Ex-Conference club ‘won’t field a team’ for the 2021/22 season

An ex-Conference club revealed this month that they ‘won’t field a team’ for the 2021/22 season, leaving their fans saddened.

In August 2020, Droylsden first announced that they have had to resign from the Northern Premier League ahead for the 2020-21 campaign.

They were one of around 20 clubs to withdraw from their league during the Covid pandemic, with a bulk of those being more recent due to the struggling finances.

A statement issued last year read: “Droylsden Football Club have as of today resigned from the Northern Premier League and will also take no part in Cup Competition this season

”In a letter sent to the Northern Premier League Chairman Dave Pace described the decision as the most difficult he has ever had to make.

”In a letter sent to the Northern Premier League Chairman Dave Pace described the decision as the most difficult he has ever had to make.

”However the disruption caused by the Covid-19 crisis has left him with no alternative.

”The closing of the social club and its function rooms since the start of the pandemic, the main income source with no indication of any restart on viable trading terms along with a loss of income from the club’s main sponsor has left the club with no visible alternative income stream during the crisis.

“The club may hopefully survive this crisis and continue into the future in less challenging circumstances than we find ourselves in during the present”

”The club will be making no further statement at the present time.”

The club has stayed rather quiet on their future ever since then, though that was until summer 2021, when they gave a further update with league allocations being made public.

Droylsden announced that they will not be fielding a team in competition for the forthcoming season due to the financial situation.

CLUB STATEMENT:

Droylsden Football Club have announced this morning that they will not be fielding a team in competition this season due to the financial situation brought about by the Covid 19 pandemic.

Club Chairman Dave Pace told the website that current uncertainty around the pandemic regulations meant that it was impossible to know when the club’s function rooms, a major contributor to club finances, would be able to open normally and that the pandemic had seriously effected the income of its current sponsor.

The football club had, he told us, been heavily subsidised by him since he took over as Chairman over thirty years ago and and as manager in 1996

During that time the club reached the top of the non league pyramid.

While not being able to predict when football would resume at the Butchers Arms, Mr Pace said that that if the circumstances were right he would consider resuming the playing side again if the financial circumstances allowed.

There will be no further statement from the club

– STATEMENT ENDS –

Fans reacted after seeing that the ex-Conference club ‘won’t field a team’ for the 2021/22 season…

@PaulRoo6Times: Very Sad News 😢 Brilliant little club and such a good set up and brilliant people around the club 🙏 Was hoping may have had a chance returning to the Manchester Leagues for next season but obviously isn’t the case, hope the club returns one day 🤞 ❤️⚽️⚽️⚽️

@danny7broome: Open the clubhouse, cover the pitch with tables throughout the summer and let’s get some money in, gutted, was looking forward to watching some games again next season

@CTH07243007: 😞😞😞

@Brianhesmondha2: Sad news hope one day we can get back and support dave and the team

@DFCLee90: Upsetting that we can’t see football at the butchers again this season however the quote that should it become viable to play again it will resume is a positive quote.

@paulEdw78526396: Sad news. Surely someone can back the club?

@AndyMur95052602: Absolutely gutted followed every game and result even up in Newcastle let’s hope to the see the guys back sooner rather than later

@gnefc1: Like everyone else I am saddened by this news. I am sure Dave has explored every available option before arriving at this decision. May be a good idea to give the fans the full picture and see if they can come up with anything?

@briylfc: Real sad statement. Great club. Great fans. Shame that ground not being used. Best wishes for the future

@sean_heald: Shame as it’d really give the community something to look forward to at weekends and midweek, surely some local businesses would sponsor the club in exchange for some funding, even the local community would donate I’m sure. Hopefully they have a rethink and get a team out there.

@elsworth33: Can we not explore the possibility of a community club with our involvement .

@ref64: Sorry to hear this news , one of my favourite away day when Hinckley were in the conference North

@MarkAJames70: Dave has the clubs best interest on every decision he makes. It’s a sad day but hopefully we can return stronger #DerbyBlood

@tibbott99: Gutted for you all again. Such a shame.

@nonleaguewriter: A second season out for Droylsden, sadly. Fingers crossed they can come back next year

@Freddie_Alty: Sad this, good memories of going here 🍻

@CatTomlisson: Sad to see that there’ll be another season without this lot, fingers crossed for them for 22/23!