The Political Economy of Football V2

Cornwall has always been a rugby county.   In the east of Cornwall in particular, there are some Plymouth Argyle supporters, but for others crossing the Tamar is off limits. Back in the 1970s I remember watching Falmouth Town at their historic Bickland Park home when they dominated the Rothmans Western League, but the cost of travelling up country ultimately defeated them.  Being of Cornish descent on my mother's side (May), I always take an interest in Cornish football. In recent years Truro City have been the leading team, but they have encountered a series of troubles:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truro_City_F.C. They have also had their moments in the sun.  I saw them put up a creditable performance when they were defeated 3-1 by Charlton in the FA Cup.  Last season they were top of the Southern League Premier Division South. Now they are vacating their Treyew Road home which is to be the location for a Lidl supermarket.  Next season they will gr...

Truro City get their fifteen minutes of fame when they play Charlton in the FA Cup tomorrow, but the leading Cornish club faces big challenges, although they are ones that are familiar to many non-league clubs. Chairman Peter Masters says that the club's business model does not stack up: 'We get gates of about 400-500 and 300 on Tuesday nights and we've got to put in £20,000-£25,000 a month just to keep going. If we put in £15,000 a month, you'll end up around the bottom of the league. If you stick in £25,000, you'll stay at the top.' Under the ownership of property developer Keith Heaney Truro won the FA Vase, but the financial crisis pushed him into bankruptcy, and propelled the club towards winding up orders and a filing for administration. Masters heard the club needed a £50,000 bond to stay in the National League and saw an opportunity. He brought in his friend local taxi magnate Philip Perryman. There was a £4.5m debt, but he was able to negotiate t...