Joint Press Release: 1874 Northwich FC, AFC Rushden & Diamonds and Supporters Direct
For immediate release
1874 Northwich vs. AFC Rushden & Diamonds PSF to compete for SD Shield
The players and fans of two of the country’s newest clubs, 1874 Northwich FC and AFC Rushden & Diamonds, have been given an added incentive in their pre-season match on the 13th July – they’ll be competing for the Supporters Direct Shield.
This will be the third time that the Shield has been competed for, Scarborough Athletic beating Merthyr Town in the inaugural fixture in 2010, with Lewes defeating Fisher in last year’s match at Enfield Town FC.
The game is to be played at Widnes Vikings Rugby League’s Select Security Stadium, with a 17:15 kick-off.
Since their respective inceptions, 1874 Northwich and AFC Rushden & Diamonds have built up excellent relationships with both each other. The progress made by each club is testament to both the advice and guidance provided by Supporters Direct and the ownership model they promote and support.
An SD spokesman said, “We’re delighted at the progress of AFC Rushden & Diamonds since they reformed and finally took up their place in the senior pyramid last season. We’re also pleased to see the fans of Northwich bouncing back in the form of 1874 Northwich FC. The cooperation between the two clubs is the kind of relationship that shows the World the type of game that we want to see”.
Northwich “Supporters Direct has played a big part in our formation and development since our members voted to form our own club in November last year. We are grateful to AFC R&D who as a supporter-run club have shared their experiences in the formation of a new football club with us. This spirit of friendship reflects well on Supporters Direct. We are looking forward to meeting up again.”
AFC R&D Chairman Ralph Burditt added “Since Supporters Direct first put us in touch with the 1874 Northwich guys they have been a pleasure to know and it was only natural that we would end up having a pre-season friendly. For SD to acknowledge the game by offering the SD Shield to the winner is fantastic and re-enforces their commitment to facilitating and encouraging co-operative working between community-owned clubs.”
Whilst providing the opportunity for some on the field success for both clubs, both are equally keen to promote the fixture as one of a celebration of fan ownership.
The two clubs were established thanks to funding from the Cooperative Enterprise Hub, a partner funder of Supporters Direct. To find out more, go to: http://www.co-operative.coop/enterprisehub
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For further details, please contact:
Jon Ward, Vice-Chairman, AFC Rushden & Diamonds, jon@afcdiamonds.com
Paul Stockton, Chairman, 1874 Northwich FC, paulcstockton@aol.com
Kevin Rye, Supporters Direct, 07852998542 / kevin.rye@supporters-direct.org
About Supporters Direct
- GROWTH: Supporters’ trusts have now been established at over 170 clubs
- MEMBERSHIP: Over 400,000 people are members of supporters’ trusts in the UK
- FINANCE: Supporters’ trusts have now brought in well over £30 million of new finance into football and rugby league.(This amounts to almost £7 of investment for every £1 of funding to SD)
- OWNERSHIP: Over 30 clubs in the UK are in ownership or in control by supporters’ trusts, including Football League clubs AFC Wimbledon, Exeter City, Portsmouth and Wycombe Wanderers
- PARTNERSHIP: Over 100 supporters’ trusts now have shareholding in their club
- BOARDROOM: Over 65 supporters’ trusts have directors at their clubs, including Premier League Swansea City FC
- REACH: Supporters of nearly 70% of clubs in the top five divisions of football in England, and the top four divisions in Scotland have established supporters’ trust
