Liversedge Football Club In Association with Hyundai UK #RealFansFirst Liversedge FC 1
Summary of Submission Club History Our Club and the Wider Community The Works Who will benefit/what can we achieve? Final Words Liversedge FC 2
History Liversedge Football Club was founded in 1910 following the demise of the old Liversedge Rugby Club which had been a member of the Northern Union which, in turn, was the forerunner to the Rugby League. We were one of a number of clubs which switched codes around that time. Liversedge FC started in the Bradford League winning the title in 1920-21 season. The club was a founder member of the West Riding County Amateur League in season 1922-23 and went on to be the most successful club in the league's infancy, taking the league title three times in the first five seasons (1923-24,1925-26,1926-27) and again in (1964-65,1965-66). The long association with the County Amateur League was maintained until the early 70 s by which time the club had kept up their position as a top local side winning it in 1968-69. The decision was taken to apply for membership of the Yorkshire League and the club's acceptance for season 1972-73 was followed by immediate promotion from Division Three. While not winning trophies around this time, success did come the club's way as promotion to Yorkshire League Division One was achieved prior to the amalgamation of the Midland and Yorkshire League to form the Northern Counties East League in 1982, of which we compete in to this day. Liversedge FC 3
Bradford League Winners 1919/22 Liversedge FC 4
Liversedge FC 5
1 st Team Club Honours Bradford League 1919/22 West Riding County League 1922/27 1949/72 Spen Valley League 1947/49 Yorkshire League 1972/82 Northern Counties East League 1982/Present -------------------------------------- CHAMPIONSHIPS & CUPS -------------------------------------- Bradford League Champions 1920/21 Northern Counties East League Runners-Up Div 1-1989/90 Div 2-988/89 Premier 2005/06 NCEL League Cup Winners 2005/06 NCEL Presidents Cup Winners 2007/08 Spen Valley League Champions 1948/49 SVL Cup Winners 1947/48 & 1948/49 West Riding County League Champions 1923/24,1925/26,1926/27 1964/65,1965/66,1968/69 West Riding County League Cup Winners 1957/58,1964/65 West Riding County Challenge Cup Winners 1948/49,1951/52,1969/70 Wheatley Cup Winners 1919/20,1950/51,1952/53 1953/54,1955/56,1960/61 1961/62,1964/65,1967/68 1969/70 Yorkshire League Runners-up Div 3 1972/73 FA Cup 2004/05 QR 4 v Coalville Liversedge FC 6
2 nd Team Club Honours Bradford Red Triangle League 1950/51 Lancaster League East Division 2012/13 Northern Counties East League Reserves 1987/05 Spen Valley League 1951/56, 1958/61 West Riding County League Reserves 1971/74, 1980/87, 2008/09 Yorkshire League Reserves 1974/77 ------------------------------------------- CHAMPIONSHIPS & CUPS ------------------------------------------- Bradford Red Triangle League Champions 1950/51 NCEL Reserves Team Cup Winners 1999/00, 2002/03 West Riding County League Reserves Champions 1972/73 Liversedge FC 7
U19s Team Club Honours Northern Alliance West Division 2005/Present ----------------------------------- NAWD Runners-up 2010/11 FA Youth Cup 2008/09 QR 3, Wakefield Liversedge FC 8
Liversedge FC & Community The Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees is situated in West Yorkshire, England. It has a population (2011) of 430,000 and includes the settlements of Batley, Birstall, Cleckheaton, Dewsbury & Heckmondwike. Clayborn home of Liversedge FC has always been the prestigious venue, not only for it s tenants, but for teams all over the borough. It is the only pitch in the whole of North Kirklees capable of hosting floodlit matches and the venue for all local area cup semi finals and cup finals. The Wembley of N. Kirklees Liversedge FC 9
Liversedge FC & Community Over the years many committee men and women as well as spectators have dug into their own pockets to provide a picturesque stadium that sits proud of place overlooking the Spen Valley. They did this because they believe in sport and it s benefit to the local society. After 106 years the club still believe in this ideal. Liversedge FC 10
Liversedge FC & Community We engage and promote local business, through sponsorship opportunities: Leading Edge Signs Coubrough & Co The Chimp Store Liversedge FC 11
Liversedge FC & Community We engage and promote sport to children through our links with Gomersal and Cleckheaton Juniors: U7 s Team as Mascots Vs Thackley AFC Liversedge FC 12
Liversedge FC & Community A Chartered Standard junior football club affiliated with the West Riding FA. The objective is to provide facilities and to promote the participation of the whole community in the sport of football. We have teams from Under 6's through to Under 18's. Cater for circa 285no Youngsters Including Girls Team Gomersal & Cleckheaton FC Liversedge FC 13
