Are Sittingbourne people interested in their club anymore?

Monday 07th December 2009

SITTINGBOURNE officials are hoping for a good turnout as they make Saturday’s home game against Fleet Town free-of-charge to watch, writes Stephen McCartney.

Attendances at Bourne Park this season have dropped like a stone – the Ryman League Division One South club average 136 fans – and the club have acted before it’s too late.

“The main reason that the decision was made to give free entry was to see if the people of Sittingbourne are interested in the Football Club anymore,” Mrs Tania Spice told the fans’ forum at www.sittingbournefc.co.uk.

“Quite frankly, at the present time, the support does not warrant the time, effort and money that a small group of us put into the club.

“We are well aware that we are not the only ones suffering reduced gates and we believe that is due to a number of different reasons, not just the economic climate.”

Last weekend, Sittingbourne welcomed struggling Eastbourne Town to their ground at Bourne Park, which is on the Eurolink Industrial Estate on Church Road, and a crowd of only 128 turned up.

Tania Spice, wife of chairman Andy, said, “We had a gate of 128 – so many of you probably think that we must have taken around £1,000 – no chance! We actually took £585. This was 53 adults at £8, 26 concessions at £4, 19 children at £3. There were 19 complimentaries (seven Eastbourne officials, one assessor and 11 players guests, mainly parents).

“From that £585 we have to pay the taxman £76.30 in VAT. The officials at that game were not particularly expensive, but still cost £150.42. We were left therefore with a grand total of £358.28.

“We took less than £200 in the bar and less than £100 in the food bar. Out of that we have to pay VAT and the costs of the goods that were sold.”

Sittingbourne hope Saturday’s free-for-all game will entice fans to their following home games, the local derby with Chatham Town on Saturday, 26^th December and against Burgess Hill Town on Tuesday, 5^th January 2010.

Mrs Spice, however, admits doing this is a gamble.

She said: “The announcement was made at the end of the last home game to our supporters so they would spread the word, the gate could be doubled simply each person bringing one friend along.

“So we are going to lose out on the gate receipts, just maybe we could re-coup that money in the bar or in the burger bar or by selling more programmes or more golden goal tickets to a lager number of people.”

She added that hard-working committee members – and the chairman – are keeping the club afloat during these hard times.

“As it stands we will not actually lose any money on Saturday, however, many do or do not turn up. One of our committee members has very kindly offered to pay £500 of his own money to ensure that we do not.

“Our club president, Mr Alan Crowshaw has also said that he will cover the cost of a match sponsorship.”

Before Saturday’s free game, Sittingbourne host Ryman Premier League side Margate in the Third Round of the Championship Manager Cup.

Admission prices for Sittingbourne’s games are: £8 (adults), £4 (concessions), £3 (children 5-16 years), £0 under 5’s. The match day programme, meanwhile, costs £1.50.

Visit Sittingbourne’s website for more details: www.sittingbournefc.co.uk

Sittingbourne v Margate
Championship Manager Cup Third Round
Tuesday 8^th December 2009
Kick Off 7:45pm
at Bourne Park, Central Park Stadium, Eurolink, Church Road, Sittingbourne ME10 3SB