In common with most non-league clubs all the Board at Witton Albion Football Club are volunteers and therefore have limited time available to them to focus on the club’s affairs on a daily basis due to other commitments.

An area I am acutely aware needs improvement is our communication with the fans which hasn’t been as pro-active as it should be.

Our fans are massively important to us, and I am pleased to announce that Tracey Collins, Iain Wright and Stephen Hankey have offered to help organise a formal Fans’ Forum with the intention of establishing regular Meet the Manager and Talk to the Board sessions at the club. If any fan would like to be involved, please let one of them know. If you do not know them then please contact me and I will introduce you to them.

OFF THE PITCH ACTIVITIES

In addition to myself, the other board members are Paul Worthington who looks after our finances, Julian Jackson who oversees the Stadium and Social Club, and Alan Jackson who represents Witton Albion in the Community, our registered charity.

Until recently we have been joined by Steve Conneely who was responsible for the hosting of official matchday guests and as editor of our excellent programme. Steve has stepped down as a director this week but will remain closely involved with the club as Matchday Host and editor. The Board would like to thank Steve for his past contributions as a Director.

I am delighted to announce that John Wilson, currently Chairman at Witton Albion Juniors and heavily involved in the Witton Albion FDA Academy, has agreed to join the Board as Sporting Director to provide oversight of all sporting activities of the club. John has been actively involved with the main club for several years and I am pleased he has agreed to accept a more formal role.

Unlike many non-league clubs, we are owned by over 400 individual shareholders none of whom may own more than 10% of the issued shares (around £30,000 worth). At the last AGM we launched a rights issue for existing shareholders to take up 50% of their existing shares by way of a new issue. This was unfortunately very poorly supported with less than 10% taking up their rights. This is probably an indication of how tight people are finding things in the current financial environment, or possibly how unimportant many people (even shareholders) consider non-league football in the Northwich area.

Shares are currently available for any fan to purchase and therefore participate in the future of the club as a shareholder. I am keen that a one-off fund raising of this nature DOES NOT go directly to support the playing budget. At the AGM I made it clear that all proceeds from the share issue would go towards improving the facilities at the U Lock IT Stadium. The improvements will be focused on an improved matchday experience and enhanced Social Club facilities which will then increase revenue generation with all increased profits going to support the paying budget. We benefit from owning our own stadium outright and have a very small amount of borrowing.

We have a social club that is second to none in the area and amongst one of the best in the NPL West and the league above. The takings and number of events held continue to impress and we are developing ideas for further revenue generating opportunities. During August we hosted both RockWich (a heavy metal mini festival) and Rotary’s Scooter Rally at the club both of which proved very successful. Our Bingo nights are very well attended and we have hosted a couple of musical tribute acts which have also been well received. November saw the third annual bonfire and firework display sponsored by U Lock IT which was attended by nearly 1,000 people.

Future plans include registering as a Wedding Venue (application submitted), launching a business networking group – “Meet your neighbours” – focused on local business and to be launched at the game on 8 th February against Newcastle Town; and a Family Fun Day before and after the match against Chasetown on 19th April (Easter weekend) which I would hope becomes an annual event.

We are staffed, apart from our Bar staff and the men’s first team management and players, entirely by Volunteers without whose efforts we would not be able to put a single match on. As ever our thanks go out them for their continued support. We have a very strong Juniors section, a thriving Academy, a well-attended walking football group, several teams that play as part of the Cheshire Ability Counts initiative and have successfully launched an 11 a side Women’s team this season.

ON THE PITCH ACTIVITIES – THE MEN’S FIRST TEAM

The change in management just before the start of the season was a difficult decision but was one that on balance was felt to be necessary and we are grateful for the efforts of Ben and his team in stepping up to the challenge at short notice. The Board’s ambition with regards to the men’s first team has recently, and quite rightly, been challenged and please be assured that no-one on the Board wants to see our team relegated. In fact, the opposite is true and, having just missed out on the promotion playoffs in the last two seasons, we were hopeful of a top five finish this season, and if not promoted then we would, hopefully go again and be successful in the 2025-2026 season.

