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Post by emochris on Jul 27, 2007 22:34:35 GMT
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Post by Giggy of Telford on Jul 28, 2007 13:20:25 GMT
I was about to post this. There is also a petition to stop the council. Click the link below to sign it. www.gopetition.com/online/13541.htmlI'd urge anyone to sign this petition, this could be a major event for this level of football in general and the outcome needs to show that councils can not do this to a football club just for their own benefit. When utilised properly as we have in our community work wih Telford & Wrekin Council; a football club can be a major asset to a community. Hopefully your council will see this. AFC Telford United have been lucky to have a council that supports local football. In working with them we have made major strides on and off the field, mutually benefitting the club and community together. Best of luck everyone at Spennymoor. The work you've done over the last few years to come back has been immense. To see that work go to waste now would be terrible. |
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Post by DJhinckley on Jul 28, 2007 21:27:17 GMT
...needs to show that councils can not do this to a football club just for their own benefit. Why? If the Council statements in that article are correct Spennymoor have benefitted from the council by having a ground on licence and not having had to cover the overhead costs for two years. Local Council's are funded by local Council Tax, so how can they justify using tax payers money any longer? It's alright berating the Council, but according to the article Spennymoor have had two years to sort this out and couldn't even submit a proper Business Plan. The Council are accountable to their electorate of which you could assume that Spennymoor fans are a very small minority. as unfortunate as this is, football clubs aren't charities and councils have no obligations (or mandate) to help any business whether a minority of council tax payers in their borough are emotionally attached to that business or not. |
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Post by Giggy of Telford on Jul 29, 2007 0:06:47 GMT
Local sports clubs encourage people to get involved in something, particularly youths which can in turn mean less problems with anti-social behavior. Encourage a sense of community and unite the town, can work well in the area and local community to local benefit. They also encourage a healthy activity.
Obviously they have no legal obligation to do so, however a local sports club; with the benefits it brings make it a sound investment in the long run. Legally they can do what they want but they would be idiots to do so.
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davetscfc
Steaming Bovril
......and it's Salisbury City......
Posts: 457
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Post by davetscfc on Jul 29, 2007 9:01:24 GMT
Be interesting to hear the other side of the story as the article doesn't paint the football club in a very good light.
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Post by coops on Jul 29, 2007 9:11:41 GMT
Be interesting to hear the other side of the story as the article doesn't paint the football club in a very good light. That's what I was thinking, after reading that I am with the council who appear to have been subsidising a poorly run club who seem to think the council owes them a living just because they happen to have the name of the town in the club. If there's a Spennymoor FC side to this then I'd like to hear it. Giggy, I think Telford's situation is slightly different because with your facilities, large crowds and upwardly mobile playing side AFCT is obviiously a big benefit to the council, Spennymoor just seem to be a drain on resources according to the article. |
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Post by Giggy of Telford on Jul 29, 2007 13:47:10 GMT
Seems a very one sided article though, they don't even attempt to show the point of view opposing the eviction. It's effectively a list of reasons why the council are doing it. Also unless articles give actual figures you can't take everything at face value; littered/dirty could just mean not enough bins - easy to solve. The drugs reference could boil down to someone once found a syringe in there. Things are always hyped up if it suits the person the writer supports.
Obviously straight off a football club would not give benefits straight away, we cost the counci lto begin with when they bought the lease to the New Bucks Head off the Bank of Scotland. Obviously we now pay a fair price on the rent and work with the community but it's an investment. In the short run it costs a bit but in the long run the rewards are there, Spennymoor are a club that are moving forward and just got promoted, given a chance I'm sure they would come good.
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Post by DJhinckley on Jul 29, 2007 18:03:51 GMT
Local sports clubs encourage people to get involved in something, particularly youths which can in turn mean less problems with anti-social behavior... ...Seems a very one sided article though, they don't even attempt to show the point of view opposing... Things are always hyped up if it suits the person the writer supports. Spennymoor has a population of approximately 20000, the football club has an average gate of approximately 180. So less than 1% have been encouraged to get involved with something. I would feel very aggrieved if my council tax was increased because of money wasted on a project benefitted by less than 1% of the population. The article is obviously one sided because it is the view of the council. You imply it is 'hyped up' to suit the view of the council, yet you yourself are making the assumption that the council are exagerating the problem. You have decided to 'under hype' (if that's a phrase) the article based on no evidence. You are making your decision based solely on the emotional attachment you have for football. Even that link for the petition hasn't a counter argument as to why we should sign it giving reasons why the council are wrong to have come to their decision. From all the evidence available so far Spennymoor are at best incompetent in their business and the council are right not to subsidise them further. Would you be so supportive against the council if for instance it was a car wash or dry cleaners? I don't buy people's argument that a football club should be treated any different to any other business. It's unfortunate, but football isn't special except inside our heads. |
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Post by ambersalamander on Jul 29, 2007 19:15:21 GMT
But surely that's a key point- it IS special inside people's heads. I can't think of a carwash or dry cleaners that has the same people coming back week in week out because they have this intense emotional attachment, because it feels like home, because they have so many hopes and dreams associated with it and meet new people and old friends alike. Can you? I think the point Giggy is trying to make is that it's a more valued part of the community than such other businesses BECAUSE of this. It doesn't just apply to football clubs: I've heard of the same problems faced by pubs, churches and other social clubs. Sometimes they get help, sometimes not.
However, that 1% is a sad fact. If they don't have the support, they won't succeed.
