Was launched today. First subscribers were Directors Tom Ewing, Margaret Steven and Alex Anderson who between them contributed a total of £420 to kick things off.
Many fans have seen this trailed and have been awaiting further details. Well in the next few weeks and months more and more information and Club 135 initiatives will be launched on a progressive basis. There will also be meetings and it is crucial for the club’s wellbeing and future that fans play a full part in these. The idea is to get the ball rolling now and gather increasing momentum. Have no doubt though - Club 135 is absolutely vital to Cowdenbeath FC’s future. It is sometimes said that the Board are the custodians or guardians who have responsibility for safeguarding Cowdenbeath FC. That is not true – they have an important role but the true custodians and guardians of Cowdenbeath FC are the fans and the wider local community. They are the folks who are the key to preserving and keeping Cowdenbeath FC alive and to building the club’s future.
Club 135 will have a number of facets. One absolutely simple aim is to build a financial base for the club that underpins its sustainability and its financial position. Without stock car income, major transfer fee income, large gates, windfalls from televised Cup games, bank overdraft facilities and reliance on increased Directors’ contributions – we need a new financial model on which we can build a solid base and future. Bear in mind we won’t have £80,000 or so cash reserves to bring forward for next season as we did this year. Nor are there any big League gates on the horizon for next season.
As previously mentioned we have been in a ‘Save Cowdenbeath FC mode’ for a number of seasons now. Various options have been explored in that time but at the end of the day the future simply lies in all our hands – there is no sugar-daddy or white knight likely to come to the party to help. So at the heart of Club 135 is a desire to build these stronger financial foundations to take our club forward in a stable manner. Club 135 gets its name from the 135 plus years Cowdenbeath FC have been in existence – the club was founded by the people of Cowdenbeath and district and has been supported by that same constituency throughout its long life.
Yes once again it means raising funds – that is football nowadays. The simple ambition, and it will be a challenge, is to raise say £135,000 over a period to bolster Cowdenbeath FC for the years ahead as it adapts to its current circumstances. A ‘Blue Peter Appeal’ if you want to think of it that way!
£135,000 is a lot of money – no doubt about it. But in another way it is just £10 a head from 13,500 people. That though means enlisting to the cause every Cowdenbeath fan, every Cowdenbeath well-wisher, anyone with family or footballing links to Cowdenbeath world-wide – maybe from a family which had its roots in the mining community of Cowdenbeath, or any other generous spirited individuals. All helping to try to preserve what is not just a much loved football club but is a prized community asset. For example, as well as on behalf of yourself, why not make a donation in memory of your father, grandfather or other relative who although no longer with us were dedicated and loyal fans of the club in times past?
Through your efforts via the likes of social media we could look to bring in friends and family on a global basis and thus hopefully get the support of enough people willing to donate just a tenner at least each (larger amounts of course would be welcomed) to try and secure the future of the club. We will set up a mechanism to facilitate donations electronically but Club 135 needs your support and impetus behind it. It needs your promotion and who knows maybe we can ‘go viral’ as they say nowadays. Let’s all please have a real go.
Taking Cowdenbeath FC forward also means we will need more supporters/volunteers to share the demanding workload next season and onwards and that too will come under Club 135. We will also look at the future ownership model for the Club. If you have bright ideas to add to the pot then let’s hear them. We have various ideas how contributors can be acknowledged and commemorated but again let us have your ideas re this. Today we take the first steps on a journey – let’s go forward together and see what we can achieve. This isn’t about traditional football club models so maybe we can break the mould. Gusto, drive, personal commitment and teamwork will be required but cynicism and sitting on the sidelines leaving others to carry the load isn’t a recipe for a successful future. Your personal commitment and ideas are part of the solution.