Football club saved but withdraws from league

Marske United will join a lower division next season

Marske United FC has withdrawn from the Northern Premier League (NPL) due to high costs, despite a fundraising effort saving the club from extinction.

Bosses said the decision came after "exhausting every available option" to raise the £120,000 it needed to continue in the NPL.

However, the club added its future has been secured due to significant financial contributions and fundraising efforts.

The team will remain at Mount Pleasant, with discussions under way about which lower division they will join next season.

'We will be back'

In a statement on Thursday, the club said it was "with a heavy heart" that it had informed the Northern Premier League and the FA of its decision to withdraw.

It added the collective efforts had not been "in vain".

The statement said: "All of the money raised so far will provide our community club with a solid foundation to rejoin the football pyramid at lower-level next season where space is available.

"This will provide Marske United with a platform to rebuild again properly in terms of organisation and infrastructure, and the club will survive."

It added: "For now, there will be break, but this not a goodbye by any means, and as always, we will be back!"

The club was promoted to the NPL Premier Division for the first time in its history last season.

But increased costs along with other revenue issues left it "fighting to survive from week to week" and a JustGiving page was set up in a bid to keep the club running until the end of the season.

A final decision on which league the First Team will play in next season will be ratified by the FA at the end of the season.

The club added its juniors team will continue to play this season.