Without urgent investment, the long-term future of eighth-tier clubs is in doubt

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Lowestoft Town’s chairman says the eighth-tier club’s long-term future is in doubt without urgent investment.

one GoFundMe donation page The charity set up by Iain Small has so far raised nearly £2,000 of a target of £100,000 to help rebuild the club.

The Trawlerboys, who currently sit 14th in the Isthmian League North Division table with seven points from seven games, have warned that a huge debt threatens their survival.

The GoFundMe page reads: “Lowestoft Town Football Club has a proud history and is a hugely important part of the Lowestoft community itself.

“In our 140th anniversary year, the club is looking to renovate our ground to meet modern standards.

“We are also saddled with significant debts accumulated over the past few years which now threaten the club’s survival.

“We are run entirely by volunteers and the club reinvests all profits into the development of our individual teams.

“Without urgent investment, the long-term future of our proud club is in doubt.

“Our goal is to raise funds to repay as much of our existing debt as possible while investing in revitalizing our facilities for the benefit of our fans and visitors.”

Social media users reacted after Lowestoft Town chairman said “without urgent investment the long-term future of our proud club will be in doubt”…

Jack Braggi: “So when fans and the public at large are asked to donate to Lowestoft Town, will they have a say or say in how the club is run? Or will it be business as usual for fans and volunteers, some of whom are still owed thousands of pounds, to learn about the club through third parties and pitchside rumors?”

Ian Small: “Hi Jack. The club is not specifically asking our fans to donate, it is of course completely voluntary.

“The club is run by a team of volunteers who have the added responsibility of being directors.

“We held fans forums during the season and got a very clear picture of the club’s financial position for the last time and announced our intention to launch the campaign that night.

“There’s a lot of work going on and it’s impossible to share everything that’s going on behind the scenes. I’m sure you understand that. We also try to share updates on social media whenever possible.”

Beth Ellingson: “Speaking purely as a volunteer, I feel that if the seriousness of the situation had been made known to the public earlier, perhaps the community could have started to rally around the club earlier as well.

“While I may upset some people by saying this, I also think some of the people who regularly complain about the club in their comments need to ask themselves what they are actually doing to help the club.

“I work as a full-time foster carer and attend meetings, appointments and emails on top of everything else involved with looking after children. I also work part-time as a support worker. But I still choose to find time to volunteer at the club, cleaning the dressing rooms and toilets after games. Cleaning after a game usually takes me around three hours, so on weeks when several teams are playing at home I can easily spend around 12 hours at the club cleaning.

“I’m not saying that because I want praise and I’m certainly not suggesting that everyone is in the same situation or could be given that much time. I’m saying it because I find it frustrating that people repeatedly complain about things the club isn’t doing without considering what they themselves can contribute.

“If you care about the club you don’t need to spend 12 hours a week. Spend an hour. Help at events. Offer skills. Pick up a paintbrush. Help with maintenance. Fundraise. Volunteer for the countless little jobs that need to be done. If everyone who said they cared about Lowestoft Town gave their time, skills or help whatever they could, imagine what could be achieved.

“It’s easy to complain on the sidelines. It’s not easy to keep a volunteer-run football club going. The same small group of people can’t be expected to do everything indefinitely while others stand by and tell them what they’re doing wrong.

“For a lot of people this club is more than just a football club. For some it’s a huge part of their happiness. Win, lose or draw, just having somewhere to go, people to talk to and a sense of belonging can have a huge impact on someone’s mental health. I know that personally.

“So, yes, I hope people donate if they can. But I also hope this encourages more people to actually get involved. If you can’t afford to donate but can spare an hour of your time, that’s valuable too.

“Going forward, I hope that alongside the fundraising efforts there will be an open understanding of how things are going and appropriate long-term plans in place, because raising enough money to deal with the immediate situation is only part of securing the club’s future. We need to make sure we don’t have the same conversation again in a few years’ time.

“I love this club. That’s why I care so much to say this. 💙”

@DavidKe96025645: Good luck with your fundraising. Proper football club, always get a warm welcome when I visit

@ReeceHope3: News regarding my hometown side may have been out there for a while as the previous investors were forced to leave the club and have since been left without significant supporters. They once took 15,000+ fans to Wembley and soon entered the National League. Hope there are better days ahead.

@Oiiimush: Let me appreciate how well @Brightlingseafc operates. At a time when wages in the #nonleague seem to be skyrocketing, sustainability and longevity are key.



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