Canterbury City have certainly had a topsy-turvy few weeks.
Just moments after edging past Leicester Nirvana at the start of the month to reach their first ever FA Vase Quarter Final, the club were rocked by the news that the local council had rejected their proposals for a new stadium, which would have ended 12 long years of nomadic life.
“One of the papers hit the nail on the head with the headline, joy to despair in the space of just 4 days” said City Chairman Tim Clark.
“We are ground sharing at the moment and I think everyone knows that without a new stadium are future will be in jeopardy”.
With relations between the club and the city council at breaking point, innovative direct action is now being planned.
Taking inspiration from the Valley Party, which was formed by Charlton Athletic fans in 1990 in an attempt to pressure Greenwich Borough Council into allowing the Addicks to return to their home ground, Clark has revealed that several campaigners are preparing to run in May’s local elections.
He added, “We have been continually let down by the council and we are acting to save the club.
“We are not just campaigning for this single issue and are asking for more sports and recreational facilities to be developed across the whole area.
“It is strange to have all of this going on in the midst of what is by far the most successful time in the club’s history.
“The campaign is something that we are all really excited about and we are going to try and talk to the local students at the university to try and get them involved and to ensure that it is something which appeals to young people.
“We have already found a number of people who are willing to run on our platform and stand up to the current council
“It is certainly a tough moment but it has helped to bring everybody together and there is a really special atmosphere around the club at the moment”.
From the perspective of the NLP it is deeply disappointing to hear how Canterbury City have seen their future put in jeopardy by the council’s recent decision and we wish them the best of luck with their campaign.
Non-League clubs can play a vital role in conjuring up a sense of unity and identity within a community and it is crucial that they receive the support and protection of local institutions.
NLP Programme Column By Hugo Varley
