Our finances paints a gloomy picture, reveals Faversham Town chairman Ray Leader

FAVERSHAM TOWN chairman Ray Leader has issued a rallying cry for the stay-away fans’ to return to support the club at Salters Lane, writes Stephen McCartney.


The Lilywhites were knocked out of The FA Carlsberg Trophy yesterday, going down 4-2 at home to Ryman Premier League strugglers East Thurrock United in front of a crowd of 137 at Salters Lane.

Faversham have played nine games in all competitions at home this season, with 952 fans coming through the turnstiles, with a dismal average of 105 and are the third worst supported club in Ryman League Division One South.

Faversham are concerned that six of their home games have fallen on a Tuesday night and a result this has seen a dip in attendance figures.

Mr Leader, who is also the club’s commercial manager, issued a statement in yesterday’s match-day programme and urged fans that watched the club in the Kent League, where gates were over the 200 mark on a regular basis, to return.

“I cannot understand our poor games, not when other Ryman neighbours are maintaining theirs with somewhat poor results compared to us,” he said.

“Our level of match advertising is in my opinion better than previous seasons and nothing to do with the current trend.  It will be interesting to see what response we get to the promotion we launch in the near future.”

However, the club have sold match sponsorships for all of their 25 home games this season and Mr Leader hopes other fund-raising initiatives improve.

He said: “Membership of the 500 club is as yet nowhere near the numbers of last year.  Fingers crossed that will reach the total required to make it viable.

“Our bar revenue is nowhere near where it should be.  I can see us selling bottled beer in the future, barrels being too wasteful.

“A gloomy picture to paint.  I am sure there are other clubs in similar situations to us.

“We deserve better, for what has been put into the club over the last few seasons.  Remaining positive over the next few months will be important and positive we will be for sure.

“Without being boring I will be looking for a big response to the sale of our Christmas draw tickets.  I am hoping that there maybe a few of you out there that could help us with the sale of tickets; a few extra coffers in the bank will help us through the gloomy weeks of January, February and March where I dread to think what the gates will be.  If you are interested come and speak to me please.”

Meanwhile, manager Ray Turner hopes playing more home games on Saturday afternoons will bolster crowds.

“This is the first Saturday home fixture we’ve had since August 20^th, so it’s nice to see a few people in the ground,” he said yesterday.

“I think there was an initial enthusiasm because the club reformed and it’s about getting those people back up there.

“I think we’re doing our bit of the pitch.  I think the players’ are doing their bit and it’s a case of hopefully people go away from games like today, games like Walton Casuals (when we won 5-3).

“I think our biggest problem has been we haven’t had a Saturday fixture, we’ve only been playing on a Tuesday night at home and crowds are low generally.  We just have to hope they start piling back in.”

The acid test will be their next home game – against struggling Burgess Hill Town – which falls on Saturday, 19 November, which is followed by another home game, against Chipstead, on the following Tuesday.

Turner takes his side to eighth-placed Godalming Town next Saturday and he said: “Another away trip, another difficult away trip.  They’re doing really well.   They look a really strong side so we’ll regroup, as I say it’s been an awful lot of Cup games.  We have to go up there and try get back (to winning ways in the League).”

The Lilywhites have been knocked out of all of their cup competitions and Turner knows his side must concentrate on their bread and butter.

He said: “It’s a case of knuckling ourselves down and see if we can push up the league.”

Visit Faversham Town’s website: www.favershamtownfc.co.uk  

Godalming Town  v  Faversham Town
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 12^th November 2011
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Wey Court, Meadrow, Godalming, Surrey GY7 3JE