LL THIS WEEK
Southport sandbagged by funding confusion
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By BEN ROBERTS-HALSAM s Southport FC continue their start to the season, they have been left with a sour taste in their mouth following the lack of communication from the National League North about support funding. Southport - knwon as the Sandgrounders - are one of many clubs in England unable to host fans at their stadium, despite being under the impression it would be feasible come the start of the season earlier this month. The FA, teaming up with the National Lottery, have said they will supply a £10 million support package to be spread across the 68 clubs under the National League umbrella. The FA announced that the first payment will be made this week, but many clubs are in the dark regarding the amount they might receive and how the money will be distributed. Since the announcement earlier this month, little has been said to the clubs across the three divisions and it has left many clubs feeling disgruntled. Clubs have had a strained relationship with the league prior to this because of the handling of the lockdown earlier this year after matches were cancelled suddenly. Months later, the feeling of déjà vu is now apparent. Southport rallied clubs from the National League North together last week to discuss their options and have also explored releasing a joint statement to the league. With the league undoubtedly getting wind of the meeting, they were quick to announce that clubs can
‘I think a change needs to happen’ expect their first payment this week. Another thorn in Southport’s side is the current guidance and support from the league to ensure teams can fulfil fixtures. Southport recently played in the third matchday of the National League North’s season, however it is only their second game. This is due to Kettering Town pulling out of their games against Southport the night before after a coronavirus outbreak. Southport’s club secretary, James Tedford, said: “I think a change needs to happen. You look at Tranmere the other weekend, they had three or four players that couldn’t play so they had to draft in some young players. “They managed to get a last-minute goal to go from 2-0 down to get it to 2-2. That’s something that cannot happen in our league. “We also need a quicker notification of when games are potentially going to be called off. Kettering phoned us at 5pm on Friday night. “If they had given us the heads up when they had their first case, which was Tuesday or Wednesday, we could have gone to Hereford on the Saturday who were meant to be playing Bradford Park, but they had cases, so
Southport FC in action their game was off. “I think the league has to be a little bit more proactive here and start looking at games that are off and get other teams to play each other. It doesn’t matter if there’s 24 hours’ notice. “You don’t have to tell fans that they’re going to Hereford because they don’t have to change their plans. It’s just the team that has to make
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their way down to Hereford.” Southport’s next game sees them face up against Blyth Spartans, who are yet to pick up a win this season, before a haloween home tie against last years play-off final losers Boston United. By then the club will be hopeful that some of the uncertainty surrounding fixtures and funding will have been resolved.
Town’s big switch-on is off
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usiness organisation Southport BID has confirmed that the Christmas light switch-on will be cancelled, writes Ben RobertsHalsam. With the event attracting between 8,000 and 9,000 people last year, its cancellation will be a big loss to both the community and to the local businesses. Southport BID has made an effort to not let Christmas be any less festive though, with decorative nutcrackers returning across the resort this year and also the return of the 60ft elec-
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tronic light up tree which hundreds of people visited as they posed for photos last year. A long with the nutcrackers and the Christmas tree, £100,000 has been pumped into adding not just more, but better decorative lighting. With Lord Street having its trees lit up and Eastbank street welcoming people with displays. This isn’t the first event to be cancelled in Southport this year, with the hugely-popular Flower and Air shows both having to cancel and the town missing out on what are
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traditionally significant tourism figures. Southport Air Show had 80,000 attendees in 2018 and Southport Flower Show had just over 56,000 people in attendance, according to North West Research Tourism Data Summary. The cancellations leave Southport business with a shortfall that won’t be filled anytime soon. With the key Christmas period on the horizon, many businesses Southport’s 60ft tree will be will be left frustrated by another returning cancellation.
