TWO AFC Croydon Athletic supporters are trying to boost the club's financial standing, as hopes rise of a return to their spiritual home in Thornton Heath.
Sean Ryan, 26, and Joe Strawson, 24, the football club's new commercial and fundraising managers, are proposing to target local businesses, seeking sponsorship deals.
The club was formed in 2012 by around 80 benefactors, out of the ashes of Croydon Athletic, which went out of business after former owner Mazhar Majeed was jailed for his involvement in a cricket spot-fixing scandal.
Since then, the team has been sharing Croydon arena, in South Norwood, with fellow non-league side Croydon FC.
Hopes are high, according to club chairman Paul Smith, of an early return to its original Mayfield Stadium ground, in Mayfield Road, Thornton Heath.
And it is this prospect which has prompted Mr Ryan and Mr Strawson to embark on their hunt for new backers.
Mr Smith said that work was progressing well on rebuilding the clubhouse in Mayfield Road and the club was aiming to sign a 13-year lease with the ground owners, Croydon Council, enabling a return to the area.
He said: "The main problem at the moment is the pitch, which has been left untouched; the grass has not even been cut for the past two-and-a-half years.
"The stand and other parts of the ground need a lick of paint but that will be no great problem.
"As long as we can complete the negotiations with the council and get the pitch ready, there is no reason at all why we shouldn't be back at the stadium by next August."
Mr Ryan said he and Mr Strawson believed there were opportunities to persuade businesses to get behind the club.
He said "We have already approached a number of businesses about sponsoring matches or the kit, advertising on the ground or in the programme and promoting themselves on our website.
"We realise there is not a lot of money about and we are trying to convince businesses that there is something in it for them."
At present, attendances at Croydon Arena for their matches in the Combined Counties League are around 50 but Mr Ryan believed that a return to Mayfield Road could see that tripled, at least.
The clubhouse would also offer conference and meeting facilities for firms, as well as giving the club an extra income boost from the bar and staging social events.
Mr Ryan added: "AFC Croydon Athletic is still in its infancy and we feel it can be much more than just a football club."
Any business interested in finding out more or getting involved with the club is asked to contact Mr Ryan by e-mailing sean@ afccroydonathletic.co.uk
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