Browse Sections
Interactive
Popular Sections
Clouds and sunshineSport
| 
Submit Comments
advertisement
Boss calls for FA cash help
12/ 6/2008
OUTGOING Langley Celtic boss Steve Horan is calling on the Football Association to provide financial support for local football teams and leagues.
Horan says that the FA’s commitment to grassroots football has seen it invest heavily in junior and women’s football while ignoring the "bread and butter" of open age men’s football.
As a result the number of teams playing in leagues such as the Middleton Sunday League has fallen dramatically, and teams regularly fail to finish the season.
Horan said: "The FA is pumping money into youth football and ladies' football. While I have no problem with that as such, I have to say that it is ignoring open age football which is the bread and butter of the game at grassroots level.
"It cost £2,200 to run Celtic last season, and that is a lot of money to find from subs and sponsorship.
"We entered a couple of outside competitions which added to the cost, but basically all the teams in Middleton are faced with finding a similar amount before they even kick a ball.
"It costs £600 a season to rent a pitch from Rochdale Council, and if you are drawn away in cup competitions that could be for as little as eight home games. It's £200 to join the league, and referees cost £25 a game. Then there’s kit washing and County FA fees and player insurance.
"Most teams will be paying between £80 and £100 per home game and they are struggling to find the money.
"This is where the FA should be making money available to either the leagues, to allow them to cut their fees, or to clubs to help them pay for pitches. That is the biggest cost, and the standard of pitches and maintenance is poor, to say the least, on Bowlee and Parkfield, but they still cost up to £200 a year more than those in south Manchester which are of a far superior standard.
"If some of the money currently flowing around the FA following the latest TV and sponsorship deals doesn’t find its way to the parks then the future is not good for leagues around the country."
The changing face of Middleton has also caused problems for stalwarts trying to keep clubs afloat.
Whereas a decade ago most teams were based in a pub or working men’s club and able to organise raffles, football cards and fund-raising evenings to finance the teams, most are now stand alone clubs.
"At Celtic we were able to get a sponsorship deal with Langley Friery which paid for half our pitch fees, but it is becoming increasingly difficult to find sponsorship," Horan said.
"Some of the FA money needs to come to open age football or there will be nowhere for players to go when they are too old for the junior ranks.
"I can see a situation where the Middleton League will be just one division, and that is not the fault of the league or its officials, and it is the same with long-established leagues throughout the country.
"Working patterns have changed dramatically over the past decade, and if players are being asked to give up a day’s work and then have to dig into their own pockets for subs, it is asking a lot of them."
Most recent 2 of 2 user comments
17/06/2008 at 05:53
Got an opinion you want to share?| Card | BT Fee |
| Capital One BT Exclusive | 3.0% |
| Virgin Credit Card | 2.98% |
| Barclaycard Platinum 'As on TV' | 2.9% |
| Capital One Platinum | 3.0% |
| Lloyds TSB Platinum MasterCard | 3.0% |
| Company | Typical APR |
| Moneyback Bank | 8.4% |
| Alliance & Leicester | 8.7% |
| Halifax (Semi-exclusive) | 8.8% |
| Bank of Scotland (Semi-exclusive) | 8.8% |
| Barclays | 8.9% |
| Provider | AER* |
|
ICICI BANK HiSAVE Fixed Rate Account |
7.20% |
|
ICICI BANK HiSAVE Fixed Rate Account |
7.00% |
|
ICICI BANK HiSAVE Fixed Rate Account |
7.00% |
|
ARRAY(0x2baa8fcd2c80) 6 Month Fixed Rate Savings Account |
6.60% |
Mike Hennifer
19/06/2008 at 12:41