‘End of an era’ – Club fold after 101 years of existence

A non league club based in the eleventh tier of English football have announced they will fold after 101 years of existence.

Percy Main Amateurs Football Club who are from the Tyne and Wear had been members of the Northern Alliance Premier Division and played home matches at Purvis Park.

However they have now made the unfortunate and sad decision to dissolve with the pandemic making it tough to survive, especially with no fans able to come through the turnstiles.

CLUB STATEMENT:

Most regrettably, Percy Main Amateurs FC have this week submitted notice of resignation to the Northern Football Alliance (with effect from the end of the current season and after the raft of forthcoming Challenge cup fixtures) and will fold once the season is done.

The famous old club, which can boast one of local football’s most scenic and atmospheric grounds at Purvis Park, was named after Alan Purvis who gave more than 50 years service to the club as player, manager and chairman, just one of a host of people who have given their all. and often in difficult circumstances, to ‘The Villagers’ over the years.

Founded in 1919, or maybe ‘refounded’ (it is thought by many that it was actually operating before the Great War and a ghostly framed team photograph hangs on the pavilion wall, mysteriously titled ‘Percy Main AFC 1912-13’ as those very early days, remain a bit of a mystery) and having only ceased playing for the hostilities of WW2, while The Main have competed in the Northern Alliance for the past 53 seasons, but sadly this will be the last……

I realise that this may come as a ‘bolt from the blue’ to some and the decision has not been taken lightly, but unfortunately this has been coming and the current season in particular, has found the club desperately short of help behind the scenes, both on a matchday basis and as regards to the many tasks which have to be carried out through the week in order to maintain football at Percy Main.

Sadly one of the pitfalls of having a ground and building which come under the sole responsibility of the club, as opposed to hiring a facility that many do at our playing level.

In some respects the covid pandemic and subsequent lockdown(s) have perhaps and in a strange way done us a favour, as we may have struggled to operate, with games coming week in and week out, in what would have been a ‘normal’ season.

During latter years, the club has advertised for help on a regular basis, but perhaps understandably people have a lot more personal commitments these days, as the working week has encompassed weekends and evenings for many and there are plenty of other things to do (Well there will be after June, hopefully) and times have changed as regards to a Northern Alliance football club and its standing within the local community..

Allied to this, Percy Main AFC had set out on an ambitious (perhaps over ambitious, in hindsight) but very necessary project to demolish and rebuild the club’s pavilion and had finally, during the summer of 2019 been granted planning permission by North Tyneside Council, spending a 5 figure sum (architect fees, a bat survey, getting rid of Japanese knotweed, computer generated images etc) to achieve this, not to mention the time and effort. It had been hoped that this might have generated more interest, but alas….

The downside was soon realised and mainly due to the club’s single adult team status, it has not been possible to achieve the significant amount of funding required to have the work carried out, while because of reduced numbers ‘behind the scenes’ Percy Main AFC also does not have enough personnel on board to facilitate our side of the work, should the required capital magically appear.

It has to be said though that even in the bleakest of times, a number of people have rallied round and the football family has extended its hand of support to the club, ensuring that football continued at Purvis Park during recent times;

Special thanks go to main sponsors, Tony and David Short from ADS-Aircon Ltd, which has supported and encouraged the club unstintingly during the past 6 years, both financially and otherwise.

Also our team manager for the past 3 and a half years, Steve Hurd who has gone way over and above his playing remit, spending countless hours on any number of (often unseen) tasks, such as strip washing, erecting goals, replacing pitch divots and hours of work within the pavilion’s interior that have needed doing behind the scenes on behalf of the club, along with Julie and without whose efforts, we probably wouldn’t have even started the 2020-21 season.

Most generous donations from local clubs, who could surely need the funds themselves, Birtley Town, Heaton Stannington, Whitley Bay and their Supporters Club and who could forget North Shields supporters and players ‘whip round’ which raised £442 prior and during the Gary Hull Memorial Trophy match of 2015?

The Whitley Bay supporter who insisted that he give his gate money to Percy Main after his own team’s game was called off, the elderly gent who used to play for Earsdon Sports FC in the 1950’s and remembered how his team had been kept going by a donation of second hand strips from Percy Main and insisted that he pay for those strips some 60 years later.

Those who have served on the club’s committee, or helped out behind the scenes in days gone by, PMA supporter Keith Bell, champion raffle ticket seller who has barely missed a game lately and supported every initiative that the club has put on, John and Joan Hull great supporters along with son Gary, sadly missed and remembered every year on his Memorial trophy day – great football occasions.

All those kind folk who donated to our JustGiving’ site at the beginning of the current season, especially those from other clubs, those who fired through random donations, taken out pitch hoardings, bought season tickets, the long sufferers who hand over a couple of quid at the door on matchdays, bought a drink and a hot dog and those who drop their change into the ‘Donations’ tin, thanks again. (Sorry if I’ve missed anyone off)

It’s made it worthwhile – sort of!