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Post by DJhinckley on Jul 29, 2007 20:33:14 GMT
But surely that's a key point- it IS special inside people's heads. ...I think the point Giggy is trying to make is that it's a more valued part of the community than such other businesses BECAUSE of this. It doesn't just apply to football clubs: I've heard of the same problems faced by pubs, churches and other social clubs... I disagree. Each individuals club is special inside our own heads, but not other clubs. I mean, is cars halton special to you? We like to think football clubs are valued in the community but they are simply not. Look at every game from the Championship downwards: attendances suggest that football fans are a minority in the population of their area. If I find a business that does something for me for example a car wash or dry cleaners, then I do not stop using unless the quality deteriorates or prices become unacceptable. Football has an advantage in that to the users the quality or price has little bearing on whether they use it, they will use it regardless. Yet you have to agree, we are stupid for doing it, and we are in a minority. As you say the same problems are faced by pubs, churches and other social clubs, but there are no outcry's across the country or petitions trying to overturn council decisions in their favour. So that brings me back to my original point of why should people who do not have connection to football (approx 99% of council tax payers of spennymoor), subsidise a failing business just because other people are stupid in a sentimental way? |
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Post by ambersalamander on Jul 29, 2007 21:37:02 GMT
I disagree. Each individuals club is special inside our own heads, but not other clubs. I mean, is cars halton special to you? In a way, yes. I have taken action in the past to help save other clubs before, because I understand how special they are to other people, because in a way they are special to me too, and most importantantly BECAUSE I WANTED TO. I'm not saying YOU have to feel that way DJ, but don't assume I don't just because you don't. Sadly true, although attendances don't necessarily indicate how important the club is to people. I have, for example, a number of friends who I love and enjoy spending time with, but only get to see them a handful of times a year. I know that's different, but it is kind of similar- not everyone can make it down every week. I know scores of people who say they support Sutton and follow the results in the local papers but I've only seen them there two or three times. They probably wouldn't care as much as I if the club went down the bog, but still. We may be in a minority, but I don't think I have to agree that it makes us "stupid." Maybe you feel stupid; maybe in another time and place I would agree, but as it stands I don't. Football is an important part of my life; it's where I see my friends, meet new people, discover new places (and real ales) and I have enjoyed it since I was thirteen years old. I've followed the same club in that time because it's where my friends are and where I feel I belong. Is that really stupid? I certainly haven't lost anything from it. If the prices became unacceptable and/or the club began to be run in a way I disapproved of or was against my principles, then maybe I would be stupid in some ways, but it would still feel like my home. We're entitled to feel that way. Aren't there? There are where I come from. Now here I agree with you: it's how you say it, old bean. Your main point is valid in my opinion, but people aren't "stupid" for having feelings. That's part of being human. We all form attachments, and without those life would be very cold indeed.  |
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samd
Steaming Bovril
Posts: 327
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Post by samd on Jul 29, 2007 22:53:16 GMT
DJ is making a very good point, for all the posts I've seen from Spennymoor supporters I've read nothing that properly explains why what the council says is wrong. Just the argument that the council are bullies and we should all rally to save them from eviction. I hate to see any club get kicked out but I have to know some details before I put my name to a petition.
And there's certainly nothing wrong with taking a step back and wanting to know the facts as opposed to just saying Spennymoor Town are being bullied and the council are evil football club haters.
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Post by emochris on Aug 2, 2007 23:32:05 GMT
Club faced with eviction seeks council talks
A FOOTBALL club facing eviction from its ground has promised to negotiate with a council following an emergency supporters' meeting.
Concerned fans of Spennymoor Town FC met at the Brewery Field ground on Monday evening after the club was given 28 days' notice to leave.
Spennymoor Town Council served the order last week after the club failed to satisfy councillors that it had a sustainable business plan to conclude negotiations on a 25-year lease for the ground.
In a letter from the council, read out at the meeting, several breaches of obligations were listed and the club, which won the Arngrove Northern League second division title last season, was told it must be off the premises by August 22.
The meeting was attended by club chairman Alan Murray, vice-chairman Alan Courtney, solicitor Alistair Ross and Mike Amos, chairman of the Arngrove Northern League.
Mr Amos had come straight from further talks with the town council and said: "My impression, I have to say, is that the town council is not committed to kicking the club off the ground.
"I think it's willing to have further discussions with the club and I think there's certainly a door ajar to re-enter discussions."
He proposed setting up another meeting between the town council and club in an attempt to iron our their differences.
He also eased fans' fears that the club could be thrown out of the league over its ground problems. Mr Courtney said some of the issues raised by the council had already been dealt with, including the payment of the outstanding licence fee for June and July.
But he said problems with drug addicts using the ground during the week were continuing, despite that fact that its disused former clubhouse had been boarded up on more than 20 occasions.
The building, which was destroyed by fire in 2003, cannot be demolished because of great crested newts breed nearby.
"Feelings have been running very high," said Mr Courtney.
"But after these long talks, I do really think the word is negotiation."
Another supporters' meeting is expected to be arranged for next week, following the outcome of further talks between the club and the council.
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Post by malxscfc on Aug 8, 2007 22:52:28 GMT
Hope all works out well for Spennymoor. Nice part of the world, even if a certain Anthony Blair used to boss that Sedgefield bit of the planet, I believe.
Spent a few months working in the council offices up there during the last Tory government. Nice people for Council employees...
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Post by emochris on Aug 9, 2007 15:53:33 GMT
I hope it does Malxscfc as well because we have tog et the fixtures reversed and ground share with someone else
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