Hamworthy United Chairman, Steve Mitchener, has spoken about the challenges facing his club as they embark upon their second season in the Pitching In Southern League Division One South.
The Dorset outfit have made outstanding progress on the pitch in recent years, reaching the semi-final of the Isuzu FA Vase in 2021/22 and securing a third-place finish and subsequent place in the play-offs at the end of their first-ever season at Step 4 last term.
A tremendous amount of hard work is going on to be able to match this progress off-the-field, with the team currently playing home games at Weymouth FC whilst work to complete their new stand is finished, whilst attracting sponsorships and advertising is proving a tough challenge.
“We’ve been unable to secure a first-team home or away front of shirt sponsor so far this season, which is particularly disappointing,” admitted Mr. Mitchener. “It’s not been through a lack of trying; I know that the asking price isn’t unreasonable for the geographical cover that such a commercial promotion would reach.
“We’ve got two unique new kits and no sponsor on the front.
“The Southern League brings huge financial challenges in terms of travelling and player costs, and this season we have the added financial burden of having to play, and pay, our home games at Weymouth until our new stand is built.
“Sadly, if the financial future of the club is not further supported, and quickly, by local or national businesses, our ability to be able to compete at this level of football will be curtailed, and all the recent achievements would have been in vain, which is what none of us wants to see happen.”
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