Dear Editor,
Spennymoor Town Supporters Club regrets that we again feel it necessary to challenge a false narrative we have heard repeated by some within the Football Club, and some supporters, concerning our forced expulsion from the Brewery Field last May, 2023. The inference being that the Supporters Club chose to leave the Brewery Field, thereby creating a schism between supporters and the Football Club.
For the avoidance of any further doubt and to hopefully finally conclude this unfortunate episode, we include here brief verbatim extracts from two emails sent to the Supporters Club from then Football Club General Manager, now Managing Director, Ian Geldard.
28 April 2023 – Following criticism of the Supporters Club, Mr Geldard wrote “We therefore have no confidence in your current Executive Committee.” He went on to state that “the club will be taking applications from groups of fans who wish to set-up an official supporters group for Spennymoor Town FC.”
On 29 April at our regular supporters club meeting we put to a vote whether our members wished to apply to be part of this process. They overwhelmingly rejected the idea. As an organisation run on democratic principles we were obliged to allow members to decide on this issue and then to act on their instructions.
3 May – Mr Geldard wrote: “The Neil Adams Sports Bar will not be available for meetings of your organisation, neither will wall space be provided for any of your activity. The operation of any lotteries or draws on behalf of your organisation will not be permitted at the Brewery Field.” A clear red card, to use a footballing analogy. We trust the above provides clarity for all.
We therefore were, and still are, grateful to Spennymoor Working Mens Club for inviting us to relocate there. Since the move we have gone from strength to strength, our membership numbers are at record levels and we continue to expand our activities while still supporting the team at home and away.
Anyone interested in joining or finding out more about what we do can visit our website – moors.org.uk – for more information.
Yours sincerely,
John Magill, Chairman, on behalf of the Executive Committee and membership of Spennymoor Town FC Supporters Club.
Editor’s Note: Copies of all the correspondences mentioned above have been made available to Spennymoor News.
Spennymoor's local community newspaper.
