Fans left gutted as non league club announce they will fold

Fans have been left gutted this weekend as a non league club announce that they will fold along with withdrawing from their league.

Over the last few months, a number of clubs, believed to be around 17, have revealed they are either folding, stepping down or simply not able to put out a team.

This along with Bury’s expulsion, Wigan going into administration and the planned introduction of FC Isle of Man and the new Bury AFC club could see spaces needed to fill various divisions throughout the non league pyramid, or at least you’d think that would happen.

The Football Association said in a meeting with leagues at Steps 5-6: “Even if a league at a higher step has a vacancy caused by a club folding or requesting voluntary relegation, NO Promotion will occur and that league will run short.

FC Oswestry Town, who ground-shared with The New Saints, has made the extremely sad and difficult decision that due to recent circumstances and the current economic climate that we have no alternative other than to dissolve the club and step down from their division.

They were members of the North West Counties League Division One South, finishing second behind already title winners Vauxhall Motors, before the season was made null and void.

The club said on Twitter: “It is with a heavy heart that FC Oswestry Town have made the sad decision to fold the club. The difficult decision has been made due mainly to the Coronavirus Pandemic that resulted in the curtailing of the North West Counties League and the FA’s ruling to make the 2019/20 season null and void which robbed us of a hard earned promotion.

“The committee has been working hard over the past 4 months but due to financial difficulties that we are currently facing we are unable to keep the club alive in the professional and competitive way that everyone involved with the club would like.

“Financial difficulties due to the denial of promotion to a higher league, no fixtures being played since March and no opportunities to raise funds externally means we are in no position to commit to the forthcoming season. As a club we have had an amazing short history with a hugely successful team that gained promotion to the North West Counties League.

“The success continued with this years fantastic team that was on the verge of promotion to Step 5 football and the FA Cup.

“We have had an amazing Journey. We would like to thank all the committee members, supporters and businesses that has helped us make our progress through the non-league football scene but unfortunately we were not able to replicate the success of the old Oswestry Town.

“Everyone involved with the club has spent the last few months trying to work out ways to keep this club alive and moving forward towards a brighter future, but unfortunately to no avail. We like to place on record our thanks to everyone involved with the North West Counties football League, for all their help since we have been in the league, and with the professional way the league is run.”

The league stated: “It is with sadness that the North West Counties Football League have received the resignation of FC Oswestry Town from the First Division South. This has reluctantly been accepted by the League Management Committee.

“Everyone at the league is saddened to receive this resignation and we wish everyone who is involved at the club the best of luck moving forward. Hopefully they can stay involved within the football family at some level.”

The club was formed in 2013 as a successor to Oswestry Lions, who had folded, and took the Lions’ place in Division One of the Mercian Regional League.

After finishing third in their first season, they were promoted to the Premier Division.

Their first season in the Premier Division saw the club finish fifth, as they also won the Commander Ethelstone Cup.

The club went on to win the Premier Division in 2015–16, earning promotion to Division One of the North West Counties League.

The season also saw them retain the Commander Ethelstone Cup as well as winning the League Cup and Shropshire Challenge Cup.

The 2016-17 season saw the club enter the FA Vase for the first time.

As mentioned, fans were left gutted as the non league club announce that they will fold…

Sad to see this. I fear it won’t be the last of these. Yet these clubs are a vital part of the community and we’ll need them back.

— Hector Nunns ??? (@senornunes) July 4, 2020

I’m sure a lot of our supporters would try and help any way we can. Hate to see any club go under having made such fantastic progress

— Rhys Gratton ????????? (@GrattonRhys) July 4, 2020

Really sad news, you’d made such high progress over the last few years.

— GavGav (@ShrewsGav) July 4, 2020

Incredibly sad news. So sorry for the club and the fans ?

— Ian Pearson (@shakerboy1885) July 4, 2020

Sad to see this happening to any club – hopefully there’s a future that will emerge from this somehow ?

— John Davies (@davies250395) July 4, 2020

Wow didnt expect this,sorry to hear?

— lee phelan (@pheloefc) July 4, 2020

Very sorry to hear this terrible news I wish everyone connected to the club the very best for the future.

— Craig Thompson (@1874Craig) July 4, 2020

I was told that the ground had been put into admimistratinon

— paul simon bailey (@paulsimonbaile1) July 4, 2020

Heartbreaking to lose any club ?? Fingers crosses you can start up again sooner rather than later

— Claret & Blue Pixels (@Dazzla84_SSFC) July 4, 2020

Dreadful news. Such a shame that COVID has robbed Oswestry Town of the chance of competing at a higher level but devastating news that the club is having to fold.

— Ian (@thedoc1304) July 4, 2020

Years & years of hard work by many past & present and it’s come to this. Absolutely gutted. I can’t imagine who will keep ownership of the name.

— Mark Shone (@mark_shone) July 4, 2020

Gutted for you guys. ?

— UP THE MARINERS! #StaySafe (@UTM_Mariners) July 4, 2020

Terrible. Too late for a crowdfunder? I am sure the football fan community would dig deep. I would be happy to chip in.

— UP THE DALE (@upthedale) July 4, 2020

So sorry to hear this @oswestrytown so many don’t understand how clubs like yours are at the heart of your community, and don’t see what an important role they play. Best wishes to everyone involved

— Ross Peacock (@rossp2112) July 4, 2020

I don’t know the circumstances here but unless it’s been totally mismanaged How in this time with all the billions in elite football is this even possible surely it’s time for FAs to look at how clubs can be helped after this horrendous time , shocking I feel for the clubs ?

— Wayne Crook (@Wcrook9) July 4, 2020