A sudden U-turn has been made by the Alresford Town council after discussing motion of evicting non league club Alresford Town.
Alresford currently play in the Wessex Football League Premier Division, sitting bottom, 20th, earning three points from 18 games played, one win, 0 draws and 17 defats, scoring 15 and conceding 76.
The initial letter, as revealed by Ollie Bayliss, reads:
18. MOTION REGARDING ALRESFORD TOWN FOOTBALL CLUB
To consider a motion received from Cllr K Divall in accordance with section 9 of Standing Orders.
This Council, having terminated the license, will move to evict Alresford Town Football Club at the end of the football season and will open up the currently segregated land to the public park.
2/2 It truly was amazing to hear from everyone.
This is a brief statement to allow our players, supporters, and community know the outcome of this evenings meeting. A more detailed club update will come within the next couple of days.
Thank you!
Everyone at ATFC 🙏🤍🖤— Alresford Town FC (@alresford_town) January 24, 2023
Alresford Town’s Commercial Director and Secretary, Lauren Young, spoke to BBC Radio Solent Sport after the motion by local council to evict the club from their Arlebury Park home was withdrawn.
LY: “We are feeling happy that that happened and we managed to hopefully move forward now and work with the council in the way that we have been working to create the club that we want to create going forward.
“So, yes, we feel relieved and now hoping that we can find the way forwards for the club.”
When asked, Do you know why it was withdrawn?, she replied: “I don’t, and I didn’t ask that question, actually, so I don’t know why it was withdrawn. I’m hoping that perhaps, maybe the council would like to review that and as I say, work with us and hopefully go forward together.”
She added, when questioned ‘Does this mean that this motion can come back at any time?’: “That’s a really good question and I’m hoping not.
“I think now that this has obviously mobilised lots of thoughts and feelings within the community and wider actually, so I’m hoping not.
“I’m hoping that the council have seen how important the club is and how important football is to people. I think we’ve been totally overwhelmed, actually by the messages that have come through from other clubs from the community within Alresford and wider and the wider footballing family.
“It’s been really amazing the support that we’ve had and I think that sort of love and passion for football and support and sport, sorry, has really come through.
“So I’m hoping that the council has seen how important this club is to the town and we’ll work together now going forward.”
The interviewer said: “Yeah, I’m just reading part of the reason for this motion was that the council had terminated the license, I guess your license, to play at the ground. So has that been revoked as well? That’s off the table.”
LY: “Yes. I’m wondering if that was slightly incorrect wording there. So, yes, our licenses until 2032 and we’ve got support from the Hampshire FA as well in discussing that with the council.
“So I’m hoping that that’s all resolved as well.”
Interviewer: “So what happens now moving forward, Laura?”
LY: “Now we get to focus on football, which obviously is what we’re here to do. We’re here as a committee and as a leadership team.
“We’re here to try and provide a club for the town that everyone can be proud of and players can be proud of. And so now we get back to football, get back to working on that.
“We’ve had a change in management, so we need to rebuild the squad and allow the guys to get back to playing and focusing on that.
“And for us as a committee, we’ll continue to work with the council and we would like to bring the youth team, also town youth and the senior team closer together under one club and really set about creating those strong pathways, which was part of our original plan and objective when we took over the club.”
Interviewer: “Just finally. Lauren it’s amazing, isn’t it, really, where whether it’s football, whatever sport plow on week after week, but when things come to a head like this, as you alluded to earlier. It’s quite amazing, actually, how much love there is out there.”
LY: “Yeah, it was really wonderful.And I know how important sport is in football list people, but I was totally overwhelmed and really surprised and really kind of heartwarmed.
“The support that we have had personal messages, people have been calling, people have been sending emails, they’ve been getting in touch with us on social media.
“So that has been a really amazing thing to see. And what I would say to people is if you’ve got a local club and you can support it, do go and watch a game, go and volunteer for a match and work on the gate. Support them. If they’ve got a fundraising evening, follow them on social media. If you can support them, do, because they really need it. And actually, this has been so great to have more contact with people around football, so it’s really sort of spurred off to go on and do more. So if you can support them, do.”
“We are relieved & hopefully we can move forward & work with the council.” – @alresford_town Commercial Director & Secretary Lauren Young after motion by local council to evict the Club from their Arlebury Park home was withdrawn.@WessexLeague
LISTEN:https://t.co/XWyTRbhVYL pic.twitter.com/Wdp4cIgYiY
— BBC Radio Solent Sport (@solentsport) January 25, 2023
This is what fans had to say on the sudden U-turn made by the council after discussing a motion of evicting the much loved non league club…
@jasonsmall1975: Excellent news from everyone from AFC stoneham
@saintbags: It should never have got to this. The council should always act for the good of the community and a football club is a big and important part of the community
@jonsmithUC: That’s great news. But please be on your guard, the same Councillor or a like minded one will be back with another similar motion. It’s time to sit down with the Council and talk through a security of tenure for the club going forward.
@LeightonNicho: 🔴⚫️⚽️ Great news ⚽️ from a Creeksider ⚽️⚫️🔴
@RussWWFC: Brilliant
@onside9: Very good news. Hope it will not return. You are a good club and deserve the support of your whole community.
@JeffersRoss: Brilliant news, see you at our ground Saturday
@Kev73Watkins: Good to see common sense prevailing
@NonLgeProgs: Great news!
@DhaswellphotoUK: Congrats guys great news 🙌🏻🙌🏻
@90MinutesMore: Great news for the club 👏 👍
@spmooney68: Great news 👍
@thedogholeboy: What a relief. Happy for you folks.
@CrestFinance: Tremendous news
@pompeyswan92: Excellent!! So happy about the result. Common sense has prevailed. A friendly club and nice set up. 👍
@sgc_ltd: Makes you wonder what Cllr Keith Dirvall’s motives were.
@kay_c4691: Great news 💪
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