CHUCK IN A PIE TO HELP CLUBS

THIS terrible Coro-navirus pandemic has had a devastating impact on the finances of our Non-League fraternity.

- Tony INCENZO

Teams had their fixtures suspended in March and subsequently received no gate receipts for months of lockdown.

For a number of clubs at various levels of the Pyramid, the loss of clubhouse activity has been even more significant. Not just bar revenue but also the vital income that would normally have been generated from hiring out facilities for functions such as birthday parties and wedding receptions.

These are really tough times and I am truly amazed that hundreds of clubs haven’t gone bust.

So where do we go from here? Rather than looking back in anger, I believe we have to develop a strong contingency plan to promote a healthy future for our NonLeague game.

In effect, this must start straight away. Spectators are now gradually being allowed back into Non-League grounds, albeit in limited numbers at some levels of the Pyramid.

Whilst the Premier League and Football League continue to have their matches behind closed doors, we can attract new supporters to our Non-League fixtures going forward with a view to the long-term.