One chairman of a Northern Premier League club makes a plan to reach the National League in two years time, it has been revealed.
The club’s promotion hopes were hit by the coronavirus pandemic, prior to which the Nottingham based side looked in good contention for getting promoted.
An update has also been provided with details on an ‘exciting’ ground redevelopment plan as they hope to climb the leagues in forthcoming seasons.
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Basford United want to reach the same division as their neighbours Notts County in the next two years.
They are managed by Steve Chettle, a former player for Nottingham Forest, Barnsley, Walsall, Grimsby, Burton and Ilkeston, being going into management with the latter club and has also been caretaker at Notts County.
He guided the non league side to the playoff positions of the Northern Premier League Premier Division – which is three tiers below League Two.
Chairman and part-owner Chris Munroe said: “Our current season got curtailed quite early. We’re step three of the football pyramid, they curtailed everything below Notts County’s league, to be honest – that was the cut off.
“Our season unfortunately got voided which was a shame because we were obviously in the play-offs.
“We thought we had a good chance to go up but never mind. We were third in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, going into the last eight games. We were quite nicely set and I think we fancied our chances, to be honest.”
He made the admission that he hoped the club could reach the National League in the next two years.
On offering an updated vision for the Northern Premier League club and improving their ground, he said: “Now we think we can get in 120 (once the building is extended).
“It’s a massive boost – I think for the club if you can get 100-120 people in it makes it really viable for functions and all sorts of fundraising initiatives that you can’t do if you can only get about 30 in.
“From a club perspective it’s really big, it really opens us another stream of raising money that obviously is going to be very needed over the next few years.
“The community plan is even more exciting for me as well because it’s going to be open all day, we can have various community groups in there during the day and then in the evening it can revert into a bit more of a social use for the football club.
“It’s got really, really good social implications, this project, for the whole area.”
Basford have been given £25,000 from Buildbase to go towards improving facilities and getting in the materials as part of their renovation plans.
The extension will cost an additional £50,000, something the club will be looking to raise to meet the cost.
They are also planning to build two new stands at their Greenwich Avenue ground, which has been their home since 1991.
Aisling Kenny, HR Director at Buildbase, said: “The Buildbase £100K Transfer Deal is a real opportunity for us to give something back to non-league football and the communities that they are part of.
“We’re giving away much more than building materials to renovate their facilities, we’re providing clubs with the opportunity to grow and develop in the future. We’re delighted to award the latest product bursary to Basford United.
“They have such ambitious growth plans that will undoubtedly benefit not just the players and club, but the rest of the community who want to make use of their facilities.”
Basford have also recently unveiled their new kit for the 2020/21 season, and are ready to buy now.
Introducing the brand new @Basfordutdfc Liberal Sport home/away kits for the 2020/2021 season ?
Available in a range of colours now! https://t.co/jHEmJT5ZFc pic.twitter.com/8eGkqrQhuV
— LIBERAL SPORT (@liberalsport) May 3, 2020
They had a brilliant first day of sales with over £1,000 of orders taken, according to their commercial Twitter account.
The club’s manager Steve Chettle said on how frustrating it’s been this summer: “This time of any normal season is always hard. When contracts come to an end lockdown has made our retention of players even more difficult.”
“We had already negotiated some deals before the season came to an end, and we have also secured the services of new players that fit into our ethos as a Club.”
“Having worked with the players last season and getting into a really good position in the playoffs, it’s difficult to let players go, but decisions have to be made and the structure of the club has to be of major consideration.”
“These are difficult times that we find ourselves in and we have to make sure that the future of the club is at the forefront of our minds and securing the services of young, hungry players to work alongside the existing players that we have is going to be exciting.”
BASFORD’S RECENT LEAGUE HISTORY:
2011-12: Central Midlands League – G30 – W22 – D6 – L2 – F87 – A26 – PTS 72 (POS 1/16)
2012-13: East Midlands Counties League – G36 – W31 – D2 – L3 – F97 – A29 – PTS 95 (POS 1/19)
2013-14: Northern Counties East League – G44 – W26 – D6 – L12 – F97 – A57 – PTS 84 (POS 5/23)
2014-15: Midland League – G42 – W31 – D2 – L9 – F127 – A51 – PTS 95 (POS 1/22)
2015-16: NPL Div One South – G42 – W22 D10 – L10 – F67 – A42 – PTS 76 (POS 4/22)
2016-17: NPL Div One South – G42 – W20 – D13 – L9 – F78 – A53 – PTS 70 * (POS 6/22) (* deducted 3 points)
2017-18: NPL Div One South – G42 – W31 – D7 – L4 – A101 – F42 – PTS 100 – (POS 1/22)
2018-19: NPL Prem – G40 – W18 – D7 – L15 – F82 – A67 – PTS 61 (POS 7/21)
2019-20: NPL Prem – G32 – W16 – D7 – L9 – F49 – A39 – PTS 55 (POS 4/22 – ABANDONED)
Records
Best FA Cup performance: Third qualifying round, 2017–18
Best FA Trophy performance: First round, 2018–19
Best FA Vase performance: Second round, 2012–13
Record attendance: 3,500 vs Grantham, 1937
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