9th tier club at risk of folding make plea to save their future

9th tier club Newark FC, who are at risk of folding, make a big plea to the public and local community to help save their future.

The United Counties League Premier Division North outfit, who currently play at Basford, fell to a 2-1 defeat away at Boston Town on the 22nd of January, before getting a 4-0 hammering at Gresley Rovers on Saturday, however more important issues were on their mind.

Two early goals from Boston Town’s Luke White and Harry Limb was enough to give Boston Town all three points as Newark failed to produce a second half comeback, even if Romello Nangle got a consolation.

#SaveOurClub @advertisergroup @tisersport #NonLeague #Newark #TheHighWayMen https://t.co/8F8U7ZlFu0 pic.twitter.com/SvEVEJL2JZ

— Newark Football club 🍊 (@NewarkFC2) January 30, 2022

Then at the weekend just gone, a hat-trick from Steve Hart and a strike from Alex Morris helped Gresley ease past Newark at the Moat Ground, winning 4-0 on Saturday afternoon.

Newark joint manager Paul Rawden spoke about how difficult life has been for his side on and off the field.

“We have got no chairman, no ground and no money so, putting the performance aside, we are doing well to get a team out to represent the town under these trying circumstances,” said Rawden after the Boston game.

“If we can continue to get a side out like that until the end of the season we will have done a miraculous job.

“Saturday was a narrow defeat against a team that has lost only four games, but unfortunately for us we have a run of games against the top sides, continuing with Gresley Rovers away on Saturday (3pm kick-off).”

Rawden said while their future remained unclear, they had a productive meeting with members of Newark and Sherwood District Council regarding a return to the town last Monday.

“Our future is all on the council to be honest,” he said.

“If the council cannot provide the football club with a home there will be no football club because we cannot continue to play out of the town — it is as simple as that.

“We need to be back in our home town.

“It is staggering that it got to this stage, but we have had a very productive meeting with the council, which was last Monday, and now we have somebody who we can talk to and who is exploring our situation.

“We also have a fantastic core of supporters and it is worth fighting for.

“Even if we find a spot of land that we can develop ourself, at least there is a plan. Without that plan, I can’t see how the club continues.”

On Sunday night, Newark wrote via their Facebook: “Good morning everyone.

“As most of you are aware the club is on the look out for some land to bring the football club home.

“We have been working tirelessly to find some land that’s in or around the outskirts of the town.

“Enough for the club to strive and move forward.

“We now open our arms and ask you our amazing supporters for help.

“Does anyone know of any land that would get the club home. Please feel free to share, ask and make enquiries and feed back to us.

“The club needs you more than ever now. We need to stay POSITIVE.

“Yesterday at Gresley, 350+ fans there supporting their club.

“We know we as a club can easily match this.

“Much love and thanks again for your continued support and efforts. Newark FC”

A donation page has been launched in a bid to raise £1,000 to bring Newark Football Club home and some of the money will also go to Help For Heroes. See that HERE.

The site says: “Newark Football club is a 50 plus year old community football club, whose ground was sold from beneath them for property development in 2021.

“With hundreds of children and thousands of users in general using this facility. It is imperative that we find a facility to bring the football club back to the town.

“Any funds raised will go towards the search for land which is currently very close and then the development of the ground as well as a donation to Help for Heroes.

“To raise funds we will be climbing Scafell Pike the highest Peak in England on the 6th February:

Taking part we have lifelong fans:

Jay Jay Coulter

Kasey Coulter

Will Turvey

Former Physio and Ex Army Ollie Beal

Former Player and Ex Army Sam Agar.

Current coach and Ex Army Paul Bullock

1st Team Manager and Ex Army Steve Kirkham

All your support is massively appreciated as we continue our fight to bring Newark FC back to Newark!

After 120 years, Lowfields hosted it’s last game this morning. @NwkFlowserveFC – Newark FC 8 – 1 Fernwood. The ground is now being dismantled before the gates are locked on Friday. pic.twitter.com/RpQ5Wg4jPY

— Marbles (@MarblesRadio) April 25, 2021

It was in April 2021, that Newark FC has announced a season-long groundshare for the 2021-22 season.

The club made the announcement after ‘a period of uncertainty regarding the future of Lowfields and Newark Football Club’, following the Section 25 notice (under the Landlord and Tenants Act 1954) issued by the landowner Charles Collier.
In a statement, the club said: “We are now in a position to announce we have agreed a season long groundshare opportunity with a Nottinghamshire club for the 2021-22 season and thereby assuring the continuance of the football club.

“We would like to thank everyone who has supported the club in our attempts to stay at our home — Lowfields — and we greatly appreciate and respect the efforts by members of the community, our fans and supporters.

“These efforts were unable to secure our continued operation from Lowfields or indeed the longevity of the grounds.

“However, we do not believe they were in vain, as they showed the depth of feeling for the Lowfields site as a community asset, and a location for sporting activity.

“Unfortunately, with very few options left available to us, we have taken these steps to assure the future of the football club.

“We are in discussions to ensure that the football club returns to Newark, where it belongs, for the 2022-23 season.

“More details on the groundshare and any progress on the discussions will be released over the coming weeks.

“As mentioned above, the continued support of our fans and supporters has been instrumental in the clubs progression over the last four years, and is something the club does not underestimate.

“We hope you will continue to support us through what will continue to be a difficult period and through a long, tough season both on and off the pitch.

“Our aims are to secure the future and status of the football club and to return to Newark, back to the community we have been made to feel an integral part of.

“Even though we will be operating away from the town and its surrounding communities, we will continue to support the community in every way we can.”

Twitter users reacted with the 9th tier club at risk of folding as they make a plea to save their future…

@LukeClutterbuck: #FuckDerbySaveNewark

@EmmaGroundGuide: It’s so sad to see the state the club is in compared to just a couple of years ago. A thriving club with ever growing support now has no chairman, no ground & no money. I just hope they can find somewhere in the town before its too late. https://emmasgroundguide.co.uk/newark-fc-lowfields/

@MatthewBoot: If theres a club to save, save this one!

@tomcorley82: Look at the town, new leisure centre, not much if any better than the last, New fire station, 3 bays like before lets build houses next too a new 3 bay station, can’t we build a 6 bay station for the growth of the town. Wished I was a councillor

@tomcorley82: Let’s hope it was a goood meeting, cos the council’s shocking too be honest, newarks more behind than Cape Verde where I am right now writing this message!!!!!!