Happy for New Mills!!

KirkhamWesham · **Posted:** Sat May 26, 2012 5:38 pm

No disrespect to New Mills as I have a soft spot for them from our Vodkat days, but looking at their league position in the Evo-Stik South, I think they will struggle to make a push for the playoffs in the North unless they bring in some decent players. Automatic promotion is a bit too far.

The Amber Army · **Posted:** Sat May 26, 2012 5:56 pm

I would hazzard a guess that we might stay at Level 4 for the foreseeable future.

Our budget was slashed in 2010 and why would a decent player come to New Mills when there is a host of clubs in the Manchester area probably closer to where they live (Manchester/Stockport catchment area) ?

Our crowds have also dropped off.

We have had to adapt to the reduced budget by using players from the youth set up (by passing Reserves so avoiding paying for signing on fees for the evo stik league) (if the rumour is true)

This wasn't a problem in the NWCFL as they were already signed on but it sounds like this might continue next season
http://www.highpeakradio.co.uk/images/l ... kering.mp3

Forester · **Joined:** Wed Jan 16, 2008 4:08 pm **Posts:** 786

Daz M wrote:

you have got a decent budget if rumours are to be believed.

Not unless we have had a sudden influx of money.

It is only a week or so ago since we were asking supporters to contribute towards the cost of pitch work.

Daz M · **Joined:** Sat Nov 01, 2008 7:37 pm **Posts:** 1991

The Amber Army wrote:

I would hazzard a guess that we might stay at Level 4 for the foreseeable future.

Our budget was slashed in 2010 and why would a decent player come to New Mills when there is a host of clubs in the Manchester area probably closer to where they live (Manchester/Stockport catchment area) ?

Our crowds have also dropped off.

We have had to adapt to the reduced budget by using players from the youth set up (by passing Reserves so avoiding paying for signing on fees for the evo stik league) (if the rumour is true)

This wasn't a problem in the NWCFL as they were already signed on but it sounds like this might continue next season
http://www.highpeakradio.co.uk/images/l ... kering.mp3

You've got some very decent players, or at least you had anyway so I think you'll do well this coming season. Time will tell as ever though.

The Amber Army · **Posted:** Sat May 26, 2012 6:16 pm

Daz M, don't believe the hype.

The budget at New Mills was reasonable when we beat Kirkham & Wesham 4-0 (by NWCFL Division Two Standards), but in 2010 it was cut by a third and our previous manger left soon after.

We have had this tag of being a money bags club, a great bit of P.R. started from our friends over the Hill (Glossop), they (like others) forget to mention where all this alleged money comes from or the fact that at the same time they too were paying out
Jonathan Haggart talking about Steve Young's departure "I understand that Young demanded, and got, the largest budget of any North End manager in any fans memory." (Blog: sunday, 3 april 2011)
http://haggisinwonderland.blogspot.co.u ... results=13

The monies generated at New Mills are down to the hard work at the club, but it has to be said, New Mills, like most other clubs, are feeling the pinch.

buxtonfollower · **Joined:** Wed Sep 08, 2010 1:18 pm **Posts:** 422

Forester wrote:

The Amber Army wrote:

It should help us to recruit one or two players if we do indeed stay North.

Should also improve crowds both home and away.

Sadly, you are probably correct on both counts.

However, If we hope to progress any further up the pyramid now or at any time in the future, then we really MUST sign players who are prepared to travel. Were we to get promoted to the next level at any time soon, then we would have to travel to Whitley Bay, Blyth Spartans, Grantham, Walsall (Rushall Olympic), Kendal, Hull (North Ferriby), Eastwood (almost an identical distance to Hucknall where we managed to field just four supporters in the season just finished, only one of which lived within twelve miles of New Mills), Hednesford (near Walsall again) as well as AFC Fylde, Chorley and Stafford, although to be fair, Chorley probably isn't that far.

The point being that we can't afford to be parochial, either from a player point of view or similarly from a supporter point of view. We need to support the team wherever they are playing.

Don't forget the difficult trip to Buxton :lol:

As a side note, is your ground really good enough for the Evo-Stik prem? Seating wise etc, etc.

Forester · **Joined:** Wed Jan 16, 2008 4:08 pm **Posts:** 786

buxtonfollower wrote:

Don't forget the difficult trip to Buxton :lol:

As a side note, is your ground really good enough for the Evo-Stik prem? Seating wise etc, etc.

Not at the moment.

We would need to increase the seating by at least 50 and the overall capacity by 600.

We would also need to convince the grading people that we had the potential to increase by a further thousand.

It is a big site (I'm sure I read that the club own 7.5 acres in all) so the potential may be there, but don't hold me to it.

There was also talk a couple of years ago of a feasibility study for a new ground, but I have no idea what became of that process.

buxtonfollower · **Joined:** Wed Sep 08, 2010 1:18 pm **Posts:** 422

By an extra thousand? Only way I can think of that is if you redevelop behind the ground where the coaches/small weird pitch are. Worse comes to worse you either refuse promotion or, dare I say it, groundshare with us?

