As we leave 2023 behind with many memories, both good and bad, we must now solely focus forward on 2024, and our future.
There’s no point, or need, to dwell on the past, although admittedly there will be many things never forgotten from the year we’ve just experienced. Nevertheless, we come out of the year stronger as a unit, stronger as a community, and stronger as a football club.
We strive daily to work towards a sustainable future for Scunthorpe United, but this is easier said than done. With a considerable amount of the debt now cleared, we are always working to eradicate what we inherited. The outstanding HMRC bills we inherited will be cleared and back up to date in mid-January, something that has taken huge chunks out of our revenue in the last three months. The hard work continues, but we do massively need your continued support.
That backing so far has been unwavering. We asked you to attend games; you’ve done it. We asked you to buy merchandise; you’ve done it. We’ve asked local businesses, companies and groups of people to sponsor games, players, training kit, advertising boards and more; and you’ve answered our calls every single time.
We need this and more to get through until the end of the season. We’ve managed to get our club back, we’ve managed to get our ground back, and now we strive every day to bring this great football club out of a long-standing transfer embargo due to the sheer number of football creditors that were left for us to take on. This isn’t an easy fix, and is costing hundreds of thousands of pounds, and it is only through the help that you, the football community, the business community and many others have given, that we have been able to tackle what we’ve achieved so far. That journey is still ongoing. Our aim is to have cleared all outstanding debts by the end of the season, so we can go into the summer with a fresh start on the business front. This will take the continued support we’ve received, inevitably more donations and goodwill that we’ve been incredibly humbled with.
Over the Christmas period, it was heartwarming to receive a message from our Spanish friend and club legend, Alex Calvo-Garcia. As part of my New Year message, I wanted to share part of this message with you: “I think this is the right time to text you, just a few lines to express my most sincere gratitude for all the effort, work and dedication you have put into saving our beloved club. I truly believe all those who take the club in our hearts owe you the upmost respect, and I also believe you will pass to the club history. I would totally understand you are under a tough and exhausting period but I want you to realise, as I’m sure you already know, you are doing something really big, not only for the club, but also for the whole community in and around Scunthorpe. Only time will put it all under the right perspective. I hope you, the family and all Scunthorpe supporters have a wonderful and happy Christmas. There is no doubt that you, your team and all at Scunthorpe United staff have made ours a better time.” It has been messages like this, from people far and wide, which consolidate the reason why we stood up in the first place, knowing just how much this football club means to people, and that safeguarding it’s future for generations to come was the main purpose of this venture.
On the pitch, as I’ve said previously, Jimmy Dean, his staff, and the players are enjoying their new-found freedom to go out and do what they do best. We ended 2023 with an unbeaten month, scoring goals, keeping clean sheets, winning games, breaking records, and ultimately top of the league. They know, like we know there is off the pitch, there is still a tremendous amount of work yet to be done on the pitch before we’ve achieved anything this season. Our aim, while tackling all the issues we’ve faced, has been to try and leave the footballing side of the business relatively untouched, and that stance has not changed. Backed by incredible numbers, we only have to look at the home and away attendances against Farsley Celtic over the festive period to see just how many of you are behind us all. With a Lincolnshire derby and first versus second to come at Glanford Park in January, those numbers will be vital for the players, as we continue to strive towards promotion back to the National League.
Early-2024 will also see the return of three well-respected members of staff to the football club. As we move forward, we must install the professional structure back behind the scenes that we’ve always been renown for. Their return will also help ease the burden on the existing staff at the club, who have worked tirelessly to keep Scunthorpe United moving forward during the darkest and most difficult of times. For what they’ve done for me since coming in, they will always have my full respect and thanks, assisting us to bring the club through that spell to a more enjoyable, and hopefully, rewarding future. Having these individuals return will only be a benefit for the club, and I have no doubt you will all welcome their return.
On behalf of the Board of Directors, and everyone at Scunthorpe United Football Club, I would like to wish you a Happy and Prosperous New Year. Let’s make 2024 one to remember for all the right reasons, and look forward to celebrating our 125th year.
Up the Iron!
Michelle