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Post by Col ISIHAC. on Dec 16, 2008 12:10:40 GMT
For Desboroughtown FC Playing in the United Counties Prem; a family club, with decent facilities - nice size clubhouse and a lot of acivity - especially at this time of year. Yesterday afternoon, the clubhouse, changing rooms, treatment room were either destroyed or badly damaged by fire. An immediate consequence for the club - with a wage bill in the region of £500 a week; bear that in mind, is extinction. Unable to pay players for more than a month or so (through the goodwill of officials) unless the players play for nothing, the club cannot continue. The clubhouse was fully booked for functions - as an entity, this social club generated sufficient income to sustain the footballing activity (including youth and ladies) Without the Christmas parties, no income. I work with the club president - and it's fair to say he is devastated. He tells me that the club is too far DOWN the pyramid to access grass-roots funding or aid. Now, I can't believe that this is true. Anyone know any different??  |
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Post by J Esaj PRA on Dec 16, 2008 14:19:53 GMT
Insurance?
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Post by coops on Dec 17, 2008 11:10:44 GMT
I work with the club president - and it's fair to say he is devastated. He tells me that the club is too far DOWN the pyramid to access grass-roots funding or aid. Now, I can't believe that this is true. Anyone know any different?? Almost certainly not true as far as I know, after all the grass roots funding available via the FA is available to, as it says on the tin, ALL clubs from Sunday League upwards. Bilston Town (West Mids Div 1, two steps below Desborough) got a grant to re-open their much vandalised clubhouse in the summer for instance. They may have been turned down but it most certainly should be an avenue open to them. |
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Post by bonehead on Dec 19, 2008 13:09:57 GMT
Unaccustomed as I am to posting on here, this is really bad news for 'Ar Tarn'. When I were a lad (and this was all fields) I saw many a Rothwell-Desborough derby. It didn't matter if the real and original Diamonds or the Doughboys were top of the United Counties league at the time, this game was the biggy of the season for both sets of fans.
I really hope this isn't the end for them. I would have thought that they could ground-share with the Bones since they are in the same borough, but that would not help their finances :-(
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Post by ojiveojive on Dec 20, 2008 19:11:15 GMT
Commiserations to Desborough. Moor Green's clubhouse and dressing rooms were destroyed by arsonists nearly four years ago and we moved to local rivals Solihull Borough before finally merging with them in June 2007 to form Solihull Moors. We did lose some support, from both clubs, opposed to the merger but we have soldiered on and now have a healthy supporters' association with a committee comprised of members from both sides. Keep the faith and hopefully the buggers will be caught, although that will be of little consequence as the buggers won't have the wherewithall to make it worthwhile to sue them.
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Post by Sultan of Cannock- SRFC on Dec 21, 2008 9:21:33 GMT
Although pretty small beer compared to the above, we had a break-in at Stafford Rangers last week where a few items of low value were taken and about 2k worth of damage done.
Although this is a piddling small amount of money it hurts morale. It is still 2k that did not need to be spent and further hurts a club already dying from 1000 cuts while being pulled under by that bloody scaffolding we put up to get us into Conf Arrogant.
The perp was a 19yr old of no fixed abode not long released from prison. He was apprehended outside a solicitor's office having robbed it of a bunch of bananas amongst other items.
Maybe there's some kind of "market" for them in Stafford. Could be a possible opening for me as i can get the bananas for 19p a pound in cannock!!!!!
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Post by Col ISIHAC. on Dec 31, 2008 13:12:53 GMT
There is a sort of happy ending - the insurance (including loss of income) became payable once the cause was determined to be a blowtorch belonging to a contractor, hired ironically to dry the changing rooms out by fixing a hole in the roof. He left the torch on when he went back to his van and dried out the entire building! It's still a biter pill, obviously, but at least the clubhouse and oher facilities will be replaced as new.  |
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