Askern Villa

[albie]

Seem to be in a bit of a crisis;
http://www.barisncel.co.uk/news/league/2012/2800-barisncelstatementreaskernvilla/

I don't know if it is a money problem or player issues, but it is a pity if a local non-league side goes to the wall.

I think Rovers could do worse than giving them a friendly pre-season, or loaning out some of the young lads not getting a game at present. Mutual benefit and all that!

Anyone know more?

[Sammy Chung was King]

I Don't know anything first hand Albie,but i do know they couldn't raise a team a few weeks ago,there's no major investors as far as i know,like most non-league teams they rely on funding,they don't get many people watching,i was told they do pay some players,i don't know how much,or how they manage to pay anybody,most of the team is made up of players nothing to do with the village,i think they try to run as professionally as possible,the fella who is in charge of the team,seems to have done a good job,since he's been there,when first went to the team,he brought practically the whole Frickley youth team,the first season they got relegated,then promoted the following season,he was gradually building a good team,but steadily lost players to other teams and couldn't replace them,they badly need the support of the Rovers,maybe play the reserve fixtures there,everytime Rovers have brought a team to play in a friendly,they've got a decent crowd,and that seems to have helped the club funds wise,i used to play for Askern a fair few years ago and enjoyed it.
It would be a shame for them to go out of business as i think they've been going since about 1924,a few games against Rover and maybe others would keep them going for a few seasons,here's hoping someone helps!!,Morgan Hunt was one of the players that started at Askern,and a few more have played for pro clubs.

[The Beast]

Apparently they were struggling to field a team for Saturday. The players then received a text saying the club had folded. Seems a shame, sure there's plenty of good young players about out there.

[VivaRovers]

Though they have paid players in the past, I'm not sure Askern are paying anyone this season. They've had an unfortunate run off the field with vandalism to club property, their tea-hut was burnt to the ground last season, amongst other things and these things cost money.

With the club not paying their players, then the better players go elsewhere to find someone who will chuck them a bit of money here and there. The same has happened at Rossington Main in the last year; Rossington have lost pretty much a first choice 14 in the past 14 months, but thankfully they have a reserve side to bring through to fill the gaps, something Askern don't have.

All three of the town's NCEL clubs (Askern, Armthorpe, Rossington) criticised Rovers in the summer, when they chose to play a friendly at Cleethorpes Town (of the same division) rather than play one of the town's local sides, for just this sort of reason. The money from the one-off friendlies Rovers have played against these clubs in recent years has pretty much kept each of them afloat.

Of course, there are more factors invovled here than just not playing a friendly against Rovers, but it shows an aspect of community football that the club could do more to help. Even if it's just publicising their fixtures when Rovers are away or don't have a game. I know Rossington have asked DRFC for a retweet of a fixture announcement on twitter and received nowt. Not much, but simple things like that can go a long way for these clubs.

Hopefully Askern will pull through, but having failed to fulfill fixtures earlier this season, unless someone else gets involved with the club to help those already working hard, then you have to fear the worst.

[Jimmydee]

Askern Villa recently had their changing rooms vandalised and the copper piping etc stolen for scrap, that wouldn't have helped them.

[Sammy Chung was King]

It's the usual mindless ,thieving that seems to inhabit village life not just in Askern,but in most other villages across Donny,what will they have got for a bit of copper piping,it's a shame clubs can't afford security or even cctc,but the money just isn't there,it will be a massive shame if the club finishes,because it gives the young players a starting place for putting themselves in the shop window if they are good enough,it's same as the tea bar don't these little idiots realise they are ruining there own area,it's so hard at these levels to raise money for things,i don't think it would do any harm for Rovers to offer either a game for fund raising,or some other help,if you look after your local community clubs,it can benefit everybody,does anyone know if the club are planning to help?

[ROVERSBELLY]

Have every sympathy for them , our club (Brodsworth) suffered a similar bout of vandilism back in June 2010 when our Clubhouse was burnt down by some mindless idiots , we unfortunately had to drop out of the NCEL and start again in the Doncaster Senior League , now baclk in Central Midlands League , so wish them all the best hope they can survive.

[albie]

As we don't run a reserve team, young players like Mullen and McCormack need to get out on loan to get games. They are training with the squad, but not getting match development in mens football, being too old for the youth team.

Killing two birds with one stone, we could bulk up Askern to honour their fixtures when lads are not needed by DRFC for first team duties, by putting them on dual registration or youth loan.

Not quite sure how the system works, but surely if there's a will, there's a way. Any arrangement could be provisional in case of any problems.

The money involved from our side is peanuts.
Some Rovers fans might turn up when we are away, giving them a lift. Give them the promise of a friendly to look forward to, maybe that would help the morale of the people working to save the club.

You never know, DRFC might pick up an unpolished diamond from the local contacts with the NCEL.

There is probably a good reason why not, but I am not sure what it is!

[colin cramb]

Bloody hell i marked there pitch out friday! I could have had a kip in the van instead!