DON’T SHUT THE GATE APPEAL: LETS PULL TOGETHER TO HELP ONE OF OUR OWN

THIS is the time for the Kentish Football Family to ensure that Margate Football Club survive for many years to come, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Hartsdown Park club were given a stay of execution at the Royal Courts of Justice in central London yesterday and must raise the funds before Wednesday, 26^th November.

Although the struggling Ryman Premier League club haven’t confirmed the amount that they must raise, a figure of £50,000 has been banded about on unofficial fans’ forums.

With Kent football blossoming elsewhere, this is the time that we ALL help a struggling club in anyway that we can.

A statement swiftly issued by the club yesterday, explained the serious situation that they’re faced with.

“Margate Football Club is delighted to announce that the application for an adjournment against the winding up petition has been successful in court today.

“This allows the club until 26 November 2008 to finalise a solution to its financial worries.

“The club would like to thank supporters from this club and others who have been sending in their well wishes.

“The club can also announce that a planning application has been submitted by our architects to Thanet District Council for the proposed Medical Centre at Hartsdown Park.”

Margate welcome Hastings United to Hartsdown Park on Saturday - a chance for everyone to pull together before it’s too late.

Can I ask that Margate’s semi-professional players donate their wages for that game back to the club - after all you have a full-time job to full back on.

Also, supporters who used to flock to Hartsdown Park in their droves during the club’s glory days in the Conference - YOUR club needs you in its hour of need.

Despite our rivalries here in the Garden of England and wanting to beat our neighbour, we have proved in the past how supportive we are when ONE OF OUR OWN needs help.

Can I ask that each and every Kent club organise a collection at their next home game to raise funds for Margate Football Club.

If you’re interested in doing this, please click on CONTACT US to get the ball rolling. There’s not enough time to do this.

Margate supporter, Tony Cook, took time out of his day to travel up to the Royal Courts of Justice in the Stand and has issued a rallying cry for EVERYONE to support Margate.

Mr Cook, nicknamed “Cookie” on the unofficial Fans Focus forum, is like me, taking advantage of time off work, to support his club when they need it most.

“Taking in the court proceedings was obviously top of my list,” he said. “I was an interested party there solely as an observer.

“This result, although temporary, is helpful and welcomed but it’s not the end of it. We still have to find the money or at least make arrangements to pay with both sides in agreement.

“Even then we would have to keep to those payments and not miss any as we (the club) seem to have done in the past.

“We still have lots to do, but the club, for making an application for an adjournment, despite maybe getting us into this mess in the beginning, and the judge for obliging are the ones who deserved to be thanked for yesterday’s mini-result.

“But it is only a mini-result. We all know this.

“We need some cash inflow. We can’t rely on the developer to bail us out. I’m sure if that was on the agenda it would have been forthcoming by now.

“The club has to find this money so again, what can WE do to help?

“I, like nearly every other supporter of this club, must be absolutely fed up with all these financial burdens. Despite us all having a breathing space now, 57 days will soon pass and then we’ll all be sweating again.

“To those that are NOT attending home games and if it’s possible to do so, please turn up again. Saturday (against Hastings) would be a good starting point.

“Every pound counts, every £9 counts and it will, I’m sure, go some way to help paying off this outstanding amount we owe.

“But it’s not just that. It helps the youngsters on the day on the pitch.

“We can’t just sit back and assume that the club can get us out of this mess. We, as supporters of this fine club, have GOT to be doing OUR bit to help too.

“Of course, no-one can force you to do but I plead with all those stay-away supporters to maybe put your personal feelings aside for a little while longer. I’m saddened to hear (they) won’t be turning up, for whatever reason.

“Despite (their) personal thoughts on things we should be putting that aside at this time and working together to ensure a future.

“If we as fans haven’t done all we can do to assure us of that future, regardless of obstacles being put in our way, then we won’t have deserved to have a club.

“You are missed on those terraces as are others not coming along these days. Come on, for 57 days at the very, very least, put your personal thoughts aside and join us. We have to pull together.”

If you can help, click on CONTACT US, here on www.kentishfootball.co.uk - a website passionate about football here in Kent - and we’ll get the ball rolling.

Margate may be struggling in the bottom four of the Ryman Premier League table with a record of two wins and three draws from their first ten games, but if we don’t all pull together, there may NOT be a Margate Football Club.

Visit Margate’s website:  www.margate-fc.com

Read Margate’s unofficial fans’ forum: ww.fansfocus.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/forums/53/1.html

Margate v Hastings United
Ryman Premier League
Saturday 4^th October 2008
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Hartsdown Park, Hartsdown Road, Margate, Kent