LONDON: Saudi-backed Newcastle United on Tuesday pledged 拢15,000 ($20,100) to help their Carabao Cup opponents AFC Wimbledon after storms damaged the fourth-tier club鈥檚 Plough Lane pitch over the weekend.

Heavy rains have battered the UK since Friday, leading to a waterlogged pitch and significant damage to the playing surface at the south London club, with images of a sinkhole near one of the goalmouths circulating on social media.

Newcastle were due to play Wimbledon in the third round of the competition on Tuesday night but have agreed to reverse the fixture and play the match at their own St. James鈥� Park stadium on Oct. 1.

鈥淲e regret to inform fans that due to extensive overnight flooding of the River Wandle, Tuesday night鈥檚 Carabao Cup third-round fixture against Newcastle United has been postponed.鈥�, an AFC Wimbledon statement said.

Graham Stacey, a Wimbledon fan, set up a JustGiving page in an attempt to raise 拢50,000 to fix the flood damage, a target which had surpassed 拢75,000 by Tuesday in large part thanks to the Premier League club鈥檚 donation.

He told the Press Association he had been absolutely 鈥渇labbergasted鈥� at the support the League Two club had received and praised Newcastle鈥檚 鈥渋ncredible鈥� gesture, but said his side would not return the favor on the the pitch, joking the Dons would beat Newcastle next week. 

鈥淭hey鈥檝e been nothing but supportive. Obviously, we had a big game lined up against them at home that鈥檚 now been switched to St. James鈥� Park, which is a fantastic event,鈥� he said. 

鈥淔or the two sides to play at one of the biggest grounds in the country with one of the best supports in the country is going to be a thrill. Even better when we beat them.

鈥淚 should apologize because they鈥檝e been so generous, and if we do [win] I鈥檇 almost feel bad鈥� but it鈥檚 incredibly generous of them.鈥�

James Woodroof, AFC Wimbledon club director, told the BBC on Tuesday that 100,000 liters of water had been pumped out of the stadium.

鈥淚 woke up to images from my stadium team. I thought it was artificial intelligence,鈥� he said.

鈥淭he entire stadium, the concourse and ground floor, was under water. It was horrendous. The pitch has significant damage.

鈥淲e filled four tankers, which house 27,000 liters each 鈥� over 100,000 liters.鈥