Beaten Blue Star admit defeat as grants battle leads to closure

Jun 25 2009 The Journal

NEWCASTLE Blue Star are to fold after nearly 80 years in existence.

The club last night admitted defeat in their bid to persuade the Football Stadia Improvement Fund (FSIF) to cancel a demand for the repayment of £61,000 in grants.

The funding was given to the Tynesiders during the period 1999-2004 to improve the Wheatsheaf ground, but for some time now the FSIF has claimed repayment because Blue Star no longer play at the Wheatsheaf.

“It’s a ridiculous situation,” said Bob Morton, who represented the Tynesiders at a meeting at FA Headquarters in Soho Square.

“We were cherry-picked to move into the UniBond League despite finishing tenth in the Northern League. We told the UBL at the time that the Wheatsheaf Ground would not meet their criteria and they agreed we could relocate to Kingston Park.

“The UBL were very happy to have us in but now the club is to fold because the FSIF are insisting that the £61,000 be repaid before the start of the new season.

“They offered to let us repay £3,000 per month, but there’s no way we can do that and therefore we’ve had no alternative but to wind up the club.”

Just before the end of the season, director of football Morton announced his retirement and another Blue Star stalwart, secretary Jim Anderson, is also saddened.

He said: “We’ve done everything possible to prevent the closure but at the end of the day the matter has been taken out of our hands.”

Blue Star were founded in 1930 and enjoyed successful spells in the Wearside and Northern Leagues before moving into the UBL in 2007.