Miners Find Silver Lining in Coronavirus Cloud

Radstock Town have used the Coronavirus hiatus to their advantage, taking the time to transform their club facilities. The Miners function room, familiar to many for its skittle alley, has been completely refurbished, providing the Club with a fantastic new facility to great the new football season, whenever that might start.

What is more impressive is that the Club have hugely benefited from the support of volunteers, including players, keeping costs low at a time when football at every level is coming to terms with the financial impact of Covid-19. The Club had invested heavily in the plans and materials for their clubhouse renovation programme, only for the season to be cut short, denying the Miners the revenue from eight home games, including a bumper pay day against local rivals Welton Rovers.

However, with the financial support of sponsors and supporters, not to mention the time volunteers have been prepared to invest in doing the work at no charge, the Club have realised their plans to improve their facilities at Southfields Recreation Ground.

The support of Kingman Joiners and JFR Flooring Ltd have been enjoyed by Radstock on and off the pitch this season, with players Ellis Kingman and James Rustell volunteering their professional services to support the refurbishment. But the support doesn’t end there, thanks to the extraordinary generosity of A37 Vans, who have pledged to donate £200 to Radstock’s building fund for every van they sell between now and mid-June.

Club Chairman Simon Wilkinson said, “the decision to end the season was particularly difficult for us, because I was certain that we were on the brink of promotion. Then we had to contend with how we could proceed with our plans to refurbish the clubhouse. It was a worrying time for all of us at the Club.

I simply cannot believe how our supporters have reacted. Greensward Sports Consultancy helped us with our pitch renovations and we’ve also been helped by Jacksons Roofing, Spread It & Lay It and Bison Waste Management. But our volunteers have been superb, players like Ellis Kingman, Charlie Cook, Nathan Townsley and James Rustell,. Not to mention the fabulous support of Ange Kingman, Danielle, Lucy, Jock, Craig, Rich, Soapy, Mike Hill and our Club Secretary, Ian Lanning. Its been a real team effort and I’m so proud of our Radstock Town family.” 

The Miners are still raising funds for the Club through a gofundme page, which has already earnt the Club £1,840. As yet there is still no sign of when non-league football will return, but when it does the optimism Radstock have enjoyed on the pitch in recent seasons will now be matched by impeccable facilities that would grace any Western League side.