Off the field activities at Marske United

By Bob Ryan

Wewould like to wish our sponsors, volunteers and supporters a Happy New Year. Marske United have had a challenging time over the past few months with the weather hampering some games.

This has proven a challenge for the club as they still need to pay bills etc with no income stream. Given the issues with the constant flooding of the pitch when we get the continuous heavy rain, the club are looking at various options for improving the pitch in the close season and have already started discussions on the best option for the club and the community. Updates will be posted on the clubs website etc once definitive plans have been finalised and agreed.

Girls Team

The club have made great progress in the setting up of a girls’ team at Under 11 under Marske United. Trials will be held on 21 January for any girls who would like to be involved with Marske United. If you are interested in signing up for the team, please contact Amanda on the following to register your interestgirls@marskeunitedfc.org or visit the Facebook page Marske United FC Girls.

Christmas Draw

This year’s draw was well supported by everyone from the East Cleveland area. The club are extremely grateful to those who donated prizes, sponsored prizes, bought tickets etc. The club would also like to thank, St Bede’s and Westgarth Schools in Marske for allowing the club to partake in their Christmas activities. Also thanks to Marske Community Partnership (MCP) for their support with the Christmas Fayre and also the Co-op and Sainsbury’s Marske for allowing the volunteers access to sell tickets. Without the kindness of everyone this would not have been possible, and we cannot thank you enough.

The club will be doing an Easter Draw and tickets will be on sale soon. If anyone would like to donate any prizes or sponsor a prize please contact Eddie Mac via our social platforms.

Marske Community Partnership Christmas Day Lunch

Saturday 4th February – Guiseley (H) KO 3.00pm

Tuesday 7th February – Gainsborough

Trinity (A) KO 7.45pm

Saturday 11th February – Hyde United

Members of the football club volunteered to help with the annual Christmas Day lunch which took place in the Leisure Centre on Christmas Day.

Volunteers helped on the day with various roles including picking up those people invited, bringing them to the venue and picking them up on completion of the event. This was a very successful event put on by MCP with numerous volunteers giving up their time on Christmas Day to volunteer to give back to the community.

Walking Football

This is still going strong with more and more new members trying it out for themselves.

The sessions are now at De Brus Centre Skelton on the following days: Monday 5pm-6pm and Thursday 11am-12 Noon. It is all about the social aspect of the game with the emphasis on social inclusion without trying to be the best footballer. Anyone is welcome to attend. Pleaseemail msrpfootball@outlook.com for more details or just come along. Refreshments are provided on a Thursday morning after the session.

Mascot Opportunities

The club have once again launched their popular matchday mascot opportunities for children to become mascots for the day at Mount Pleasant.

This is for children aged 5-12 and gives the child the opportunity to meet the team, lead the team out on the pitch with the opportunity for you to take a photo of your child with your favourite player. The child can also join the substitutes at half time on the pitch. This is FREE for all children with the only stipulation your child MUST wear the Marske United 2022/23 Home Shirt when walking out with the team. For further information or to put your child’s name down for this please contact msrpfootball@outlook.com

Warm Spaces Initiative

Marske Sports and Recreational Partnership have created a Warm Spaces environment in the clubhouse. This is supporting the Government initiative of providing somewhere warm for people to get a cup of tea etc and have a chat in a warm place. This initiative commenced on 10th January 2023 and twill ake place every Tuesday and Thursday between 12 Noon and 1:30pm in the Clubhouse Marske United Football Club.

The Clubhouse

Mount Pleasant Avenue Marske

(H) KO 3.00pm

Tuesday 14th February – Whitby Town (A) KO 7.45pm

As always, please check our website and social media channels for any

The club have, with the support of everyone who has managed to support the Go Fund Me campaign, been able to already complete some of the work essentially required to reach the required Ground Grading ahead of 31st March 2023.

New seats have been installed into the main stand raising our seating capacity, floodlights have been changed on the far side of the pitch following vandalism plus extra hard standing behind the goal. Work is starting soon to extend the covered terrace and provide more covered accommodation for supporters.

With the success of Marske United on the field, goes the challenges of the club keeping pace with the ground grading requirements that are required for the club to participate at Step 3 of the English Football Pyramid. Significant improvements need to be made to the ground ahead of the FA Deadline of 31st March 2023. The club have set up a GO FUND ME page on the Clubs website: www.marskeunitedfc.org (at the top of the first page). This is with the hope that Supporters and Businesses can help the club complete the works needed to achieve this level. A further turnstile, Improved Floodlights to the near side, and extra covered areas around the ground are essential in passing this grading. The club are always grateful for any help supporters and the local people of East Cleveland can give to help them maintain their current level of football and their representation of the area. Huge thanks again to those supporters who have backed this and also backed the weekly blind cards which are all making the improvements that bit easier.

Flag Bearers

The club have launched their opportunity for schools and children’s organisations to be Flag Bearers at the club’s home matches. Westgarth School took the opportunity up recently and the children had a fantastic day being able to welcome the players of both teams onto the pitch ahead of the game. We already have the Cubs and other schools lined up to take up this opportunity which is Free to children. If any organisation wishes to take part in this, please contact the commercial team at commercial@marskeunitedfc.org or contact one of the team as below.

Easy Fundraising

The club are reminding everyone that you can support Marske United at NO COST to yourself. If you go via the clubs EasyFundraising link at the top of the website www.marskeunitedfc.org when updated fixtures and all things Marske United. doing your online shopping. Just go via the link and then find the retailer you wish to shop with and continue as normal with your shopping. By going this way, a percentage of the cost goes to Marske United.

Happy New Year and many thanks to everyone for their continued support of the club.

Weekly Club Draw

The club are looking to expand their weekly draw to give supporters the chance to win a large cash prize every week. This will be revamped soon to include the option to be able to purchase and participate online. The cost is £1 per week and the more participants the more money you can win. To enquire about this please contact one of the Commercial team.

Sponsorship Opportunities

With the club progressing they certainly rely on business and individual sponsorships to allow the club to compete at the highest level. The club are always grateful to our sponsors and are seeking further businesses and individuals alike who would like to promote their business etc via the club’s footprint. The club have various sponsorship opportunities for individuals and businesses alike. Promote your business via the ground/club website (regularly in the Top 50 Pitchero Websites), Twitter and Facebook Media Pages with over 20,000 followers and via the matchday programme etc. They are from Player Sponsorship, Matchday Sponsorship, Matchball Sponsorship and Advertising Board/Programme Sponsorship. Businesses could have a stand at the stadium or even the stadium named after their company. It is certainly a great way to expand the reach of your business and to get behind Marske United as they continue to progress. Full details of packages etc are contained in our brochure on the club website www.marskeunitedfc.org. If anyone is interested in any sponsorship opportunities, please contact one of the Commercial team Eddie Mcnamee - eddie.

mcnamee@btinternet.com

David Lawson- david_lawson@hotmail.co.uk

Paul Hart- paul.hart@sky.com

The Club- msrpfootball@outlook.com

Marske United Club Shop

The club have replica shirts, scarves, hats, coats, Hoodies, Polo Shirts etc available for immediate collection etc. These are available from the Club Shop on matchdays or you can email diryan699@ hotmail.com

Thank you once again to everyone who has supported Marske United and we hope to see more supporters at Mount Pleasant enjoying the football.