US football investor buys into non-League Alfreton Town

Alfreton Town won the Conference North title in 2011 to win promotion to the top flight of non-league football

A United States consortium has invested in part-time non-league side Alfreton Town, creating a link with lower-league American side Fort Worth Vaqueros.

Alfreton chairman Wayne Bradley retains his interest in the club, including three seats on the six-strong board.

Texas-based Legend Football Partners, which is associated with the Vaqueros, will provide the remaining members.

LFP spokesman Michael Hitchcock said he hoped the deal would mean "global success" for the Derbyshire club.

Foreign players

"They (LFP) were looking for a foothold in this country - and they realised the English game has a lot to offer," he said.

"We have to look to reinvent ourselves - and this will allow us to bring talent from outside," Mr Bradley said, adding the move could result in both American and Caribbean players coming to the club.

He said players could train and play with both clubs and pre-season tours were possible for the Vaqueros in England and the Reds in Texas.

The new investors have visited Alfreton several times and found the area "refreshing", he added.

Legend Football Partners is a partnership between Texas-based Playbook Management International (PMI) and 1836 Capital.

Mr Hitchcock, PMI's founder and owner of the Vaqueros, previously worked as general manager of Major League Soccer side FC Dallas and was vice president of sales at Los Angeles Galaxy - the club for which David Beckham and Robbie Keane have played and Steven Gerrard looks set to join.

Fort Worth Vaqueros, founded in 2014, are in the National Premier Soccer League - the fourth tier of American soccer.

Mr Hitchcock said: "This is chance for Alfreton to become successful - not just in Amber Valley and England but also globally."

Alfreton play at the 4,000-seat Impact Arena and attract average crowds of less than 1,000.