10th tier club on brink of extinction after ‘devastating’ funding cut

10th tier club Billingham Synthonia are reportedly on the brink of extinction after suffering a ‘devastating’ funding cut.

The club, who play their football in the Northern League Division Two, could have to fold just under a year util their centenary celebrations.

They have issued an urgent appeal for donations to keep the club alive or face the sad blow at the end of this season after with the main source of income pulled out.

Synthonia have taken to social media to update supporters on the situation of the club, with a JustGiving page being set up to raise those much needed funds so the club remains afloat.

They were founded in 1923, and named after an agricultural fertiliser, with Synthonia a contraction of “synthetic ammonia” – a product manufactured by ICI.

They have been members of the Northern League ever since and hope the money raised will help them celebrate their 100th anniversary next year.

The club had helped kick start a number of footballing careers, one being Brian Clough, who moved to boyhood club Middlesbrough from Synthonia then to local rivals Sunderland.

Synthonia had to leave their old stadium at Central Avenue in 2017 due to the cost of upgrading the ground, and since went to Norton Sports Complex a few miles down the road.

However, they were dealt with another problem, being forced out of the sports complex at the end of the season, meaning their 99 years of club history could be over in just months time.

In the statement released on social media on Thursday, the club confirmed they had spoken to the players on Wednesday night and hope the team can ‘stick together’ at this tough time.

The statement read: “Due to unforeseen circumstances, our main source of income has decided to randomly pull out of the club leaving us in a bad situation.

“This is no fault of anyone currently involved with the day-to-day running of the club but it is now going to be a struggle to survive. Rest assured the club will do everything we can to continue and take this club to the level it deserves.

“The club has meetings set up with potential investors and hoping all goes well with them.”

Billingham Synthonia Secretary Jay Wathey spoke to Teesside Live about what the future holds for the club.

Jay, a supporter of the club since he was a child, said: “The committee were told last week that the funding was being cut completely out of the blue. We told the players last night who were just in complete silence, a lot of them are still trying to process it but still trained as normal ahead of Saturday’s game against Willington.

“The club has had a lot of stumbling blocks over the years and now we’re looking to raise £10,000 to keep us alive until the end of the season. We’re hoping to get in touch with local clubs to ground share as we’re looking for a new home, and we all are keeping our fingers crossed for potential new sponsors which will benefit us massively.

“I’m just devastated if I’m honest, I really hope Synthonia can be saved because we deserve to celebrate our centenary next year.

“Boro, Hartlepool and Darlington have all been in similar financial situations with Boro fans helping out in the past, so I hope fans from the clubs are able to come down to Norton on Saturday to support the team. We’ll be doing a collection there and any donation will help.”

You can give a donation by Billingham Synthonia’s Just Giving Page.

Fans reacted with the 10th tier club on the brink of extinction after the ‘devastating’ funding cut…

So sorry to hear something is so common in non league football these days. Hopefully you can pull through it. All the best and Good Luck 💛

— The Yellow Army (@YellowArmy1881) February 3, 2022

@quakerette: Hope you get sorted soon.Not good seeing non league clubs suffering.

@rayner1986: Best of luck Synners, had many great times visiting the old Central Avenue & just watching you’s at Norton in the DCC a couple of week ago. Hate seeing local clubs struggle and hope you get to achieve those goals

@FrankHorsley67: Tenner donated. Good luck from exile down in Notts.

@TownU23s: Hope yous get sorted. Not nice to see clubs struggling

@shakerite66: Very sad but maybe the start of a fan owned club which in the long run will benefit all . Hope my club @OfficialBuryAFC can help with advice etc and maybe a bucket collection at our next home game.

@Kizzyetrance: Just a suggestion – Merge with Town and become Billingham United?

@BoroFootballEtc: Good luck from a South Banker, I know what it’s like. Many a fine game seen at Central Av, was also SB’s neutral ground for FA Cup 3rd and 4th replay’s, Wingate springs to mind, I will try and donate when I’m able.

@GHutchschoolof1: The club have done extremely well to survive since the move from Central Avenue with little or no supporters except the odd diehard. With no home ground, and a general apathy in Billingham as a whole, it’s going to be extremely difficult for any team to survive in the town.

@Jack_Nufcc: Hope you get everything sorted

@AStarBathrooms: Also if people could help the Synners out please do. The club have been left in a right hole.

@locko98: Really hope Synners can find a way out. Majority of my initial experiences of non-league football as a kid were at Central Avenue, a great club with a fantastic set up.

@jt24uk: They have my support. Love this club. Many happy memories attending games. Lets get behind them and support them pls

@hodgepodge96: A lot of memories playing and training at Syners old ground. A proper local non-league club that does a lot in the community. Fingers crossed they pull through for their centenary year