Building for a better future

AFTER being suspended from the Kent League for a non-payment of fines near the climax of the 2002-2003 season, Faversham Town are set to make a dramatic return, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Salters Lane club was formed in 1901 and the first 100 years were a breeze with generations of people taking the club to their hearts.

However, the new millennium has not been kind to Faversham Town with the club being trapped in a downward spiral that left them teetering on the brink of extinction.

They now find themselves in the unenviable position of being a football club that does not play football matches with no team, manager or players.

However, 300 people who have paid up to join a supporters club, knowing full well there was no team to support.

And this strength of feeling is the reason why the committee of born-again Faversham Town believe they are on course for the best result in the club's history.

In the summer of 1990 Faversham Town were crowned Kent League champions thanks to a team of players made up almost exclusively from the sleepy Kent market town.

At least seven had progressed through the club's youth policy into the first team to make it a truly local victory for the town.

However, just thirteen years later the club seemed destined to be following Canterbury City and Sheppey United on the footballing scrap heap.

After resigning from the Kent League, Canterbury City are still playing football, albeit youth football in the MUSH Kent Youth League, and Sheppey United reformed last season and are plying their trade in the British Energy Kent County League Division One East.

Mismanagement of the highest order led to the ignominy of suspension from the Kent League for non-payment of fines.

In the months that followed, the club's once proud home at Salters Lane was systematically wrecked by vandals.  

Meanwhile, the club's trustees led by Faversham businessman Ray Leader, fought a desperate battle to heal a widening rift with the previous administration over the ownership of the club and the ground.

However, it soon became clear that the ordinary man in the street was not about to stand around and do nothing with the club in a very real danger of disappearing for ever.

And in March 2004, the Faversham Town Independent Supporters Club was formed following an open meeting to discuss the state of the club called by long-time fan Roger Bennett and former manager Pat Miles.

The following month, the fans formed their own seven-man committee chaired by long-serving player Bob Mason, and so began the campaign to put the club back in friendly hands.

The big breakthrough came in early June when the trustees finally settled the ownership row, leaving the way clear for Mason and his committee to take charge of the football club.

They had emerged victorious from the first battle but the war is still to be won.

The new alliance of supporter club members and trustees have wasted no time in identifying their goals.

They believe that with the right funding, Faversham Town can become the very heart of east Kent's supporting community, serving young and old, male and female.

Just three months down the line and the club has thrown itself at the mercy of the people of Faversham, urging them to "Raise a few pence for a fence" with regular donations to the Salters Lane Restoration Fund.

Club chiefs have also asked the Kent County Football Association for twelve months grace over their senior status in the hope a new team may be allowed to rejoin the Go Travel Kent League next season.

The return of senior football drives the restoration project but the big picture is far more wide ranging.

The club want Salters Lane to be busy every night of the week, providing kids with the platform to fulfill their wildest sporting dreams.

An artificial surface, sports hall, together with rugby, football and hockey pitches serviced by a modern, purpose-built clubhouse may sound like a pipe dream for some.

Faversham has been grossly under funded in recent years and Salters Lane provides the ideal opportunity to redress that balance.

The club has an opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of thousands of young people.

Chairman, Bob Mason has lent his name to the club's first major fund-raiser, the Bob Mason Classic at Boughton Golf Club on Friday 15th October.

Golfers of all abilities are being invited to take part in the 27-hole event which will be followed by a presentation dinner and an Auction of Promises, Prizes and Sport Memorabilia.

Club chiefs have had a great response to the tournament so far and golfers can still enter into the fund raiser.

The Bob Mason Classic has been organised to raise as much money as possible for the Salters Lane Restoration Fund which has been set up to finance the redevelopment of the club's dilapidated home ground.

The golf day takes the form of a nine-hole Texas Scramble team competition followed by an eighteen-hold Stableford with prizes on offer for the top team and top three individuals.

And 19-hanidcapper Mason is looking forward to a great day of golf.

He said: "Already we have more than 50 golfers who have said they'd like to play.

"This is great and we are hoping that many more will want to help us make this event a big success.

"Hopefully, this will go on to become an annual event with every single penny of profit going to the Salters Lane Restoration Fund."

Applications are invited for teams of four with each team member paying £50. 

The fee includes golf, breakfast, lunch and evening meal.

Entry forms are available by telephoning or texting your address to James Brown 078111 82652.

Alternatively you can write, including your address to FavershamTown@hotmail.com

Bob Heward, vice-chairman of Faversham Town, has written to Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich in the hope the Russian will back Faversham Town's fight to build an exciting new future at Salters Lane.

Heward has invited the Russian to become an honorary life member of the club's supporters club.

That will mean the Stamford Bridge chief doesn't have to pay the annual fee of £2 and Heward joked: "I'm sure he'll appreciate the gesture!

"I believe Mr Abramovich will be interested in what we are doing here.

"I've told him all about the Salters Lane Restoration Fund and said that any donation would be gratefully received.

"Football is not all about big-money players and deals and Faversham Town is the ideal grass roots project for him."

Bob's letter was accompanied by a video showing the appalling state of Salters Lane the new committee inherited when they took control of the club.

He added: "It's a great video that was shot by one of our members.  It shows just what an uphill task we face at Salters Lane.

"I'm not a Chelsea fan - my heart is with Faversham Town - but I know the whole of Faversham will appreciate any help Mr Abramovich can give us."

Big-hearted football fans have paved the way for the return of senior football to Salters Lane by stepping in to play Faversham Town's affiliation fees.

Faversham Town Independent Supporters Club chiefs made the gesture on behalf of members after the born-again club were hit with a £60 bill.

The Independent Supporters Club, which has a membership of 300, has been an overwhelming success and is making a real difference in the rebirth of the crisis club.

Heward, membership secretary added: "We thank our members for their continued support.

"Without them, we would be unable to make this sort of gesture.

"Membership has gone from strength to strength, but I think there are at least another 100 members out there.

"Lots of people have played football for the club down the years and have yet to come forward.

"Many may not be able to offer us physical help but they can help us both morally and financially by joining the Independent Supporters Club."

Anyone wishing to join is asked to send their name and address, together with a cheque for £2 to Mr Heward, at 41 Norman Road, Faversham, Kent.

All cheques should be made payable to the Faversham Town Independent Supporters Club.

When contacting Faversham Town - please state you read the article on
www.kentishfootball.co.uk

Courtesy of Faversham Town, 2004