Shelley FC has withdrawn from the North West Counties League, due to the financial pressures arising since Covid. Such a shame. They would have been promoted on PPG but their division was null and voided. They’d assembled a really good squad. I have been working on a project with the club for over 2 years, involving adults with a learning disability taking in volunteer roles on matchdays. A really friendly club, with dedicated staff, and a fantastic set up. I was thinking of adopting them as my Saturday football fix if there was no Oakwell option. Gutted for all involved.
Such a shame this is, but I feel this may be the tip of the iceberg. Hopefully not, but if we get a 2nd lockdown .
Just withdrawn from Northern Counties West league. As a club they still exist with Junior football at all levels. It's just the semi-pro team that they've had to withdraw. Maybe they can go again when the economic climate is right.
A guy called Victor is having a real go at Shelley in the Examiner letters section today. He mentions Shelley being co owned by two multi millionaires yet still getting a recent grant of 25k which is way more than the pittance less resourced clubs have got, some who get nothing at all. He asks if it's a way out for them because despite player investment being significant they have underperformed and had limited success.
