Football’s back... but at what cost?
Bacup manager delighted to take to the field – but questions decision with income streams so restricted
BACUP Borough are back in North West Counties League Division One North action this weekend when they travel to Ashton Town.
And with their last league fixture taking place almost two months ago Brent Peters’ men will be looking to continue in their good vein of form.
Before the season was postponed due to the national lockdown, Borough were unbeaten in their first three games with the side playing some attractive, dynamic football.
Over the past few weeks the players have continued to train in isolation, with head coach David Felgate keeping a watchful eye on them through GPS and sporting technology.
The team have also been in constant communication through Zoom chat in order to keep the momentum going amongst the group.
“Everybody is excited about kicking off again on Saturday, I’m just hoping that my lads can continue to show us what they’re capable of,” said Peters.
“Before the lockdown we were playing some quality stuff, they were playing with confidence, and confidence breeds confidence.
“Any manager will tell you that if you’re winning games week in week out you want to play everyday.
“We’ve played only that one game in the 1-0 defeat to Barnton in the FA Vase and it showed that we were lacking game time.
“You can train until the cows come home but it’s not the same as having minutes in the legs on a match day. Hopefully the lads will hit the ground running again away at Ashton Town and we’ll be on our way.”
While Peters welcomes the return of football, he is concerned that the game comes back with restrictions severly limiting clubs’ potential income streams – including the closure of bar and catering facilities. It’s a situation which could see clubs losing money on matchdays.
“It’s bonkers – nobody wants football back more than me, but to close the bar and refreshments facilities at our level of the game is madness,” he said.
“Any football club operating a bar needs that secondary income coming in.
“The turnstile does bring in a good level of income but it’s the bar and refreshments that really bring in the finance at our level.
“I’ve spoken to many clubs over the past few weeks and they say the same thing.
“If we can’t open the bar and catering facilities then what’s the point?
“The current situation will leave many clubs with a financial deficit on matchdays and nobody wants that, it’s a shambles.”
Borough match away at Ashton Town kicks off 3pm