Club 'on brink of folding' ahead of centenary

Non-league side West Allotment Celtic was formed in 1928 from a merger of two clubs

A football club that was formed almost a century ago is "on the brink of folding" after the loss of its main sponsor.

West Allotment Celtic (WACFC), which plays in Forest Hall, North Tyneside, said its financial problems have been made worse by poor attendance.

The Northern League, where the club plays, has given it a two-week suspension of fixtures to try and come up with a rescue plan.

Chairman David Dodds said: "We are not alone, non-league football everywhere is struggling to hold people's interest."

The club says only about 100 people are turning up to watch the games

The history of football in the community of West Allotment goes back to the early years of the 20th Century.

It became a club in its current form in 1928 with the merger of two clubs, West Allotment Primitive Methodists and West Allotment Juniors, and has played in seven different grounds.

Mr Dodds said: "We've been a good, steady club for generations. We've had some great players."

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 said it was exploring if it "can continue".

The club has tried to improve attendances by installing a bar

"We've got an ageing committee, our treasurer has been there for 50 years, and the community don't seem as interested in non-league football," Mr Dodds added.

"We have introduced catering and installed a bar but our match day attendance is still only around 100 people."

But Mr Dodds said the club still carries "a lot of goodwill".

"People whose grandad or dad played decades ago have been in touch saying they want to help, so we do really hope we can find a way forward."