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Blue Square North

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Worcester City under threat

Submitted by WG on Fri, 10/05/2013 - 09:25

The future of Worcester City football club is under threat. It's always questionable whether a club should sell its ground without having a new one to go to. Next season there will be a ground share at Kidderminster which is not an easy journey from Worcester (not least because it means coping with the joys of the Kiddy ring road).

Search for new Conference sponsor is on

Submitted by WG on Thu, 04/04/2013 - 06:19

With the completion of the takeover of loss-making Blue Square by Betfair, the search for a new sponsor for the Football Conference is on. Indeed, the Football League does not have a headline sponsor for next season. Undoubtedly a sponsor will be found in both cases: the real question is how much they are prepared to pay.

Gloucester City AFC get eviction warning

Submitted by WG on Mon, 04/03/2013 - 13:22

Gloucester City AFC have been told by Cheltenham Town to pay £20,000 they owe in rent and other expenses or they will be evicted from their ground share at Whaddon Road by the end of the month.

The club are thought to owe three months' rent.   They have had difficulty in attracting more than a few hundred to midweek games.   As the most southerly football club in the Blue Square North they also face long away trips such as the 500-mile round trip to Workington in Cumbria last Saturday.

Worcester agree to ground share

Submitted by WG on Mon, 04/02/2013 - 12:01

After protracted negotiations, Worcester City have agreed an initially one year ground share deal with Kidderminster Harriers.   It is believed that City will pay a four figure fee per game.    Their historic ground at St.George's Lane is due to be demolished at the end of the season.


Fans frustrated by the delay in building a new ground at Nunnery Way have put in place plans to construct a scaled-down stadium at Perdiswell.

Big projected loss at fan run club

Submitted by WG on Mon, 04/02/2013 - 11:52

Fan-run Chester FC look set to lose £75,000 this season.   The BSB North leaders made a profit of £107,826 in their first season after they were formed following the winding up of one time Football League club Chester City.   Last season they made a small loss of £2,970.

Conference may need new sponsor

Submitted by WG on Sun, 13/01/2013 - 09:59

The Conference may be looking for a new sponsor with the future of Blue Square Bet in doubt.   The future of Blue Square Bet , who are in their sixth season of sponorship, is being reviewed by owners Rank Group.   The business is running at an operating loss and Rank wants to concentrate its resources on its bingo and casino activities.

Worcester City face stadium blow

Submitted by WG on Tue, 20/11/2012 - 10:16

Worcester City FC have had a plea to stay at their century old home at St.George's Lane until building work starts turned down by the developers.   They will have to move out at the end of the season.

It looks as if they will ground share with Kidderminster Harriers at Aggborough.   Evesham United have a brand new ground but it does not come up to Conference standard.

Histon's future in doubt

Submitted by WG on Mon, 19/11/2012 - 09:34

Histon FC failed to play their fixture at Colwyn Bay on Saturday and the future of the Cambridgeshire village side who reached the Conference is now in doubt.    On 177 turned up for their last home game, a FA Trophy tie against Boreham Wood.

The club is seeking professional advice on their future today.    This follows a court case last week in which they were asked to pay an unspecified four figure sum to their chief executive Alan Soraff who left the club in 2010.

Knitters try to unravel debts

Submitted by WG on Wed, 24/10/2012 - 09:06

Many non-league clubs are finding the recession challenging.  At my own non-league club, a spell without home games has impaired cash flow, although we do have reserves and have had some success in renting out the clubhouse.

Hinckley United, who carry the historic nickname of the Knitters, have faced financial troubles for the last two years and the preceding four months have been particularly challenging.   They still need £80,000 to pay off their creditors as well as £6,000 to lift their transfer embargo.

Stadium setback for Gloucester

Submitted by WG on Mon, 10/09/2012 - 08:33

Gloucester City feel let down after being told by council planners to go back to the drawing board over their plans to rebuild their stadium.   Their Meadow Park home was badly flooded in 2007 and since then they have played at Forest Green Rovers, Cirencester Town and Cheltenham Town.