A Football club is helping shoppers to score discounts and become big supporters of local business.

Dorchester Town FC has launched a community card that will give shoppers money off products and services in and around Weymouth and Dorchester.

It will also raise money for charity, with 10 per cent of all proceeds from card sales going to the Weldmar Hospicecare Trust.

The unique card, which costs £10, will come into use on November 1.

It offers discounts of between five and 20 per cent.

Matt Bradley, commercial director at Dorchester FC, said local businesses will be given a boost by joining the card scheme.

“Any business joining the scheme will receive a whole host of benefits including marketing that could rival national companies.

“The affiliation card already has an initial database of 5,000 people that has come from the football club and through lengthy market research already undertaken,” he said.

The card has been backed by the Dorchester Business Improvement District (BID).

The Oak Tea Rooms in Antelope Walk, Dorchester is already signed up to the scheme.

Owner Tracy Drake said she would be offering 10 per cent discount off food and drink to all card-holders.

“When I heard about the card I thought ‘how can people say no to this?’ “It seems to offer something for everyone, discount at shops and businesses, it supports the football club and it helps the businesses themselves to get promotion.”

Among other businesses signed up to the scheme at Specsavers and A-Line Taxis.

The affiliation card has been endorsed by the Tourism board and will be sold by the Dorchester Tourism Information Centre.

The football club plans to make new signings for the card before it is launched.

It is hoped that the card, which has 51 companies on board, will be increased to between 50 and 100 companies before the cars is launched on November 1.

Any company that would like to participate, at a cost of from £10 a year, should contact Matt Bradley at Dorchester Town Football Club on 01305 262451 or e-mail dorchestertownac@gmail.

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