The Amber Army · **Posted:** Tue May 29, 2012 7:52 pm

There are options at Church Lane including developing on the bottom right hand corner (where the buses currently park) or even behind the entire length of the bottom goal (which would prove expensive as you might have to direct single lane traffic underneath/ or around a potential stand)

There might even be other long term alternatives

There's not much point speculating about any of it without any funds to speak of or being in a position to gain promotion.

http://www.bing.com/maps/#JnE9LnNrMjIlM ... A2Mzg3NQ==

Switch to Birds Eye view and look above Church Lane/Left of Low Leighton

cheery · **Posted:** Tue May 29, 2012 8:14 pm

An extra thousand? Never happening is it. As for the 7.5 acres, 3 of them are down the banking towards the stream. This would have to be filled in (is landfill tax still available?) and then the astro and road etc. would have to be moved. Not impossible but one of the committee would have to win the Euromillions rollover before those sort of funds could be found. Much easier to find some flat ground (in New Mills?) and develop that.

buxtonfollower · **Joined:** Wed Sep 08, 2010 1:18 pm **Posts:** 422

It'll be a shame if you get held back due to your ground tbh. Hope you find some solutions that are not going to bankrupt you.

The Amber Army · **Posted:** Tue May 29, 2012 10:03 pm

If promotion ever came around and it meant racking up huge debts, then the committee would have a serious decision to make.

For the past 21 years that I know of, they do endevour to live within their means.

Maybe some grants may be available the further you rise up the pyramid?

Forester · **Joined:** Wed Jan 16, 2008 4:08 pm **Posts:** 786

cheery wrote:

An extra thousand? Never happening is it. As for the 7.5 acres, 3 of them are down the banking towards the stream. This would have to be filled in (is landfill tax still available?) and then the astro and road etc. would have to be moved. Not impossible but one of the committee would have to win the Euromillions rollover before those sort of funds could be found. Much easier to find some flat ground (in New Mills?) and develop that.

Tier the banking, hard core it and use it as a car park. Expand the ground into the current car park. Maybe shift the astro-turf a bit.

The point being that Grade C ground grading requires a capacity of 1950 of which 250 must be covered seats, so if our capacity is 1400 with 200 seats as I have read somewhere, then we need an extra 50 seats and 500 standing spaces. We then need the POTENTIAL to increase by a further thousand and fifty up to 3000 which we would need for progression to Step 2 (Grade B).

Regardless of the cost implications, the POTENTIAL to expand the ground exists.

As long as we can get up to the 1950 requirement of Grade C without too much financial hardship, there is no reason why the ground should hold us back from progression from this level.

cheery · **Posted:** Wed May 30, 2012 3:15 pm

Forester wrote:

cheery wrote:

Tier the banking, hard core it and use it as a car park. Expand the ground into the current car park. Maybe shift the astro-turf a bit. MAYBE? How do you propose playing on the grass pitch? The Astro would require a complete new pitch anyway so a good time to have it done 3G. Cost? North of £300,000. However, if it were to be renewed, make it much larger and then you can split it into 2 or even 3 sections as well as a full size one. Thereby increasing your revenue.

The point being that Grade C ground grading requires a capacity of 1950 of which 250 must be covered seats, so if our capacity is 1400 with 200 seats as I have read somewhere, then we need an extra 50 seats and 500 standing spaces. We then need the POTENTIAL to increase by a further thousand and fifty up to 3000 which we would need for progression to Step 2 (Grade B).

Regardless of the cost implications, the POTENTIAL to expand the ground exists.

As long as we can get up to the 1950 requirement of Grade C without too much financial hardship, there is no reason why the ground should hold us back from progression from this level.Never said there was, just that it's a lot of money and there is a recession on. Everyone cuts back including people spending on the lottery. Yes, I know the Lottery isn't the be all and end all but most organisations get their grants from the Lottery and then dish them out. Think of it like the spokes on a bicycle wheel, Camelot are the hub.I know because I have tried, sometimes successful, sometimes not. That is how it was explained to me and this was 2-3 years ago just as the recession started!

Forester · **Joined:** Wed Jan 16, 2008 4:08 pm **Posts:** 786

cheery wrote:

Forester wrote:

Tier the banking, hard core it and use it as a car park. Expand the ground into the current car park. Maybe shift the astro-turf a bit. MAYBE? How do you propose playing on the grass pitch? The Astro would require a complete new pitch anyway so a good time to have it done 3G. Cost? North of £300,000. However, if it were to be renewed, make it much larger and then you can split it into 2 or even 3 sections as well as a full size one. Thereby increasing your revenue.

The point being that Grade C ground grading requires a capacity of 1950 of which 250 must be covered seats, so if our capacity is 1400 with 200 seats as I have read somewhere, then we need an extra 50 seats and 500 standing spaces. We then need the POTENTIAL to increase by a further thousand and fifty up to 3000 which we would need for progression to Step 2 (Grade B).

Regardless of the cost implications, the POTENTIAL to expand the ground exists.

As long as we can get up to the 1950 requirement of Grade C without too much financial hardship, there is no reason why the ground should hold us back from progression from this level.Never said there was, just that it's a lot of money and there is a recession on. Everyone cuts back including people spending on the lottery. Yes, I know the Lottery isn't the be all and end all but most organisations get their grants from the Lottery and then dish them out. Think of it like the spokes on a bicycle wheel, Camelot are the hub.I know because I have tried, sometimes successful, sometimes not. That is how it was explained to me and this was 2-3 years ago just as the recession started!

Don't panic. I wasn't having a pop.

There were several posts on the same subject and yours just seemed a particularly apposite one to reply to as it highlighted most of the problems which we face at Church Lane were we to try to improve the facility.

All I was trying to point out to all and sundry is that as long as the potential exists, then we don't have to do anything other than meet the 1950 capacity requirement of the Grade C document - until we want to further of course.

Oh, and the MAYBE was intended to be slightly tongue in cheek. Of course the astro-turf would have to be completely relocated.

Happy for New Mills!!

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