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May 18, 2007
Merger is for the best
The news today that Hayes and Yeading Football Clubs are merging may come as a shock to many fans of the two clubs, but in the long term it can only benefit non-league football in the area.
Both clubs have been surviving on crowds of little more than 200 plus fans, in some cases less, for home matches as they struggle to compete against local Premiership and Football League sides.
It is quite clear that neither club can realistically expect to be a challenging force in non-league football with such a small fan base.
As a joint force they should have the capabilities to increase attendances, integrate rersources and hopefully create a new super-club on the non-league football scene.
It does not make a lot of sense having two clubs competing in the same league when they are only a mile apart - I certainly see the merger as a positive move for the local sporting community.
While Yeading have enjoyed some heady days in recent years with their spectacular runs in the FA Cup they have still struggled to attract decent crowds for home matches at The Warren.
Over at Church Road, the home of Hayes, the last few years have been a constant struggle on the pitch culminating in their 'relegation' from the Nationwide Conference South league this season.
Only Farnborugh Town's financial crisis actually saved Hayes from dropping out of Conference football altogether as they won a reprieve earlier this week.
I am sure there will be fans of both clubs who will be bitterly disappointed that their clubs will ose their own identity by the merger, particularly those of Hayes who were formed as far back as 1909.
Yeading are a much younger club, formed in 1960, and they have had a rapid rise through the non-league football ranks.
For the time being the newly merged club will play at Church Road. However, surely the plan must be to sell off this site and invest the obvious cash windfall it will bring to re-develop Yeading's ground and create a powerful non-league football side for the borough.
I am sure the merger will be a major talking point in the local sporting community over the next few days and we will be covering it in considerable depth in next week's Gazette.
If you want to voice your views on the matter then just go to have your say section on the site and post your comments.
Posted by aseal at May 18, 2007 12:24 PM