ABBOTS REVEAL CLOSURE THREAT

CRISIS club Abingdon Town could fold in February after nearly 150 years if they cannot clear their debuts, their new chairman has warned.

Joe Bailey, who along with two others took over the Hellenic Division One East Abbots at the end of October, said that £20,000 is currently needed to save the club.

“Due to the current position of the club, we have negligible financial resources,” Bailey said. “Funds are desperately needed for referees fees, training, ground care, and for desperate improvements to our facility.

“We have encountered a lot of FA fines due to unplayed games and some existing fouls from before we took over the club.

“The reality is, unless we can clear this debt we won't have a club come February 2019.

“The club desperately needs a new kitchen as the current one has been deemed unsafe. We have ripped the old one out but need to find £7000 for the lease hire of a new one. This is one of the club's single biggest earners.

“We have been blessed with free help but we are struggling, to afford the gear we need.”

The club was founded in 1870 as Abingdon FC. After spells in the Hellenic, Spartan and Isthmian League, in 2014 they dropped down to the North Berkshire League, and did not play at all during 2016-17. However, they returned in Hellenic Two East in 2017 and last season won promotion.