Final whistle for Nelson FC after 129 years

Bosses at Nelson FC yesterday confirmed the club had resigned from the Vodkat League.

The one-time Football League club, which was founded in 1881, blamed a lack of sponsors, volunteers and spiralling costs for its demise.

People in the town said it was a ‘sad day’ but a ‘reflection of difficult economic times'.

And rival East Lancashire clubs feared Nelson’s exit might be followed by others in the coming months.

A statement from Nelson FC chairman and managing director Alan Pickering said the decision had been made with ‘sadness and regret’.

He said: “Over the past few seasons the club has struggled to continue, particularly financially.

"Combined with a paucity of officials, sponsors, volunteers and spiralling costs, the decision to with draw the team has been made.

“Attempts to sell the club have been unsuccessful so far, despite many meetings and negotiations, but that position remains.

“I would like to express my thanks to the member clubs, and in particular the league management committee, for their support and co-operation over the years, and extend my best wishes for the future to all."

Nelson, who played their home matches at Victoria Park, Lomeshaye Way, known locally as ‘Little Wembley’, were founder members of the Lancashire League in 1889.

Legend Joe Fagan was player manager from 1951 to 53 before going on to manage Liverpool, where he won the treble in his first season.

The club even has a victory over Real Madrid to its name on a pre-season tour of Spain in 1923.

But yesterday there was no sign of life at the club’s home ground.

Player manager Alex Mugan said the problems had not been a result of dwindling attendances, but a lack of financial backing.

He said: “Whilst support has declined it hasn’t declined massively.

"We’re about half way up the league table in terms of support.

“The main reason behind the decision is that financial support and backers have been difficult to come by.

“As a result it has been quite hard for the small number of volunteers and the situation has maybe reached a point where those people have wanted to step back from it and there’s nobody available to replace them.”

Pendle Council leader Mike Blomeley said it was ‘disappointing and sad’ for all concerned with the club.

He said: “Clearly it’s a club with a long history and that makes it even more sad that it’s reached this point.

“I am more of an armchair fan myself, so what can I say? But it is obviously a reflection of the times.

“The more you get football on TV, the less support there tends to before local amateur clubs.

"That’s part of the difficulty, but it is nonetheless disappointing for the people who have followed them through thick and thin.”

Brent Peters, manager of Bacup Borough FC, spoke of the difficulties facing non-league football clubs.

He said: “Every year there is something new that clubs have got to update to bring their grounds up to the standard of the FA.

“We have got a sports club that can be hired out for weddings, birthdays, children’s parties or funerals - any corporate event.

"We have that facility and we are struggling, so clubs like Nelson that don’t have that must find it even more difficult.

“I am tinged with sadness about the situation at Nelson, but I am not surprised that they have found things hard.

"Every club, whether it is Manchester United, Leeds United or Bacup Borough, has got to get the commercial side right to survive.”

Former Accrington Stanley chairman Eric Whalley said: “It’s the same at any level - to be successful it will cost a few bob.

“There must be a lot of other clubs in a similar position and wondering whether it’s worthwhile.”

What Nelson residents said

Dominic Kelly, 18, of Carr Road, said: “I was thinking about joining Nelson and was going to ask for a trial, so I think it is a bit disappointing. They weren’t really well known around here though.”

Sue Winton, 63, of the Walton Lane area, said: “I think it is a sad day for the town. My husband used to play amateur football as did my two sons - but not for Nelson - so I have been down to the ground.”

Whitefield resident Sylvia Wilson said: “I didn’t realise we still had a football club. There are other things happening. People are more interested in teams like Burnley and Blackburn Rovers.”

Mike Taylor, 53, of Vaughan Street, said: “To be honest it’s a bit sad, but I didn’t even realise we had a football club. I think the whole town, including the football club, needs to promote itself better.”

Brendan Sturdy, 17, of Clayton Close, said: “I knew they had a youth team, but I had no idea they had an adult side as well. Everybody in Nelson supports Liverpool or Man Utd. Nobody knows about Nelson.”

Bilal Khalid, 26, of the Walverden area, said: “It is a sad day because nobody wants to see any team go out of business. Money being invested in foreigners is affecting football at every level.”