- Jul 30, 2013
- 1,159
- 1,357
From Nortons website:
"STATEMENT FROM THE CLUB
It is with great regret to announce that Norton United Football Club has made a difficult decision to resign from The Northern Premier League at the end of the 2014/15 Season. The club will not be seeking a position in any lower league within the FA National Leagues Structure for any of its teams.
This was obviously a very difficult decision and everyone at the club is understandably disappointed that after many years of hard work by all including the Staff, Management team and Players the club has found itself in this position.
After getting Norton United to the Northern Premier League Standard and reaching the FA Cup First Round Proper this season, it is unfortunate that what has happened at the Community Drive ground the club feels they no longer can carry on.
The club having lost the ground and with it their identity that has been built working with the local community over many years there is simply no future as things stand.
The club were asked by the Trustees of the Welfare to pay a rent of £650 for each home game, this year we played 30 home games, and for next season that would equate to approximately £20,000. The club found this extortionate and unsustainable if current standards were to be maintained.
The club was also told that negotiations were to be held to decide the fees for the second and third teams to play on the ground.
As previously the club were happy to do their bit financially. In previous years they have paid for ground maintenance, ground refurbishment and provided vital funds by the teams and supporters using the bar including various Sportsman’s dinners, creating substantial business for the main club.
The club without their own ground can no longer rely on local sponsors, who have been very kind over the years. In addition the local support from the community has been fantastic.
Norton United Football Club will now lose generations of youngsters, nine teams including a girls’ team plus the Under 21s together with the three Adult teams.
THE COMMUNITY OF SMALLTHORNE HAS LOST A FOOTBALL CLUB THAT PUT THE AREA ON THE NATIONAL MAP.
Thank you for all your support from everyone at
NORTON UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB."
"STATEMENT FROM THE CLUB
It is with great regret to announce that Norton United Football Club has made a difficult decision to resign from The Northern Premier League at the end of the 2014/15 Season. The club will not be seeking a position in any lower league within the FA National Leagues Structure for any of its teams.
This was obviously a very difficult decision and everyone at the club is understandably disappointed that after many years of hard work by all including the Staff, Management team and Players the club has found itself in this position.
After getting Norton United to the Northern Premier League Standard and reaching the FA Cup First Round Proper this season, it is unfortunate that what has happened at the Community Drive ground the club feels they no longer can carry on.
The club having lost the ground and with it their identity that has been built working with the local community over many years there is simply no future as things stand.
The club were asked by the Trustees of the Welfare to pay a rent of £650 for each home game, this year we played 30 home games, and for next season that would equate to approximately £20,000. The club found this extortionate and unsustainable if current standards were to be maintained.
The club was also told that negotiations were to be held to decide the fees for the second and third teams to play on the ground.
As previously the club were happy to do their bit financially. In previous years they have paid for ground maintenance, ground refurbishment and provided vital funds by the teams and supporters using the bar including various Sportsman’s dinners, creating substantial business for the main club.
The club without their own ground can no longer rely on local sponsors, who have been very kind over the years. In addition the local support from the community has been fantastic.
Norton United Football Club will now lose generations of youngsters, nine teams including a girls’ team plus the Under 21s together with the three Adult teams.
THE COMMUNITY OF SMALLTHORNE HAS LOST A FOOTBALL CLUB THAT PUT THE AREA ON THE NATIONAL MAP.
Thank you for all your support from everyone at
NORTON UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB."