Jeff Stelling & stars race to save much loved village team from extinction
Marske United are trying to raise £120,000 in two weeks through donations to keep the Seasiders afloat
TalkSPORT Breakfast Presenter Jeff Stelling, Waterloo Road actor Mark Benton, and Championship footballer Jordan Hugill are among a range of stars & celebrities chipping in to help volunteers save Marske United Football Club from going under.
The East Cleveland club are fighting for survival both on and off the pitch, and attempting to raise £120,000 in just two weeks which would see the side through to the end of the season.
So far, Marske United have raised over £12,850 online from supporters, local businesses and football well-wishers across the country through a JustGiving fundraising page.
Speaking about the situation, Stelling an ambassador and fundraiser for UK Prostrate Cancer said: “This club has been a fantastic supporter in the fight versus prostate cancer.
“Would love it if anyone who backs my walks could also help them.”
This is set to be boosted by a recent in-person bucket collection at Middlesbrough FC, led by the club’s mascot Seasider Sid who teamed up with Boro counterpart Roary the Lion to raise funds alongside a team of hard-working volunteers.
It follows a show of solidarity from Middlesbrough FC Chairman Steve Gibson, who found himself in a similar situation when saving the Boro from oblivion back in 1986, after receiving assistance from other local sides such as Hartlepool United, Stelling’s boyhood team.
Last week, Marske United was suspended by the Northern Premier League on Friday following enquiries into the club’s new structure and previously announced plans for the club to become a limited company to raise vital share capital.
However, after working collectively with the League & Football Association over the weekend to rectify a procedural error, the club has now been reinstated after satisfying the lawmakers by reverting to its former entity, as well as installing a new chairman, alongside a new board of volunteers.
The club still intends to pursue the sustainable pathway of becoming a limited company with all the benefits that brings, but are now unable to do so until next summer due to the extensive FA processes and time constraints involved.
All the share money previously received by the club is currently in the process of being reimbursed, sparking the recent fundraising efforts and campaign to keep the club alive in the interim.
The club was unable to raise its usual pre-season revenue this summer following essential drainage work at the team’s stadium which prevented any home friendlies being played at Mount Pleasant.
The debt accumulated by the club, is only a fraction of the £120,000 figure the club is trying to raise.
However, reaching the tally will provide assurances that the team has enough funds in place to complete the rest of the season before a crucial reset next summer.
In recent months, players and officials have been traveling to some games in cars instead of the usual team coach to cut travel costs.
The first team is managed by former Hartlepool player Graeme Lee, assisted by ex-teammate Ian Clark and fellow assistant manager Nicky Ward, goalkeeping coach Dan Wilson, physio Ben Slater, and kitman Andy Matthewman.
Speaking about the situation to BBC Radio Tees, Lee who joined the side in the summer said: “If we can’t raise this money in the next two weeks then I can’t see the club going forward unfortunately.
“It’s a difficult situation for everyone. We’ve been trying to take the club into a limited company, so we could release shares and bring some investment into the club to move us forward.
“Unfortunately, the league has brought that to a hold at the moment, because there’s a lot more behind the scenes processes.
“But while the club can’t do that it’s very difficult for the club to survive.
“We needed that.”
Lee, a former football league manager who led Pools to the EFL Trophy Semi-Finals, is a friend of Boro coach Jonathan Woodgate, and has two Boro defenders, Ben Beals and George Gitau, on loan in his side.
Alongside the first team, Marske United has a reserves squad who compete in the North Riding League, a community walking football team, various junior sides including for futsal, and even introduced their first girls team this year.
“It’s a great club with great people and it’ll be a crying shame if we can’t keep it going,” Lee added.
“We need an immediate impact if we can with funds to come into the club.
“The club is part of North East history and if anyone can help, I know it’s a difficult time, but whatever they can afford could end up making a big difference to the club.”
The recent suspension, while now lifted, has unfortunately meant that the club has missed out on two crucial revenue-raising home games against Worksop Town and Lancaster City, but the team are back playing against Ilkeston away at the weekend.
Former Seasiders striker Jordan Hugill was one of the first to assist when the fundraiser went live, with the Championship striker donating £500 to his former side.
Peter Collinson of Care Care Marske, a former Marske United Chairman in the noughties, has also contributed £1,000 to the fighting fund.
As has former Batley Bulldogs RLFC Chairman John McVeigh of Bede Financial based in the village, a keen adopted fan of the club since moving to the area.
Former Whitby Town Chairman & charity fundraiser Eddie MacNamee is also assisting with the efforts.
The Marske United Supporters Club have also donated over £500, the same as local village firm Skinderella, alongside other fans, players and officials who have contributed various amounts.
Some fans of a certain age have been supporting the Seasiders since the side’s inception in 1956. They are also on the front-lines in the battle to raise the funds to save the club, manning the buckets at the Boro and various online awareness efforts.
The club has even received backing on social media from fellow North East sides Blyth Spartans, and arch-rivals Stockton Town, who Marske United beat 2–1 to win promotion in the 21–22 NPL East Division Play-Off Final in front of a club record crowd of 1500 at Mount Pleasant.
On the pitch, Marske United are looking to make it three wins in a row at Ilkeston.
This year the Seasiders have yet to draw a single competitive game so far in an all-or-nothing season.
Currently the team sit 19th in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, level on points with relegation rivals Basford United who are18th just outside the drop-zone on goal difference.
Recently the Seasiders beat Gainsborough Trinity 3–2 at home in the league, and before that, defeated Yarm & Eaglescliffe 5–4 away to reach the Quarter Finals of the North Riding Senior Cup.
The club are set to host either coastal rivals Whitby Town or Northallerton Town in the last eight with the game set to be played in January.
Marske United has previously won the competition twice, triumphing in 1994/95 with a team led by Alan Marples and more recently in 2019/20 when managed by three-times Seasiders boss Carl Jarrett.
The team won promotion twice under Jarrett who also returned late last season to successfully save the side from relegation.
Star striker Adam Boyes, the 2021–22 FA Cup Top Scorer who occupies the club’s number nine shirt, is spearheading the side’s recent revival on the pitch, with 14 goals and five assists in total this season.
Bosh, as he is affectionately known by supporters, has also donated to the fund in conjunction with fellow fan favourite Curtis Round.
The pair said: “We really appreciate every penny that has been donated to save this wonderful football club that means so much to so many people.
“Let’s stick together, like always”
Supporters can donate to the club’s JustGiving page here.
