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FC United postponement a ‘financial disaster’ for Blues
Whitby Town skipper Matt Robinson hooks the ball forward against Marine picture: Brian Murfield
WHITBY Town Football Club lost up to £7,000 after Saturday’s money-spinning match at home to FC United of Manchester was frozen off.
The fixture against the supporters-run club is arguably the biggest in Whitby Town’s league calendar as massively-supported FC United routinely bring hundreds of fans to away games.
But the postponement of the game on Saturday morning, after the whole of the north of England woke up to hard frost, has been branded a disaster - with urgent calls to the town to help with fund-raising ventures.
Chairman Graham Manser told the Whitby Gazette this week: “Everyone realises it was completely and utterly a financial disaster - we have lost between £6,000 and £7,000.
“It’s come as a massive blow out of all the games to lose.
“It wouldn’t have been so bad if it was someone like Rushall or Burscough, but it is the first match we have lost this season at home, the first bad weekend of winter and it is against FC United.
“This has happened two seasons running - last year in December and this year in February, it’s sod’s law.
“Now we are trying to raise money to resolve the issue.”
The game has now been rescheduled to Wednesday 28 March, meaning a much lower gate than would have been expected on a Saturday.
The last game Whitby Town played was at home to Marine on 21 January (pictured above).
Manager Darren Williams was also disappointed the FC United game was off.
“It’s unfortunate - we were desperate for the game to be on and it’s the kind of game you want on from a financial point of view and a playing point of view,” he said.
He is hoping the people of Whitby will respond positively and help swell the attendance at the next home game, against Rushall Olympic on Saturday 18 February.
With the Blues battling possible relegation to the second tier of the EvoStik League, it has prompted fears among some supporters about the club’s long-term future.
But Mr Manser moved swiftly to address this, stating that despite losing big games like the one against FC United, the club’s travelling costs would reduce significantly - and if the Blues were to challenge for promotion back to the premier division, gates may go up.
“There would be no trips to the West Midlands,” he said.
“A lot of the games in league one north are in the M62 corridor.
“If we go down, it shouldn’t affect us too much.
“This is a short-term problem.”
If you have any ideas to help raise funds for the club, call Mr Manser on (01947) 605921.
* What do you think about this? Email duncan.atkins@yrnltd.co.uk or tweet your views to him @gazetteinwhitby
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Weather for Whitby
Saturday 26 May 2012
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Temperature: 10 C to 16 C
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Wind direction: North east
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