GRANTS KEEP ’EM OUT OF WOODS!
GRANT aid can be crucial to help keep cash-strapped Non-League clubs afloat – just ask Northwood.
Clubs up and down the land have seen their finances take a massive hit over the last few months in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Once valuable revenue streams have completely dried up, while bills still need to be paid.
Isthmian South Central Division Woods have been in that boat and long-serving secretary Alan Evans admitted the Middlesex club are grateful for the grants they’ve received to keep the wolf from the door.
“We’ve been happy with the amount of help that’s been offered by the government through local government and also through Sport England and the Football Foundation,” said the 57-year-old, who also fulfils the role of treasurer.
“That’s been crucial to keep us on an even keel – without those grants we would be in deep trouble. All told, we’ve received about £19,000 from various organisations and that’s not bad for a club of our size.
“We’ve probably lost more than that with the clubhouse not being open, not having corporate bookings and tournaments not being on, but it’s hit the spot quite well.
“We aren’t in a bad position, but now we have to start thinking about the next month or two. Our kit sponsors are with us for another season and we are in discussion with two other major sponsors.
“We are hopeful, but until they say they are going to continue we have to be very cagey about how we proceed for next season in terms of players, expenses and money we can offer. We haven’t set a budget for the season.”
Speculation about when the new season could begin has been rife of late, but the Isthmian League have been at pains to stress that nothing has been decided as yet and that they are in the hands of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
Last month, the FA also stated that DCMS approval held the key when they held a meeting with Step 5 and 6 clubs.
Hopes of a September start were raised when DCMS published their return to recreational team sport framework on Thursday, though there are still hurdles to clear before National League System football (Steps 1 to 7) can begin.
The FA previously put forward possible scenarios for how the season could shape up depending on when it kicks off. The suggestion was that if the season began in September or October, full league seasons would be a priority with no league and county cups.
But Evans, who has served Woods since 1987, believes trying to complete a league campaign if the season did ultimately kick off in October would be an ambitious target.
“I wouldn’t be confident of a full league season, especially if you’ve got the FA Cup, Trophy and Vase, too,” he said. “If you start in October, you have lost seven or eight games which you would have to fit in. You’d have to have midweek games throughout winter and it’s unlikely they’d all go ahead.
“Ideally, you’d want to start earlier than October with the FA Cup. You’ve got to start playing fairly swiftly to get the preliminary and qualifying rounds done because they won’t move the proper rounds.
“I don’t think it’s crucial for us to have a start date now, but we would like to know it. The players are back in training just one day a week and they are still under restrictions.”