Perhaps the dwindling PMA committee deserves credit for maintaining football through recent challenging times, (with no small assistance from the above) as many clubs from a similar level have gone the journey years prior, perhaps it deserves criticism for not kicking on and expanding as conversely several others have done. Who knows?

The club will fulfil it’s remaining Challenge cup fixtures for this season which will get underway next month.

If any local football devotee has a magic wand, a fortune or a fairy godmother, we’d love to hear from you……

Failing that, one day Percy Main Amateurs may rise again, I hope so!

– STATEMENT ENDS –

The club one won a Northumberland Minor Cup, beating Byker St. Lawrence 2–1 in the final at Croft Park in Blyth in front of a crowd of around 5,000 with a special train having been put on to bring fans up from Percy Main.

They have also played at Newcastle United’s St James’ Park, beating Stockton 3–1 in the final of a local cup competition the ‘Amateur Shield’.

They also managed to get as far as the Fifth Round in the FA Vase back in 1982–83.

Fans reacted after seeing that the non league club will fold after 101 years of existence…

@carl_philipson: Very sad news. People constantly moaning about NUFC when they have great non league clubs like @PercyMainFC on their doorstep. Good luck and hopefully that magic wand might get waved. From all Blue Star fans 🔵⭐️

@TUSSFC: Devastating news 😔 The people at PMA are amongst the best in north east non league football. A proper club which will be hugely missed.

@IggyPopBarker: Hopefully it may spur people into action and a long term solution can be found. Putting money the clubs way will fix things in the short term but as we know at this level, clubs live and die by their volunteers. Hopefully this will encourage the help needed to step forward.

@TheBruise: Wow sad news that lovely little ground and club sign of the times I fear. Hope something can be sorted before it’s to late

@WhitleyBayFC: Very sad news but unfortunately it’s a sign of the times, with so many clubs struggling for survival when it’s so hard to recruit younger volunteers.

@PaulEllis_8: This is absolutely devastating news! So sad to see such a good club go under! been involved in many great games at this club over the years and they always treated officials really well, sad sad loss to the North East football community

@kenniem09: Very sad news to see a well know club come to an end

@billyredhead1: Really sad when you see the amount of cash washing around EPL clubs in terms of salaries and bonus payments.

@DanielE83766740: Such sad news for the club and for the local community but hopefully something like creating a fundraising page or creating a percy main lottery like all of the other clubs have been doing until grassroots football return on March 29 and went up the division in years to come

@toonpete85: Oh no this is awful news, I only managed to get to one home and one away game (both against @nbsfc2018) but very glad I was able to do so! A great club with great people involved, hopefully something can be sorted. Sad times

@83dkinnersley: sadly a real sign of the times in grassroots football many struggling to survive the harsh reality of running a amateur club, extremely sad for all involved in north east football & those who have put a lot of time & energy into the running of @PercyMainFC over the years

@_dansouter: Absolutely gutted, a belter of a football club ran by some of the nicest people you’ll meet and a class little ground to play at. Hopefully the decision changes before the end of the season
Crossed fingers

@dlavery62: I’m extremely sad to hear this. I love the ground and clubhouse and have looked forward to North Shields’ game there every year. Great statement by the club, very dignified.

@scotty8461: Very sad news but it isn’t all about finance all local clubs like PMA Need volunteers if you have some time on your hands why dont you contact them and see if you can help out. #Supportyourlocalclub

@redaz7: Very sad news for such an amazing club. I,ve made so many memories and met some truly amazing people along the way. #UTM

@shavey83: Terribly sad news but i know one that wont have been taken lightly without exhausting all avenues. Praying this may jolt a few people in to action and the club can remain playing

@881the: Gutted, i feel privileged that i did get to see you play at home a couple of years ago. I couldve gone anywhere that day but i chose to watch you take on Gateshead.

@chrisdh1: Really sad news – loved my time playing at Percy main. Gutted for Norman and Bob rodge – Gary hull and old pat RIP

@elliotcowens_: Such a shame, always enjoyed Percy Main- a great local club with the clubs best interests always at heart-all the best for the future

@AlbertTatlock20: This is really sad news, Percy Main was my first ever match when I lived close by. Part of my history gone.

@willscottwriter: Sad! Played there several times and loved the ground, pitch and club house. Some happy memories.

@garywigg072: Loved my time at the club

@Ashington_FC: Sorry to hear this, we’ve always enjoyed our meetings in competitive games or friendlies. Times are changing sadly and volunteers are few and far between these days.

@CraigBell8: Very sad news for local football. Something has to be done to keep these clubs going. The FA needs to step in and support the clubs up and down the country.

@AndyP01968: Another non league club with history vanishes. sad newd

@Liam_Smithh: Sad day for non-league football

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