Creeksiders to welcome new ownership bids
By Connor Steel
FAREHAM TOWN are looking for new buyers as the club was formally put up for sale this week by chairman Nick Ralls as they prepare for another season in the Wessex League Premier; the management team urging any businesses and residents to place their offers in an official statement published via their media channels.
The Creeksiders were previously taken over in early April 2001 by building company ‘Ralls Group’; Bob Ralls replacing ex-owner Chris Solen as the chairman. A handover was carried out in 2008 as Nick Ralls took over this role from his uncle; helping to solidify 15 very successful years both on and off the pitch at Cams Alders.
Under leadership from Ralls Group Fareham have reached the FA Vase Third Round multiple times and also established themselves as a stable regular within the Wessex League and face little financial hardships. This follows their voluntary relegation from the Southern League in 1998 due to higher costs involved at this level.
The club now has several paid staff members and earnt praise for their community work during the Covid-19 pandemic; which saw the increased focus on non-league football as the country eased restrictions. This has led to a vastly improved average attendances over the last campaign; including multiple club record crowds.
Their average gate of three hundred is only beaten by neighbouring AFC Portchester (455); no doubt helped by a league record crowd of 1,598 in early January over a Bank Holiday weekend. And the side could still be trophy winners of the Portsmouth Senior Cup; their semi-final against Fleetlands to be played later this week.
Cams Alders has further undergone developments since 2001 with pitch renovations due to take place again this summer; better drainage, signage and advertising boards amongst these changes. They have also been helped by the introduction of the bus lane in 2012 with two Ellipse routes stopping nearby at Redlands Lane.
The written club statement is available to examine here with interested parties asked to email their secretary Jason Brooker at secretary@farehamtownfc.co.uk. At the time of writing there is no deadline for declarations of interest to be made, although the club have urged people to only send an email if they are really genuine.
PICTURED BY CONNOR STEEL: Fareham Town could welcome a new owner this summer as the club was put up for sale this week, potentially ending over twenty-two years of stable ownership from the Ralls Group.
