Witton Juniors Announcement - Newsletter #4
To all Junior Members, parents, and anybody else.
This is an announcement to everybody about the near future. After a meeting involving our Chairman, and the rest of the league, it looks very unlikely that there will be any more League Games this month, but as always, that MIGHT change, but don’t bet on it.
HOWEVER, we do have a friendly game against Northwich Vics tomorrow Saturday 5th December (KICK OFF 1.30PM – NOTE THE EARLY TIME) which is open to supporters. It will be free for the Juniors (on production of your card), £1 for non-Junior Members, £2 for 18-21 year olds, £4 for over 65’s and disabled, and £6 for adults.
Due to current regulations, the Social Club, tea hut and the Junior Snack Bar will NOT be open, so sorry there will be no refreshments at all during this game.
However, when we play Bamber Bridge in the FA Trophy on Tuesday night (8th) I will open the Junior Snack Bar, but in the normal Witton tea hut. We hope to provide hot drinks as well as the usual soft drinks, sweets and chocolate, but that depends on being able to find another volunteer to help out.
The rules about being able to play matches are different as the FA decide on the rules to these games. The competition must finish on time, with the next game the following week if we win. But don’t forget your Junior Membership Cards are not allowed for this game due to it being a cup match.
We hope you can make both these games, as to be honest, we are looking for any way of making money in these hard times.
For all we know, the regulations might change again very soon, nobody knows. It might be for the better, or worse as the case may be.
So please, just be patient, and responsible, as we all need to follow the rules so that our families and friends can have the best possible Christmas, and look forward to the New Year, when perhaps we can all celebrate the end of this horrible time, and start living somewhere near normal again. It needs us all to help.
You may want to read the Chairman’s message concerning the League meeting which is available on the club website. Very recently, the Northern Premier League clubs have voted to suspend league games until such times that the situation improves. It’s slightly complicated, but in a nutshell, because of lack of funding from either the FA or the Government for our level of football, the only way we can meet the rules is to play behind closed doors (that means NO supporters), and that is impossible for smaller clubs. Witton are one of just 5 teams in the league in Tier 2, all the others being in Tier 3. It’s no real problem for the Premiership teams because of the massive sponsorship from the FA, Sky, BT and so on. Mostly they can afford to miss out on crowds, and still pay their players up to £150,000 PER WEEK, and spend £100 million on transfers. Unfortunately, few seem to care about football at Witton’s level and below. Witton are in a stronger position than many to survive, but we cannot afford to play without having supporters coming to our home games, or the Social Club being open. Unless something happens very soon, this seasons league will be abandoned the same as last season. Let’s hope we get some good news, so that we can start playing VERY SOON, but it needs either the Government or the FA (or both) to change their minds on helping out teams like Witton to continue.
I will report any changes that may happen which affects you all, as and when they happen, but certainly, I’ll be contacting before Christmas.
Until then, take care, stay safe, and see you soon.
Alan