Big-hitters need to distribute cash to those in need at grassroots level

Chairman Wendy Juggins, who along with her husband Neil, has been associated with the league for 40 years, fears that some clubs could go to the wall as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

After seeing last season declared null and void, the chances of the 2021 campaign going the same way are increasing by the week.

The latest national lockdown has seen the action again suspended with the situation to be reviewed in mid-February, while the FA have sent out a survey to be distributed to clubs asking for their thoughts on how to conclude the season.

Resuming and playing behind closed doors will be a non-starter for clubs in the West Midlands League. With no fans and no bar and catering facilities open there will be no cash coming in but the bills will have to be paid.

“At the end of the day we have to protect the clubs because if we don’t we will lose them,” said Juggins. “If we are forced to play behind close doors there will be loads of clubs that go to the wall. That’s not being dramatic, that’s fact. There will be a lot of clubs who will literally close the doors.

“Bills have got to be paid. If they use floodlights they have got to be paid for, match officials have to be paid.

“We have had clubs who have bought beer for their clubhouses and had to tip it down the drain. But it still had to be paid for. They just haven’t got that sort of money.

“If they can’t afford to play behind closed doors and without revenue then you shouldn’t force clubs to play. That’s wrong. That’s my opinion for what it’s worth.

“The clubs that are pushing for promotion will want to get the games played, that’s normal and we understand that.

“But we have to say, ‘we know you want to play and you want to be promoted but are you going to viable or are you going to put yourselves into financial debt? Are you going to be promoted and then within one season have to close because you can’t afford it?’

“At the end of the day, if we want these clubs to move forward and succeed and continue, and to offer sport to the local community then we have to look after them.”

The FA Executive are in dialogue with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport regarding a winter survival fund.

that they hope will be distributed in the form of grants as opposed to loans.

And Juggins is hopeful that any windfall will find its way down to the lower reaches of the non-league game and not just the top of the pyramid system.

“The FA said that they were going to give us money, but if it’s loans rather than grants that would mean clubs taking on more debt. If you take a loan then it has to be paid back,” she added. “If you are not earning any revenue, how can you pay it back?

“If they are going to grant money to the clubs that need it to get over this, fantastic. And the league, because the league has had no money or assistance from anywhere.

“But grassroots to the Football Association is the National League.

“If you listen to them talk, it’s all about the National League that’s what they see as grassroots. No it’s not.

“They get sponsorships, they get grant monies, they get all this government money.

“Don’t think I am begrudging them that because I am not, I believe football at all levels should be helped – but at all levels not just the top level.

“The National League isn’t grassroots, some of the players at that level are pros, they are paid and they are under contract.

“You talk about grassroots, then you are on about us, and our division one and two and leagues at those levels.

“If they (FA) want football to continue and to survive at the lower levels they have got to do something drastic.

“If they had given every league at five and six £2m the clubs wouldn’t have an issue. But the leagues at five and six have had nothing apart from their development/administration grants which is £5,000 from the FA. That’s all.

“The Premier League is awash with money and they should look at clubs at steps three, four, five and six.

“If they gave money to the leagues and said administer this and make sure your clubs are looked after, the leagues would do it.

“The leagues would make sure it wasn’t spent on players and that it would be to help pay the bills, to help with running costs and ground maintenance.

“We could pay for this to be done or that to be done and make sure the clubs are ticking over and make sure that they are still here.“We could make sure clubs don’t have to worry about how they are going to pay their bills or get their pitches sorted or fix the boiler if it breaks down. It would mean everything. We are not asking for £100m or anything stupid. All we are saying is remember us, we are at the bottom of the pyramid that is holding everyone else up.

“But it’s wishful thinking to be honest.”

And while leagues around the country wait and hope for a way out of this crisis, all the unsung heroes such as the Juggins family can do is offer support.

“I am heartbroken for the clubs,” said Juggins. “You have people who have dedicated their lives to these clubs and they now fear losing them.

“Some people have been with these clubs since they left school, as a supporter or as a volunteer.

“One lady rang me and said she was fed up because she had nothing to do. Because they weren’t playing games she wasn’t washing the kit and she wasn’t seeing people at the club. They are like her family because she is on her own. Who thinks about people like that?

“When they ring up and they are feeling down, we sit and talk to them and try to keep their spirits up.

“We will keep doing it. We have done it for 40 years and we will keep doing it.

“But I really really hope with all my heart that these vaccines work and that things get back to normal and we can have a proper season next season.”

“That will really help the clubs and help with their finances. And they will get back to doing something they love.”