Eastbourne Borough win vital backing as National League crisis continues

Town MP Caroline Ansell has offered support for Eastbourne Borough FC in the wake of the dramatic shutdown of the club’s National South season.
Priory Lane as it should be - with fans present and football being played. But there's not much prospect of either at the moment / Picture: Lydia RedmanPriory Lane as it should be - with fans present and football being played. But there's not much prospect of either at the moment / Picture: Lydia Redman
Priory Lane as it should be - with fans present and football being played. But there's not much prospect of either at the moment / Picture: Lydia Redman

Club chairman Dave Blackmore wrote a detailed letter to Caroline last weekend, and he shared his concerns with the town’s MP in a 30-minute Zoom call on Tuesday morning, and he was happy afterwards to issue a positive report back.

“Caroline is fully supportive of our cause,”” said Blackmore, “and she wanted me to pass on her thanks for the incredible work the club does in the community, and the positive impact we have, from the young ones at the nursery all the way through to our elderly residents and members.”

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In common with all clubs in National South and National North, the Sports find themselves in a two-week shutdown, while the League and its member clubs come to terms with a possible withdrawal of financial support.

This season Borough have played – except for one single December fixture with Dartford – entirely behind closed doors. A three-month grant from October to December, to compensate for loss of gate income, was expected to be extended into the New Year, but the Government has indicated that future support will take the form of loans instead of grants.

“That news has been a hammer blow to us and all clubs at our level,” said CEO John Bonar last week. “In normal times, we would be just about making ends meet. To continue without grant support would frankly be reckless, and it might literally jeopardise our longer term survival as a football club.”

Blackmore reached out to Caroline Ansell last weekend. “I want to thank Caroline very sincerely, for listening to us and giving me so much of her time. This of course is not a party political issue – it is about our town and our community. Eastbourne Borough is warp and weft with our local community – and the same is true of football clubs like us right across the country.

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“She is planning to talk to as many MPs as she possibly can, to try and form a body of support, as well as directly contacting Nigel Huddlestone, Oliver Dowden and Tracey Crouch (Ministers and MPs with responsibility for, or involvement in, Culture, Media and Sport).

“Caroline has said that she is very impressed with the framing of our request and genuinely believes in our need for support. She is more than happy for us to publicise her 100% backing of our position, and the need for us to continue to receive grants, so we can maintain the running of our club and our vital place in the community.”