Trevor Bull has praised the survival and record-breaking achievements of the Seadogs after a challenging year playing away from their home stadium.
The chairman of Scarborough Athletic has reflected on a miraculous campaign that saw the club defy the oddsmakers to secure their highest ever league position, despite spending the entire season in exile.
Before a ball was even kicked, bookmakers heavily predicted that the Seadogs would suffer relegation from the National League North. Their prospects were severely hampered by the discovery of significant structural faults at the Scarborough Sports Village, forcing the team to relocate their home fixtures down the coast to Bridlington for the last nine months.
Speaking to Scarborough Athletic TV, Scarborough Athletic Chairman Trevor Bull said:
"12 months ago, we were facing some incredible problems and we set ourselves some priorities.
Number one priority was to save our football club and make sure that in 12 months time, we still have a football club. The great news is we have. We've got through the season thanks to some support from Bridlington and some tremendous support and fundraising from our supporters which without that level of investment we couldn't have got through the season. So thank you to everybody that's helped us with that.
Sponsors have stuck with us and generated much needed income and of course supporters have travelled through to Bridlington. So that's that sort of solidified our finances and got us to where we are today."
The sudden move away from their home turf resulted in a drastic reduction in crucial matchday revenue, including hospitality and ticket sales. To ensure the fan-owned club could navigate the financial turbulence, North Yorkshire Council recently approved an exceptional loan of up to £150,000.
Despite the immense off-field pressures, manager Jono Greening guided the team to a remarkable sixth-place finish, securing a spot in the promotion playoffs.
Reflecting on the squad's performance, Trevor Bull said:
"On the pitch, we had a very simple target. It was don't get relegated, make sure that we maintain our status in National League North. And to be fair, Jono and the guys have absolutely nailed that one.
We've had a great season on the pitch. And it's incredibly difficult because we've played 46 games, all 46 league games plus the playoff game away from home. So to to achieve what we've done and amass the number of points that we've done is amazing.
We've achieved our highest ever finishing league position since the club was formed in 2007 with a record number of points as well. So that is absolutely superb. Can't thank Jono and the guys enough for what they've achieved on the pitch."
The achievement is even more notable given the financial disparities within the division.
Trevor Bull added:
"We're still a part-time football club. And if you look at the teams around us, certainly in the playoffs, we were the only fully part-time club. So you could argue that we were the highest ranked part-time football club in our league. Which looking across the leagues, we're now one of the highest ranked part-time clubs in the country. So that is an achievement and one that we should be thankful for.
We all know the reasons, we're limited by our finances and we try to maintain a prudent financial outlook as much as we can. So that's what's got us through this year. So we need to be thankful for that, but massive achievement."
Council officials have confirmed that repair work at the Scarborough facility is ongoing, the pitch is expected to be fully operational in time for the upcoming season, ending the club's temporary stint in Bridlington.
You can see Trevor's full message to the fans on Scarborough Athletic TV
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