Worksop Town as risk of closure due to debts

Worksop Town FC, the world’s fourth oldest football club, is facing potential closure due to outstanding debts.

As a result, Life President, Mr Keith Ilett, who has been actively involved with the club since 1970, has approached Mr Peter Whitehead, who owns the lease to Sandy Lane football ground, to ask if he would kindly take over the club as chairman.

Mr Whitehead has said that he will do so, provided that the club can raise £30,000 by the end of this month to help pay off debts.

Mr Ilett is now hoping that he can find 300 Tigers supporters, local people, local businesses, and members of the larger football family, to help finance the agreed sum by paying £100 each into a Worksop Town FC President’s Fund.

Last season, The Tigers won their first league title in 46 years, set a new club record of 22 successive wins, and attracted a crowd of 1,628 against Northern Counties Premier League promotion rivals, Penistone Church, to achieve promotion back to the Northern Premier League.

“I appreciate we have been here many times before, but sadly we have now reached another crisis point in the club’s history,” Mr Ilett said.

“Pete Whitehead is a football man with business acumen who is commit-ted to securing the future of the club, having already committed a substantial amount of money, but he insists the £30,000 be raised towards settling outstanding monies owed by the club. He has already invested a huge amount of his own time over the past two months, advising us and helping us with future planning.”

In response to Mr Ilett’s plea, Mr Whitehead has confirmed that an official plaque, in recognition of the names of those individuals and businesses who come forward to help save the club, will be placed in the clubhouse should he take over. Each person would also receive a club membership pass, which would entitle them to certain benefits at the ground.

“Peter has given us a clear target. I urge everybody who cares for our club to do whatever they can to help us. Thank you,” Mr Ilett added.

Further details of how to make contributions to the Worksop Town FC President’s Fund to help save The Tigers can be obtained from the following:

Keith Ilett, Life President, Worksop Town FC: 07734 144961; Mick Lowery, Treasurer, Worksop Town FC: 07931 5665087 (evenings only) or at TreasurerWTFC@gmail.com; Roger Mills, Secretary and Treasurer, Worksop Town FC Supporters Trust: 07590 609029