Bringing together hopes to hit goals

Dec 31 2008 by Tony Henderson, The Journal

Hall and football club are part of the community

BLYTH Spartans’ chairman Tony Platten enjoys a view of Seaton Delaval Hall from the windows of his home.

So yesterday he was happy to host the club’s first press conference at the hall and to back the National Trust’s drive to save the building for the public.

The club has already helped the hall bid by displaying information boards at Croft Park during the TV tie with Bournemouth. “The hall is a spectacular building and it has great potential,” said Mr Platten.

While the trust is striving to reach its £6.3m goal for the hall purchase, the Spartans are counting the cash from their cup run.

Mr Platten said that the club has so far banked £270,000, with another £169,000 due from the televising of Monday’s tie with Blackburn. This has helped clear debts, with the club having spend £500,000 in recent years on essential ground improvements.

While Croft Park is celebrating its 100th year, Mr Platten also has his own anniversary to mark.

He set up his electronics company, Tynetec, 30 years ago in the same year that Blyth reached the Fifth Round of the FA Cup. Mr Platten believes that the hall and the football club are all about the community.

The club runs 10 boys teams and two girls and one ladies teams, as well as teaching youngsters in a classroom at the ground.

Spartans also have more than 3,000 shareholders – many of them with one of two shares which gives them a stake in their local club.