In recent years one cannot not have missed the ‘support grassroots football’ tag, plastered on social media and elsewhere, extolling the virtues of the beautiful game, played, organised and administered by the supposed good and virtuous, far removed from the apparent greed of the high rollers of the Premier League.
Interestingly, the opening games of this season at the,
so-called, ‘grassroots’ level, have seen some clubs have reporting vastly
improved attendances, possibly caused by the ‘no fans’ policy at higher levels
due to the Covid restrictions, and the desire from some football fans to watch
a game, any game
However, it remains to be seen whether this increase is a
genuine renewal of interest in lower level non-league football and whether it
can be maintained. This
situation presents an incredible opportunity for clubs, particularly those who
normally play their matches in front of a sprinkling of die-hards, dim-wits, girlfriends,
dads, the curious and confused.
So, “Get involved with your local team” is the rallying
call. Another mantra is “Football is all
about of opinions”. But how much will
your view or opinion have in the running of your local club should you decide
that you wish to get involved? Perhaps the
contribution you are really being encouraged to make is limited to making tea,
cleaning, fund raising, editing a programme, selling raffle tickets, making
sandwiches, taking the gate money, rolling and cutting the pitch as, all too
often, many of these tasks are left to just a few individuals as it is
difficult to recruit new people on a regular and committed basis.
But as these tasks are necessary in the running of a football
club, the question is “Who is getting the true benefit?”
Certainly, the players will benefit but their contribution
is normally confined to playing a game of football. With
respect to them, many are hardly the hottest ticket in town. In fact, if they had been actors in a West End
production, playing to near empty theatres as many do, Cameron Mackintosh would have
closed the show long ago.
Clubs that lose money are commonplace and, unless one can
find a benefactor or soccer ‘Sugar Daddy’, the inevitable result can be merger,
the sale of a ground and ultimately extinction.
Football, at all domestic levels, has seen its share of Sugar
Daddies, from double glazing salesmen to Qatari Sheiks. But can they possibly care about the club as
much as the man or woman who makes the players’ after match tea and sandwiches? Investment, whether in cash, or in time and
effort, is always welcome, but the former rarely has the longevity and unconditional commitment of the latter.
One should distinguish between these
Sugar Daddies and many of the genuine ‘benefactors’ at lower leagues who have, or
continue to, contribute financially, and have worked hard behind the
scenes in efforts to keep a club going for little or no personal gain.
Some benefactors put money into the club, maybe
clearing debts, or contributing to a player’s budget. Unfortunately, in many cases, there are those
who do not part with their money without having strings attached and the
inevitable situation is that the club ‘owes’ him/her £xxx,000 and a new
position of club ‘owner’ is said to have been created.
Once a person assumes ownership of a club, the legal entity
changes from being a members’ club to that of a proprietary club. This means that all the assets of the club
belong to the owner, which is then run for the purpose of making a profit and
then owner can make whatever rules he or she thinks fit. Think of your club as a night club of which you are
member. There are no meetings, it is run
by the ‘owner’ and members are just customers.
The pay their subscriptions and enjoy the facilities/entertainment.
Some benefactors have become purported ‘owners’ of a club that was previously run and governed by members, because a real membership no longer existed, sometimes by the new owner excluding/cancelling/suspending membership, or by the remaining members handing over control of the club because of a promise to clear a debt or more funding in the future. Such significant constitutional changes should certainly involve the Football Association who, unfortunately, have been asleep at the wheel for years, as far as lower league non-league football is concerned.
These situations may be the hurdle by which many clubs are losing out on generating much needed
revenue during the present crisis.
Should a club decide to open itself up to
customers/clients/fans etc through an annual membership scheme, it could
benefit from a sure-fire way to raise funds, not just once, but every year. For example, if a club had 200 paid up members
(which is not beyond a step 5 club with serious intentions of reaching out to
its community) at an annual subscription of £20, it would raise £4,000
immediately and continue to do so each year. This income could prove to be a
life saver financially, not least with the additional revenue through merchandise, matchday
refreshments etc. and would also have the added benefit of inviting new ideas and initiatives into the club.
So why isn’t this happening?
Could it be because that a new influx of membership may, at
a properly convened meeting, vote against the wishes of the ‘benefactor/owner’
and thus take control? Ultimately, they
may vote the benefactor out of office.
But isn’t this the way a community club is run, for the benefit of the
community?
In some cases, ‘benefactor/owners’ have even tried to protect
their position by including in the club rules that anyone owed money by the
club cannot be voted off a committee. Once
again, such a rule, if constitutional in the first place, can be easily removed
by a members’ vote, but would certainly deter any sensible person from wishing to join that entity.
It would be marvellous if there was greater interest in lower
league and local football, but to adhere to their grassroots ‘motif’, the clubs,
leagues and the FA should get their house in order.
Would-be supporters may wish to ensure that the club in
which they intend to invest their time, goodwill and not least their money, is transparent
and open, and that they have a say in its management and decisions made.
The rules of some leagues compel their clubs to publish details
of the legal entity by which they trade.
However, this is not as vigorously enforced as one would expect. Even at level 9/ step 5, some clubs are
Limited Companies and, as such, unless a supporter is a shareholder, he/she has
no say in the running of the ‘club’.
Surely such exclusion of supporters gives the lie to the statement that grassroots football offers inclusion and the opportunity to be part of the club you choose to support.
Unfortunately, in such cases, the non-league supporter is really no different to the customers who shop
for their entertainment at more upmarket businesses such as Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal Football 'Clubs'.
