RalphC Posted February 23, 2013 Share Posted February 23, 2013 Sad to see another club go....... Last Wednesday, the Premier Division outfit, one of Oxfordshire's oldest football clubs, resigned from the Hellenic League and folded due to lack of funds. Earlier this month, the cash-strapped club were evicted from the Witney Community Stadium because they were unable to pay the rent. They had hoped to ground-share with Carterton, but lack of funds meant they were unable to sign a rental agreement. "I knew it was coming, so it wasn't exactly a shock," said Donovan, who has been a supporter for about 20 years. But it's still disappointing to see it happening." But Donovan is optimistic the Oxfordshire outfit will one day re-emerge from the ashes. "It's a massive shame and hopefully someone can resurrect it at some stage in the future, but there seems to be a lack of interest from people in the town to run it. Unfortunately, the stadium was not something you could run with a small group of people, so it became an albatross around our necks." Former striker Sean McKeon added: "I'm devastated the club is no longer. It is upsetting knowing the hard work people like Andy Lyne (former manager) and Ady Bircher (ex-secretary) and the committee put in. The loss of Witney Town was in huge contrast to the summer, when Justin Merritt was made boss with a plan to get the club back in the Southern League. However, in September last year Merritt resigned, followed by one of his assistants, Eddie Denton. The following month, Stuart Pike replaced Tom Amer as chairman to take over the helm at Carterton. In December, boss Justin Lee, Pike and director of football Andy Lyne all resigned, with Chris Hurley made boss. Donovan took over as chairman in January, but resigned after a ground-share at Carterton was abandoned. Founded in 1885, Witney Town folded in 2001, only to re-emerge the following year when a group of fans formed Witney United. In 2011 the club reverted to their original name, Witney Town, after it was re-formed as a registered charity. www.witneygazette.co.uk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mayor Of Simpleton Posted February 23, 2013 Share Posted February 23, 2013 Very sad to see them go. A good club but poorly run (a charity was keeping them afloat!) The Hellenic Board has a few threads about the shenanigans at Witney - well worth a read. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missunderstood Posted February 23, 2013 Share Posted February 23, 2013 I fail to understand how a senior football club achieved charitable status, unless the club was split into two sections, and only the junior and community part of the club was able to take the tax advantages that being a registered charity brings.A few years ago I looked at the possibility and was told by experts in that field that even if granted, it could be overturned in future years and a club would be left with massive bills they would be unlikely to honour. Back to the Witney Town situation, I remember going there in 1971 for an FA Cup tie, and after Romford had given them a sound thrashing some of their more intellectually challenged supporters started throwing bricks through our coach windows. We all agreed it was a horrible club, full of p1ssed up country yokels and ruffians of the worse kind, so as far as I'm concerned its good riddance to Witney Town FC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big J R Posted February 23, 2013 Share Posted February 23, 2013 I think there'll be one or two more before too long ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mayor Of Simpleton Posted February 23, 2013 Share Posted February 23, 2013 I'm sorry that your journey there wasn't a good one, Alan, as I've found Witney to be a good club to visit. Gloucester used to send Development Squad players to them years ago, and we used to play a pre-season at theirs every season. Hopefully they can come back in a few years, like their near neighbours Bicester. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missunderstood Posted February 23, 2013 Share Posted February 23, 2013 I'm sorry that your journey there wasn't a good one, Alan, as I've found Witney to be a good club to visit. Gloucester used to send Development Squad players to them years ago, and we used to play a pre-season at theirs every season. Hopefully they can come back in a few years, like their near neighbours Bicester. The journey there was a good one, it was the journey home that was a little uncomfortable thanks to all the broken glass in the coach. The worse club to visit in those days was Corby Town. The whole town seemed to be inhabited with cavemen type drunken jocks who had come south to work in the steel mills.A truely horrible place at the time although I understand its slightly more civilised these days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eastside Urchin Posted February 23, 2013 Share Posted February 23, 2013 I heard Romford used to have their fair share of yobs back in the 70's. Place is hardly Beverly Hills nowadays Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big J R Posted February 24, 2013 Share Posted February 24, 2013 The journey there was a good one, it was the journey home that was a little uncomfortable thanks to all the broken glass in the coach. The worse club to visit in those days was Corby Town. The whole town seemed to be inhabited with cavemen type drunken jocks who had come south to work in the steel mills.A truely horrible place at the time although I understand its slightly more civilised these days. I think they've all been closed down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eastside Urchin Posted February 24, 2013 Share Posted February 24, 2013 Sounds a bit like modern day Romford Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missunderstood Posted February 24, 2013 Share Posted February 24, 2013 I heard Romford used to have their fair share of yobs back in the 70's. Place is hardly Beverly Hills nowadays Nor is Hornchurch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eastside Urchin Posted February 24, 2013 Share Posted February 24, 2013 Damn site better than romturd though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mayor Of Simpleton Posted February 24, 2013 Share Posted February 24, 2013 The journey there was a good one, it was the journey home that was a little uncomfortable thanks to all the broken glass in the coach. The worse club to visit in those days was Corby Town. The whole town seemed to be inhabited with cavemen type drunken jocks who had come south to work in the steel mills.A truely horrible place at the time although I understand its slightly more civilised these days. It's still a dump. Having been there to watch Gloucester City in recent years, you would be forgiven for thinking you had landed in Pollok or Govan with 'wee ginger neds' swigging buckfast and singing 'f**k off England'... oh the irony. As a club, I have a lot of respect for Corby helping out Kettering Town recently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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