However, survival in the NPL Premier League would be a massive ask for a club with our available funding due to increased travel costs and an undoubted requirement for an increase in the playing budget. As a Board we would certainly give it our best shot.

The big spenders in our league, and the Premier division, tend to be “family owned” by wealthy individuals. Our 10% share ownership restriction effectively makes this impossible for Witton Albion. It is one of the club’s great strengths, but also severely restricts our ability to attract serious, game changing investment and is probably something that shareholders should discuss and consider at the next AGM.

The playing budget that was set at the beginning of the season, was in our opinion, sufficient to assemble a decent squad, deliver quality football on the pitch and secure a decent points tally. However, it was based on the ability to generate a significant increase in funding from local business (that has not been forthcoming) and the continued increase in average attendances which last season ended at around 650 per game.

The average league attendances this season have dropped to 450 per game. Across the nine home league games of the season so far this drop of 200 per game from last season’s closing average is around 1,800 through the gates. Based on an average spend of £20 (snacks, bar, programme sales, shop sales and gate money) this means we have lost around £36,000 in match day revenue to the end of November.

To a certain extent this has been recovered from the 1,690 who attended the four home cup games this season (against none last season). HOWEVER, if the 13 home games so far (including these Cup games) had been at last season’s closing average the overall loss in attendance is in the region of 2,700 and in revenue terms probably around £54,000.

Our overall running costs are funded by gate receipts, profits from the social club, match day donations via the famous Tracey’s Bucket or from other Development Committee activities and from sponsorship or advertising from local businesses. There has always been a gap between the playing budget and the funds raised from the above activities. This gap has historically been funded by either Directors Loans (usually written off at the end of the season) or by way of significant donations from individual fans. This naturally limits the size of the budget available to the management team and is not sustainable in anything other than the short term. Our principal focus as a Board, therefore, is on making the club as sustainable and self-reliant as possible which is proving very difficult. We launched a Boost the Budget scheme through the supporters’ club which has had a very low take up. Matches are available to sponsor and invite friends and family to attend – again this has suffered from a very low take up.

Our last game of this season will be at home against Atherton Collieries on 26th April – some 20 weeks away at the time of writing and the Board is focussing on ways of maintaining the playing budget despite this loss of revenue.

In 11 of the 19 league games so far this season we have either drawn the game or it has been decided by a single goal. Of the remaining eight games we have won four and lost four by two goals or more. We currently sit in 19th place on 20 points and are in the relegation zone. We do, however, have two games in hand on two of the teams immediately above us. Were we to win those games it would take us out of the relegation places.

The loss of Harry McGee and Joe Duckworth due to approaches from fellow teams in the division has been disappointing for the club. Ben has also had several key players out with injury. I know we have spoken to lots of players but so far have been unsuccessful in attracting many new players to the club for a variety of reasons.

There are only 12 remaining home games this season and, notwithstanding the current disappointing form of which we are all aware, we really do need all Witton Albion fans to show their support and bring back the noise and atmosphere we enjoyed at the close of last season.

Finally, whilst it is all too easy to criticise our current performances that have not been up to the standard that the fans expect and deserve, there are several ways in which you, as a fan, can make a massive difference to the club and contribute to the future.

For example, there is no limit to the number of volunteers we need to sustain and develop the club – if you would like to be involved in any capacity or have any ideas for improving the profitability (and hence the playing budget) or sustainability of the club please reach out to one of the Board and we would be pleased to discuss how you could help our club.

KEY WAYS YOU CAN HELP

- Attend a home game and bring the family or a mate (or two)
- Volunteer to help in any way you can – in particular we are looking for a volunteer to fund raise within Witton Albion in the Community our registered charity and also apply for the multiple small grants that are available for clubs of our size
- Join the Supporters Club and Boost the Budget
- Get involved in the Fan’s Forum
- Spread the word re sponsorship and advertising to friends, family and business contacts if not appropriate for you or your business if you have one
- Book a party / event through the Social Club
- Attend open events at the Social Club if you can
- Buy some shares in the club
- Above all be positive and support the club as loud as you can – it does make a difference.

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and hopefully we will see you at the game on Saturday against Wythenshawe Town and Nantwich Town on Boxing Day.

UTA!!

Regards

Graham Wood