AFC Uckfield welcome news of grant - but aren't hopeful over season's restart

With the Oakmen in step fiveo f non-league’s national league system, they are eligible for a grant of up to £10,500, money that will likely be vital for the club’s return when football is resumed.

It’s part of a £10m package for step three to six clubs confirmed by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport last week.

Joint manager Steve Ives welcomed the news, reflecting on its importance to the club to minimise the lack of income they have experienced.

“I think there’s a misconception that no football equals no costs for clubs but the reality is the bills keep rolling in, so it’s fantastic this hole in our revenue stream has been addressed,” he said

The decision to offer the finance in grants was welcomed by managers across non-league, especially after the controversial announcement National League clubs would receive their next cash aid as loans not grants.

AFC Uckfield Town only played ten competitive home games in 2020, and with football’s shutdown continuing, the early part of 2021 is looking no better.

Joint manager Graeme Mintrim said: “A lot of clubs rely on revenue from supporters spending money on a match day to cover running costs. This is a tough time for everyone and hopefully all clubs will come through it.

“No-one wants to see a club run by volunteers go out of business due to something outside of their control.”

Clubs in steps three to six have taken part in an FA survey regarding how the season should be concluded. Mintrim didn’t appear optimistic about the prospects of restarting in the near future, also believing the views of clubs may not be what the FA decides on.

“It’s difficult to say as it wasn’t a vote. It was an opinion. So regardless of what all the clubs say the FA could still do something different. I’d like to think we’ll get some football in but at the moment it looks bleak,” he said.

If the season is declared void for the second year running, there have been a number of alternatives suggested , such as using a combination of the results from the two uncompleted seasons to settle promotion issues or using points per game if the entire 2020-21 season can’t be played.

Ives appeared to favour the latter, although like Mintrim, was not optimistic around the Southern Combination season restarting in the near future.

“I’d love to see us get back to playing through April and May to maybe get at least another 12 games on the board to make PPG a realistic option but sadly my gut feeling is that we’ve kicked our last competitive ball of the season, I hope I’m wrong though,” he said.

Meanwhile the Oakmen are planning a running challenge between their players and Uckfield RFC this month.

Ives said: “Max {Currums, first team manager} approached me, and I think we are all missing that competitive edge so we thought it would be a good idea to give us something to focus on as a team as opposed to individual fitness.”

Ives hopes the competition will help maintain interest in local sport despite the lack of action, while also allowing the two clubs to form stronger ties with one another. “Hopefully it will raise a bit of interest in the community and forge a bit of a bond between the two clubs and codes,” Ives said

Mintrim and Ives feel their team can win, with Ives adding: “I’m sure we’ll both be keen to win but as long as we have a bit of fun and it gives us some motivation to stay focused on fitness I think it will have been a decent exercise.”