Ah, you guys....thanks one and all - I really appreciate your advice. Excellent points which I'll certainly take on board. I'll let you know how my decision goes (and what the missus says, too!)

As you've all picked up on and pointed out, it's very difficult to separate the heart from the head with this one.

@mooreaz - Thanks. I definitely don't look on it as a 'real' or 'proper' investment or something I have any serious intention of making any money out of. You're absolutely right - this is first and foremost about priorities and looking as dispassionately as possible at what is being proposed.

@ATM - Gooners? Goonies, more like! Interesting to hear the details about Hansen's investment and his Global Football Fund. I'll be keeping a beady an eye on that! Also, you've clearly been eavesdropping on conversations with my fianceé - a new boiler is a very real possibility in the near future, so another timely reminder to exercise serious financial caution and think before opening my wallet.

@CMK - sage and wise old, sorry, young (!) owl. Food for thought as always. I've got Olly in the work X Factor sweepstake, so if Jedward get to number one, I'll be poorer (so will the UK, mind!). I'll get Terry on to Simon Cowell, if necessary...

I don't feel duty-bound to contribute to this scheme or anything like that, but I do have this nagging, gnawing feeling that there's an opportunity to make a real difference here. If it fails, it fails but at least we tried to make a fundamental change to the club and the most I'll lose is 5% of the 10% deposit. eg £5 of a £100 deposit for a £1000 pledge. Quite where I'd get that £1000 from, of course, is anyone's guess (I doubt the X Factor sweepstake pushes that far!)

@Felicity - You're right, I did mention in passing that one of the options the NUST is suggesting is the possibility of releasing part of my pension using a Self invested Personal Pension (SIPP). I'm no expert, but even I know that it's not wise to start meddling with things like this without good reason.

Interestingly, the NUST will be releasing more information in the next few days from the list of 27 IFAs they have on board ready to advise on how it can be done. It seems very early days and they're only keeping the campaign open for 6 weeks to gauge initial interest - I'll be watching with interest and keep you all updated.

And if the fianceé comes looking for me, you ain't seen me, right?! I'm at The Winchester Club with Arfur...