Many apologies for the delay in posting this update. As you may well be aware, it is with sadness that the parent company of North Ferriby United AFC was wound-up at the Hull county court on Friday 15th March 2019 as a result of a debt of £7,645.25 to our pitch maintenance contractor. 85 years of football history was brought to an end in a 10-minute court hearing. As a result, all North Ferriby United’s remaining fixtures will be unfulfilled. Furthermore, the Northern Premier League has confirmed that all our 2018/19 results have been “expunged”.

I don’t think that the Winding-Up Petition should not be viewed in isolation. There were lots of issues at the heart of the club.

• We believe there are numerous debts, estimated at c.£60-£70k. (it is believed that this included c.£10k to our kit manufacturer, c.£10k to former management duo Housham and Stampy following an employment tribunal that they won, and other debts to utility companies and suppliers).
• The owners confirmed that they wanted to sell the club following their failed appeal to the FA, to overturn the Northern Premier League’s rejection of the relocation application (Mr Waltham had separately always been clear that he had no interest in the club as a going concern).
• Whilst there may have been some parties considering taking the club on as a going concern, no sale was made and, as such, the Winding-Up Order was somewhat inevitable.
• There was a gain-share clause placed in the contact of North Ferriby’s parent company by the Forster family when the club was sold to Mr Waltham. This could have presented such a continuing risk to any potential new owner, that meant it was unlikely the club would be an attractive proposition.

Following the issuing of the Winding-Up Order, I also reflect on the financial impact that this will have on the club’s employees, players & local businesses, in addition to the creditors. The whole matter is now being considered by the Government’s Insolvency Service.

Despite all this, North Ferriby United has a rich footballing heritage which we can rightfully be proud. Fans, players (of all our teams) and visitors will still have many happy memories to treasure.

Encouragingly, we look to the future

Excitingly, we do understand that there is strong interest from a number of groups to develop a phoenix club. One includes Les Hare, a former Chairman at the club, who is working with a consortium. Whoever takes forward a new club, I would strongly encourage them to ensure the following.

• Development of North Ferriby as community-based football club with fans actively engaged at its heart and involved in the decision making.
• Support the inclusive development of youth football and the reserves
• A firm commitment to remain at our Grange Lane ground
• Ensure open and transparent governance
• Secure a sustainable future for the club, working in partnership with all stakeholders, including fans, all players, the parish council, parents, local residents and the business community.

North Ferriby fans look forward to early engagement and consultation with new owners as part of planning for the 2019/20 season.

Something to read

Thank you to everyone who purchased issue 11 of our View from the Allotment End fanzine, raising £300 for local homeless charity Emmaus Hull. I am now planning issue 12. You may be interested in View, an exciting new publication from VFTAE-founder Darren Norton focusing on football, culture and music. You can pre-order View on our Big Cartel site. Details of VFTAE #12 will be published here too.

Finally, a huge thank you, to all 9,893 of you!

When I set up this petition, I sought, rather ambitiously, to Save North Ferriby. This was too much for the campaign and beyond my control. That said, I think we can be hugely proud. We successfully resisted the owners’ plans to relocate and rename the club. In so doing, we have secured the chance of North Ferriby being recreated as a successor club in the Northern Counties East Football League - most likely in Division 1 (Step 6), rather than having to start lower down.

9,893 of you signed this petition and it set the campaign alight. Through this, you helped to raise our profile and proved, as so aptly phrased by Caroline Barker, “North Ferriby’s important”. And in so doing, you made a powerful and inclusive statement about our wonderful football community.

Up the Villagers!

Matthew Kempson

Editor, View from the Allotment End | vftae2016@gmail.com