Squeezing through the turnstiles on a wet and windy Saturday afternoon to watch the 8th tier of English football may not be everyone’s ideal weekend activity.
Fans taking refuge in the bar from the less than suitable weather conditions.
The small terraced stand (known as the Shed) getting battered from the harsh winds swirling around the ground.
But for the faithful fanbase of Worksop Town this exactly what they are battling to keep.
The fourth oldest club in the world face extinction if they are unable to raise the sufficient funds to pay off existing debts caused by matters which are now under Police investigation.
The historic club have raised over £24,000 so far towards the £30,000 which is needed to keep the club afloat.
Hardcore Worksop Town supporter Richard Pickersgill said: “We follow this team home and away, it’s our life.”
In 1923 The Tigers held Tottenham Hotspur to a 0-0 draw at the famous White Hart Lane stadium, before falling to a 9-0 defeat in the replay two days later again hosted at White Hart Lane.
Three years later in 1926 the club reached the second round of FA Cup after beating Coventry at Central Avenue, the Tigers stadium at the time, this is the furthest the club have progressed in the FA Cup.
94 years later Worksop play their games at Sandy Lane, a ground which they share with other local side Handsworth FC.
Mr Pickersgill said: “We’re a community, everybody knows each other.”
In their most recent match Worksop suffered a 1-0 defeat to fellow mid-table side Sutton Coldfield.
Despite the Tigers dominance throughout the game they failed to breakdown the stubborn Sutton Coldfield defence.
Shortly after the half time interval Sutton Coldfield took the lead via a Ben Usher-Shipway volley.
Only seven minutes after taking the lead Sutton were reduced to 10 men as James Mutton saw red for a late challenge on Worksop winger Matthew Sykes.
Sutton Coldfield held on for all three points as Worksop piled on the pressure in the later stages of the game.
Worksop will be on the road for their next three games as they set to clash with the worlds first football team Sheffield FC.
The Tigers also face trips to Stamford AFC and Chasetown in the upcoming weeks.
But it was matters off the field which were far more important on Saturday – and which prompted the Daily Mail and ground-hopping YouTuber Smiv to attend.
Smiv attended the fixture to film a video and raise awareness for the current situation at the club to his 93,000 subscribers.
Worksop have received support from the likes of Peter Crouch, Alan Mcinally and Jacqui Oatley as the football world are rallying around the fourth oldest club in the world.
The Worksop faithful will be pulling out all the stops in the monumental week for the club in their bid to survive.
Richard Pickersgill said: “Everyone keeps chucking in £100 here and there into the donations.
“We won’t let this club go down no matter what.”
For more information or to donate the links are down below:
JustGiving:
https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/worksoptown?utm_term=yJ7kg82Y5
Presidents Fund:
http://www.worksoptownfc.co.uk/2020/02/10/official-club-statement-2/
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