Article on Money struggles

The Uni-Bond division one league is becoming a stepping stone for young players, now more so than ever. CocaCola Championship and League One teams are always looking for
a cheap buy, and non-league stars usually fit the bill.

Recently players like Michael Kightley, once of lowly Grays Athletic now of Premiership chasing Wolverhampton Wanderers, and more locally, Liam Dickinson who started his career at Woodley Sports of the Uni-Bond division One Northern sector, and is now at Blackpool, scoring 5 in 4, on loan from Derby County.

Although supporters don’t see it, this helps these clubs dramatically, Reputations are gained for producing players, which brings big club scouts. This can bring cash that can keep a club running for years, for instance £25,000 for a club of Woodley
sports’ stature can pay players and staff for six months at least.

Other ways of income for these sides is a good FA Cup run, for example, Curzon Ashton. The Manchester based club were the lowest ranked in the FA Cup second round and if they held out for a further 15 minutes would’ve been involved in a replay and would’ve been in the 5th round draw, which inevitably ended with Kidderminster Harriers playing Coventry City at the Ricoh Arena. So this cup run could’ve raised the club well over £100,000 which will help the club sign a few players, pay staff and players for upto six months.

These ways to make money always have a down point though, this one being the sourest at the present moment in time, the global credit crisis. The recent VAT cut has left clubs in this league in a pickle, cut ticket prices? Impossible. Decrease player
wages? Having a joke aren’t you.

FC Halifax Town are a club who have already had a problem in finance in the past years, they were a team who were in football league division two at the turn of the century. But due to lack finance coming into the club, they had to go into administration and unfortunately the club then liquidated, more recently Boston United also went through the same.

Entry to these matches for fans can be as little as £5 adults and £2 concessions and there are many clubs who allow free entry to under 14’s if accompanied by an adult. This scheme helps attendance averages, boosting some up from 160 – 200 which helps these clubs more than we know.

It seems the average attendance in this division has rose in the past three years form 207 to 412 with this being due to more teams playing a better style of football. “We play a better style of football these days, the average amount of goals in this league makes it a more attracting style of football. Its only £7 for me and I bring my boys with me who get in for £1 which is great.” The view of a supporter of Bamber Bridge who really likes the fact of prices in the league.
It seems that if clubs are made to cut prices in stadium facilities, tickets and merchandise they may not be able to keep pumping money into the club. If players are asked to take pay cuts they may not agree and seek a move to another club who will pay his desired wage, “We have had players in the past who have played really well in this league and get some form and then want a pay rise, but because of money restrictions it becomes impossible, at least five players in the past two seasons have moved on due to this.” Adam,28 Salford City fan.

So from all the above points made we can see the struggle that these clubs have. Sponsorship and a good supporters base is very valued by the clubs. We need leagues like this in England to have a standard of football that is attractive and players need to earn cash so we just hope money keeps coming into this so we can see more home-grown players like Michael Kightley and Liam Dickinson, who are destined for bigger things.

Web addresses that helped with the story.

http://onlinemediarelations.co.uk/chrisrivers/is-the-gap-between-the-premier.html
(this site was to see the gap between Premierleague and Championship)

http://football.guardian.co.uk/breakingnews/feedstory/0,,-7697979,00.html
(shows money struggles in other EU countries)

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/blog.php?b=1692
(this forum is really good for getting to know about sides)