Following recent Government announcements and the unavoidable postponement of our season, everyone at Wakefield AFC would like to take the time now to thank all of our volunteers, fans, players and all associated with the club for your continued loyalty and support during this strange and challenging time for us all.
In the past year, we have all had to significantly change the way we work, live and socialise. However, the care and well-being of our staff, players and families is always our priority. This will continue to be our focus here at Wakefield in the coming weeks and months ahead.
At the start of our season, the club immediately responded to protect the safety, health and well-being of our players, staff and supporters; ensuring that training, matches, and support would continue in a range of ways for different groups of players and ensuring that those involved with these services were supervised and fully supported. For our Academy, the period of isolation may have caused some children to become anxious or unsure about resuming activity. We supported their return to football when they and their parents/carers felt confident for them to do so. The club incorporated a range of stringent safety measures, including appointing a COVID Safety Officer, to ensure our season could continue safely. We made our facilities COVID-secure and implemented control measures from a risk assessment. We feel confident that we provided a safe and secure environment for players, staff, and spectators.
For the short period that we were allowed to participate in the Sheffield and Hallamshire County Senior League, we thank fans for their fantastic support during this time, especially so with Wakefield being such a fledgling club, by attending matches at our new ground, The Millennium Stadium. This was integral to the club’s growth over this past year. Indeed, this support has now put Wakefield AFC into the international frame.
We would also like to extend our thanks to the Sheffield and Hallamshire County Senior League, and The FA, for their continued hard work and support during the pandemic.
Since the postponement of our season, we have adapted to ensure that we can still achieve our goals. We are in unprecedented times and facing uncertainty as the Coronavirus pandemic evolves. So now, more than ever, we need the support from volunteers, fans, players, and all associated with the club.
During the year, we have increased the variety of retail products on wakefieldafc.co.uk. The team has worked very hard to make sure there is now more choice than ever before available. Supporters can also now access regular offers online via our social media sites. This allows you to support the club while our season is postponed. This is now so very important to us as our revenue streams have almost dried up with the lockdown. If any one can please find the time to look at our available merchandise with a view to quick purchase this would be enormously helpful to us as we face these challenging times.
The club has a number of other ways in which fans can get involved. These include our newly formed Club Lottery, purchasing of shares, and club sponsorship. Investment into our club helps us to deliver our targets off the field. We are giving supporters the opportunity to be part of our club for just £5 per share. We are asking our fans and their friends to look at the possibility of investing with us as we grow. Any level of share purchase will be massively helpful no matter how big or small. [Become a Shareholder HERE]
The club also wants to take this chance to thank all of our staff and volunteers for their incredible hard work and dedication over the past few months. For the benefit of our players and families, and supporters – their work really has been monumental. We also extend our thanks to all of our partners who have supported the club during this year. Our sponsors have played an integral part in the functioning of the club and we appreciate the backing and investment from these incredibly.
We do not know how long the current situation we find ourselves in will last but we do know that things will not instantly return to how they were. We now need to find our new normal and we are starting to consider our transition and recovery plan. This will be informed by national guidance and shaped through consultation with the FA and League.
We cannot underestimate the challenge we will face throughout the coming months. However, through trust, cooperation, and collaboration, we will continue to ensure that the club has the best chance to succeed. We do hope to have further good news soon on the development of the Academy and other matters.
Thank you once again for the kindness and support that you show to our club.
Please stay safe and take care. Stay in touch with us on our website and social media and we hope to see you soon!
With Thanks,
Mike Hegarty – Club Owner
Chris Turner – Chairman
Adam Lockwood – First Team Manager
Lee Crooks – Elite Football Programme Manager
Shane Pallett – Head of Youth Academy
Adam Sweeney – Commercial & Media
Daniel Gardiner – Club Secretary
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