DROYLSDEN FC is officially back in football’s pyramid after almost three years away.
But after receiving a place in the North West Counties League (NWCFL), funds are needed to make sure they can welcome fans to their Butchers Arms ground once more.
The Bloods withdrew from the Northern Premier League in August 2020 because of the financial toll of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Monday, May 15 saw them back on the fixture list after they were handed a spot in the NWCFL’s Division One North.
However, £10,000 is needed to make sure the stadium, on the corner of Market Street and Greenside Lane, can get a safety certificate in order to host matches with spectators.
Jobs on the to do list include replacing bird netting and roof netting and steam cleaning and a full clean down including removal of pigeon mess and accumulation of moss.
Yellow safety floor markings are needed, some of the perimeter fencing needs replacing and parts of the William Pace Stand, which was vandalised during the lockdown, need repairing.
There is also ‘a multitude of sundry jobs’ to be done, including repainting, weeding and cleaning.
And an online fundraising scheme set up by Nigel Barlow has seen more than £5,000 has been pledged towards meeting the costs, which come before nay players have even been signed.
Nigel, the club’s head of media who helped organise fans’ meetings to help revive Droylsden FC, said: “We now know what the first steps are in order to allow us to play football at the Butchers Arms again.
“The main phase of the project is to raise £10,000 to help to gain a safety certificate allowing us to play football at the ground and welcome fans back.
“There is much to do but the immediate work that needs to be done to get the ground up to the required safety standards for which we estimate a cost of £10,000.”
Droylsden chairman Dave Pace pulled the club out of the NPL and ‘continuing uncertainty’ meant they did not field sides in the 2021/22 or 2022/23 seasons.
But after lodging an application, the Bloods are back in at the very bottom of the pyramid, of which they climbed as high as what is now known as the National League.
According to Football Association guidance, the NWCFL applied for Droylsden FC to receive Membership of the National League System.
“This was accepted and the club has been placed at step six.”
They are set to face Yorkshire side Route One Rovers, who were promoted and Runcorn Town, who received a reprieve from relegation.
No Tameside clubs are in NWCFL Division One North but Abbey Hey, who lie just three miles away, have been placed in Division One South.
YOU CAN contribute to the fund to help Droylsden FC welcome fans again by clicking https://www.gofundme.com/f/bloods-revival.