Future 'looking brighter' for struggling club

West Allotment Celtic is just four years off celebrating its centenary

A football club which was "on the brink of folding" says the future is looking "a lot brighter" thanks to community support.

West Allotment Celtic, which plays in Forest Hall, North Tyneside, was struggling with poor attendances and the loss of its main sponsor.

The Northern League had given it a two-week suspension of fixtures to try and come up with a rescue plan.

Chairman David Dodds said: "We immediately had a great response from the local community with people coming forward, some who've never been involved in a football club before."

He added: "I'm really hopeful we can make our centenary now the future is looking so much brighter."

The number of spectators at home games dropped to an average of about 100

West Allotment Celtic was formed in 1928 with the merger of two clubs and has played in seven different grounds.

But with its rent tripling and the loss of funding after long-term sponsor, Wade Financial, was taken over by a national company, the club put out a statement which said it was exploring if it could continue.

Mr Dodds said: "We've had lots of businesses offer help and younger people come forward to join the committee so I'm now confident we can keep going."

Chairman David Dodds says players "can't wait" to start playing football again

The club will resume its fixtures with an away trip to Blyth on Saturday. Its next home game is scheduled for 14 December.

"We've now got a new committee together and lots of ideas about how to make the club more sustainable," Mr Dodds said.

"The players have been really great, they can't wait to get started again and doing what we're all about, which is playing football."