Cash-strapped club in SOS call

Dinnington Town, who enjoyed a fantastic run in\!q the FA Cup two years ago, say they haven't enough money even to cover the costs and may not be able to continue in the Northern East Counties League unless the situation improves.

With the season now done and finally able to fully concentrate on the state of the club, they're making an urgent appeal to the local business community for more support in what will be a crucial summer at Phoenix Park.

Team boss Steve Toyne and Town's threadbare team of officials have already been into the local community to drum up sponsorship but have met with only limited success.

Toyne said: This is not sabre rattling—this is serious. We cannot carry on as we are. We were running on a shoe string but now we're running on a hair and it's a case of back us, or lose us.

"We've no clubhouse from which to generate funds because we don't own our ground. We foot the bill for the maintenance and running costs and then there's players' insurance, pitch fees and countless other things to cover.

"Dinnington is an ex mining town. It isn't a rich place. That's why we charge £4 admission to matches when other clubs ask for £5.

"We try to run a tight ship, we don't pay our players and we get help from Dinnington Resource Centre, but it has got to the point where we feel we have taken the club as far as we can unless businesses from Rotherham or Dinnington can offer us help."

Since starting from scratch a decade ago, Town have risen through the Central Midlands League to become Rotherham's highest placed amateur club, clinching the NCEL League Cup only two weeks ago.

With crowds regularly into three figures, they have the support base to eventually reach the UniBond League but those ambitions are floundering.

Added Toyne: "We are a Rotherham club—not a Sheffield club—and we brought a lot of good publicity to Dinnington when we had the run in the FA Cup, not to mention when we won the League Cup.

"That reflects well on the town and any businesses that would be kind enough to back us could share in that. It would reflect well on them to be associated with success.

"We really do need them to come forward and talk to us."

Any businesses interested in helping Town are welcome to ring Steve Toyne on 07969 282525 or secretary Chris Dearns on 07802 542335 for an informal chat.

Town are also looking for off-the-field helpers.