practice fields, has a significant impact on their development. To realize such an environment, I hope to borrow everyone's passion. I hope you will cooperate not like buying a dream lottery ticket, but with the desire to realize the dreams of these children together."
■Comment from Mitsuo Ogasawara (Technical Advisor)
"Currently, the academy's youth team uses the clubhouse for practice, but having their own ground that they can use as they wish is a huge advantage. One of our wishes is for everyone to support the academy children. This ground is for that purpose, and we want everyone to see the players who develop there eventually play for the top team. Of course, we must provide some form of return to those who support us, and everyone's donations will lead to children becoming professionals in the future. This is not a dream; let's all nurture the future Antlers players together."
■Comment from Koji Nakata (Club Relations Officer)
"The important thing about crowdfunding is its purpose, and how much people can empathize with that purpose. As a club, now is the time to focus on the academy. As more players transfer overseas and the team's cycle becomes faster, we aim to develop more players who can move up from the academy to the top team. To achieve this, Yanagisawa-san and Ogasawara-san will coach the children, and to make this a reality in the future, it's not just about staff and facilities, but about everyone nurturing the future Antlers players together. I believe that is what makes Antlers, so I would really appreciate everyone's cooperation."