Liversedge FC & Community We engage and can touch local and national communities, through our social media channels: Liversedge_FC Liversedgefc Liversedge FC Liversedge FC 14
Liversedge FC & Community You have seen the response and the outpouring of support from the wider football community over our recent plight. Having not played at home since 31 st October 2015 Spear and Jackson contacted us and have donated tools to assist us with the upkeep and struggles we have had with the pitch. They will help, but they wont solve the problem Liversedge FC 15
Liversedge FC & Community & the support we had nationally in our submission to Hyundai UK, from our 2000+ followers on social media Liversedge FC 16
Liversedge FC & Community We engage with fans and their children to ensure our future supporters contract the Sedge bug: Liversedge FC 17
The Works PITCH IMPROVEMENTS Liversedge FC 18
The Works Following an unprecedented spell of wet weather and the deteriaoration of the playing surface we have not played a home game since October 31 st 2015. This is mainly due to the pitch being capped and the lack of lateral drainage channels linking the existing drainage that runs the length of the field Without games, the club can not generate revenue and therefore can not survive. No home games means no gate, no bar, no food revenue and the costs continue to be paid out. This is unsustainable to a provincial club like ours. WE NEED TO HOSTS GAMES TO SURVIVE!! Liversedge FC 19
The Works Sporting Objective: Stop pitch deterioration, due to capping off of the ground. Liversedge FC 20
Work to be done! Hire Machinery to penetrate, vibrate and loosen the compact sub soil on which excess water sits Liversedge FC 21
Work to be done! Employ suitable labour and tools and machinery to cut sand slits at 1 Yard Intervals across the width of the pitch and down the entire length between the existing drainage Liversedge FC 22
Who will we employ? A referral has been given to us by our longstanding friends and NCEL colleagues at Bridlington Town AFC Peter Smurthwaite Chairman of Brid Town and (Director at Hull Rugby League) employ this Contractor annually to carry out works on their Football Pitch. Pete advises that the contractor costs in the region of 4600.00 to complete the works. Cont Liversedge FC 23
Who will we employ? The Key operations are: PREPARATION MAINTENANCE RENOVATION focusing on minimum downtime Pinhaw View, Ghyll Fields Barnoldswick Lancashire BB18 6JQ Groundcare Contact:Tel: 07930 336594Email: richard@pinhaw.com www.richardpeelgroundcare.co.uk Liversedge FC 24
Who will we employ? Contracts Completed: Blackburn Rovers FC Bradford City FC Wigan RLFC Wigan Athletic FC Liversedge FC 25
What it does for us? Employing professional contractors gives our ground staff the opportunity to learn and to be further educated in the upkeep of the pitch. It will allows us to facilitate more games, more teams and more participants in sport It gives us a bigger playing window. i.e. the pitch will be sound all year round and available during the wetter months. This will alleviate the immense pressure placed on us from the NCEL League Directors and the FA, to complete our fixtures by the deadlines they set. We will see less disruption during the season and this will allow us to prosper and help generate more income to cover our growing costs. It will allows us to open up our facility to be used more often and by more of the community. How apt given that the local council has/is closing other facilities around us (Whitcliffe Mount Sports Centre/Spenborough Pool & Playing Fields. We could become the premier facility in the area. Liversedge FC 26
What can we Achieve? If we can secure the 5000.00 on offer. We will secure an opportunity to survive!! With survival, we can progress the club and have an opportunity to grow sport in the area. We are looking towards a Womens Team and a Disability Team. We can strengthen our ties with Gomersal and Cleckheaton FC. We can engage with and promote more local business and generate interest in the local area. Liversedge FC 27
Final Words This is without doubt the worst spell in the clubs long 106 year history. Events have conspired against us. But..We are not looking for sympathy, all we are looking for is a little leg up and a point in the right direction to enable us to continue to serve the local and wider community. The people involved in the club directly and for those who support us, deserve a break. The work we are putting in behind the scenes to ensure this great club goes forth is difficult, but we do it, as we have an affinity and an unconditional love of LIVERSEDGE FC! Liversedge FC 28
THANK YOU. For the opportunity to apply for this grant. We look forward to your feedback: Best Wishes Liversedge FC Liversedge FC 29