With the season now over, it is time to reflect on what has been achieved at the club over the past 3 years and what our targets are.
The progress made in this time, following our relegation from the Southern League Premier Division South in April 2023, has been more than satisfying and when you consider following this relegation, we were at the bottom of the Southern League Division One South, with gates of just over 200. In September 2023, the transition under manager Darren Mullings, who took over that month, and the hard work of our volunteers, has seen the club gain promotion back to the Southern League Premier Division South in Darren’s first full season and then to maintain this status last season, has been a remarkable achievement, with gates averaging well over 400.
During this time:
- New floodlights have been erected.
- The new fencing is in place.
- There is a new PA system.
- The home dugouts have been improved.
- The Under 18s sides have been established.
- A Yate Women's side will operate next season.
- Our media coverage has grown considerably.
But we still want to further improve the facilities and match day experience and that is where we need more volunteers.
HOWEVER, the challenge is now on to establish ourselves at Step 3 and with 80% of promoted clubs relegated after 2 seasons (as happened last time the club were in Step 3), and with big clubs in the division, many with average crowds of over 750, we are a small fish in a big pond and have to work even harder to be competitive at this level. Running a football club is a very big challenge and requires the effort from a group of individuals who give up their spare time willingly.
At the heart of things is money – to spend on a competitive squad and to keep the club running.
Admission prices: Last season the club had one of the lowest admission prices in the division and we have not increased prices for 3 years.
Where we have had to raise prices, we have done so only where absolutely necessary and by as agreeable a percentage as we can, while acknowledging the need to run the club as sustainably as possible in all areas. The most influential need for pricing increases is the massive rise in operational fixed costs we are subjected to. Energy and utilities alone to operate the club have skyrocketed in price, along with travel and delivery costs and general stock price increases on all consumables. Coupled with other essential costs, and as stated, we have not increased admission prices for 3 years. However, we finally have to acknowledge the inflation of costs around us and apply an increase going forward. As I commented recently:
”In order that we can remain competitive, and for manager Darren Mullings to put together a squad that he can build on the achievements of the past campaign, the more season ticket holders that the club can acquire in the coming weeks and the greater the number of people who come and watch us and support the club, the better the quality of players that we can attract to play for Yate Town FC.”
So, buying season tickets is a great indication of where we are going. At the start of season 2023/24 we had 11 season ticket holders, whilst last season we had 66 season ticket holders. That is real progress, but from a very low base. Knowing that we had a similar of even greater number of season ticket holders really helps Darren as he assembles his squad and the options that he has.
With the increased number of younger people attending games, we hope that they will be fans of the future and going into the community has helped raise this number considerably but there is more work to do.
The support of local businesses has also been vital and they play a key part in the club’s fortunes. We are fortunate to have a number of these but are obviously still looking for more to help the club on its path to future goals.
If you think you could help in any way to support the club, as we look to continue to progress, then please contact me at chairman@yatetownfc.co.uk
We are looking for people to help:
- Enhance our media coverage.
- A new programme editor.
- Match day operations supervisor.
- Turnstile operators.
- Anyone who can bring new skills to the table. If you would like to purchase an early bird season ticket, please BUY HERE
Your support is as always greatly appreciated, and thank you, but also much needed, if we are to achieve our aims.
Mark Thorne (Chairman of Yate Town FC)