Long trips aren’t helping our plight
I WOULD like to thank The NLP for highlighting our sorry plight at Basingstoke Town Community FC (NLP, February 9). It is a sorry mess, but we are determined to keep the club alive.
Unfortunately, the ‘missing’ Covenant, is an unwelcome distraction, nobody can agree, whether it is still legal. The only way to find if it is legal, is for a legal challenge to our eviction to be made. Who is going to fund this?
We are running out of time, as [chairman] Terry [Brown] said, we must start the upgrade by March 31. With the money to carry out the upgrade, tied to a successful planning application, talk about the Covenant, can only delay the process. Even if we find an alternative way to fund the start of the upgrade, there is no guarantee, we will get the money refunded.
One thing we could do without, is the amount of travelling in BetVictor Southern Premier Division One South. We have multiple trips to the Bristol area, plus trips to Barnstaple, Bideford and Cinderford. You cannot expect players to drive long distances, play a match, and drive back, so you have to hire a coach.
We recently paid £550 for a coach to take us to Cinderford. On arrival, the pitch was shrouded in fog. At 3.30 pm, the referee finally called off the match.
So, we will have to go there again on a Tuesday night, this will mean an early- hours return to Basingstoke, thus putting off fans who may have to work next day. At this level, maximum driving time should be an hour and a half.
DAVID WHITE via email