Non League Stratford Town hope to help provide a government blueprint for clubs to help their local communities after being praised on a visit by ministers.
Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston joined Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi to carry out the opening of Stratford’s new academy and education sports hub recently. The club was weeks away from shutting its doors four years ago until the intervention of current club chairman Jed McCrory and vice chairman Steve Shipway. The club is now valued at £1.4 million and on a sustainable pathway.
Huddleston reviewed the club’s community work and commented that Town are setting standards that others up and down the country should emulate. Mr Huddleston said: “We need more clubs like Stratford Town, they are the heart and soul of our community. To me it is a model club and one that others in the country should seek to replicate. It is great to see the education centre - a superb example of how such a hub should be set-up and run - and I was delighted to be asked to open it alongside Nadhim, the local MP.
“It is a hugely important part of what’s on offer at Stratford Town - giving opportunities to kids who might not otherwise have those chances. It shows the power of sports clubs where they can make a meaningful impact on people’s lives and give them a helping hand. This is one of the best examples of that work at grassroots level that I’ve seen.”
Stratford, who reached the FA Cup first round last season when they played Shrewsbury Town in front of nearly 3,000 fans, are thriving and enjoy good relationships with key district and county council officers, local ward councillor Kate Rolfe and county council leader Izzi Seccombe.
They hope it will enable them to expand and redevelop their home as they bid to grow. Cllr Seccombe was at the ministerial visit, meeting young footballers from the club’s academy which has just hit record numbers and saw ground improvement work ahead of the new season.
McCrory, the former owner and chairman of Swindon Town and Worcester Warriors rugby club, said: “To have two leading members of the Government and the leader of Warwickshire County Council at the club at the same time shows just how far we have come at Stratford Town.
“They were very complimentary of our work in the community and impressed by the performance of our students who continually rank among the best in the country. In particular, the support of Izzi Seccombe and Mark Ryder at Warwickshire County Council has been vital and we are extremely grateful for their continued encouragement and support.”
McCrory’s side are managed by Dean Holdsworth in the Southern League Premier Central and are three promotions away from the EFL. But their work off the pitch is proving just as vital with the club offering a holiday activities and food (HAF) programme free for children aged between five and 12 who receive free school meals.
Over the Easter holiday, 60 to 70 children attended daily and McCrory admitted it was a real eye opener as to how hungry some of the kids were.
McCrory added: “We had a six-year-old asking at 11.30am if they could eat because they had not had anything for two days. As a father of a young boy, it just put a lump in my throat and I had to leave the room. There was not a dry eye to be seen.
“I also remember it being something like Oliver one day. One child was so hungry they came up to us with their bowl and spoon and said ‘can I have more please!' Poverty is an issue and I think the community needs to be made more aware of what is going on.”
Stratford Town and their ‘Bardy Army’ supporters are very much rooted in the community. More than 1,200 children come through the gates each home game and the ground is home to a thriving women’s and girls section. Nightingale FC, a non-profit charity team supporting NHS charities, are also based at the club’s Arden Garages Stadium which will also host the final of the National Affinity Cup next weekend - a competition for charity football clubs from across the country.
A busy pre-season will see Stratford play ten home matches throughout July and the club is offering 500 free tickets for each of the games to mums and their kids.
McCrory added: “Through all the work we are doing in the community we realised that, financially, these are testing times so we are delighted that through the generosity of our sponsors and directors we are able to offer these free tickets as our way of giving something back.”
