Support your local club, says new chairman (From Hereford Times)

Support your local club, says new chairman

THE new chairman of Ledbury Town Football Club is urging the community to rally round and give the sports club a fresh lease of life.

Paramedic Andy Kibble was elected as chairman when the club held its AGM last Friday, and a number of new members were also elected to the committee. These include a catering manager, sponsorship manager, events organiser and fixtures manager.

In recent months, the club's future has been thrown into doubt by threats of a rent increase that would jeopardise its financial viability, and by the possibility that the ground might be earmarked as a site for future housing development.

But the housing threat appears to have lifted after Herefordshire Council said earlier this month that the sports ground should be retained for recreational use.

And Mr Kibble said this week that negotiations were continuing with the owner of the New Street site to resolve the rent issue.

He said: "The club's got a lot going for it. There are first, second and third teams, we also run 12 darts teams and we've got one of the two skittle alleys in Ledbury. What we need now is a real push to make the club the heart of the community."

He said among his aims was to push the catering side of the club, and make it a popular venue for meals and functions.

He also aims to get the membership increasing so that the club has a stable financial base.

"It's all about community involvement. We aim to get more people joining the club, more people coming along to matches, coming along to have a meal or coming along to have a drink," he said.

Mr Kibble is a well-known figure in Ledbury and a long-time supporter of the football club. Five years ago he was awarded the Queen's medal for long service to the ambulance service.

Deputy mayor Tony Bradford said: "Ledbury Town has always been a strong and well-established football team, and now they are taking steps to make the club financially stable. I hope that the town council can give the club all the support it needs."