Scarborough Athletic Board Update Fans on Bridlington Preperations

As the start of the new season draws nearer Scarborough Athletic's board has released an update to provide the clubs owners, supporters, sponsors and stakeholders about how preparations for life in Bridlington are progressing.

Boro will be playing their home games at Bridlington Town's Mounting Systems Stadium this season as essential repairs are carried out to the Scarborough Sports Village pitch. The enforced move is expected to leave the club with a financial headache resulting from lower attendances, commercial activity and extra costs.

In the update to supporters the board said:

"We have been humbled by the generosity of our community with sponsors and fans going above and beyond, renewing sponsorships with new deals, signing up to the No Battle No Victory fund, committing to the newly formed 2025 club and buying season passes in numbers with over 400 now being sold.

The message we have received has been clear - that our fanbase and community is “in it together” and we are extremely grateful for everyone’s support.

This early show of commitment has given our fan-owned club the platform and confidence to start the season with a clear intention to try and maintain our status and be competitive in National League North.

Unfortunately this is not the end of our financial challenges and despite the commitments made to date, along with a rationalisation of costs and budgets having eased the original projected shortfall there is still the very realistic prospect that attendances at the Mounting Systems Stadium will not generate enough matchday income to plug the significant (six figure) gap which still exists in our finances.

The Board are working hard on other solutions and schemes to replace the potential lost income on matchdays but the attendance figure whilst playing in Bridlington is now the most uncertain and significant number that will shape our financial future."

The board say that work to get the Mounting Systems Stadium up to the required league standard is progressing and should be completed in time for the pre-season friendly against Sheffield Wednesday on Yorkshire Day.

"A lot of work has been undertaken at the Mounting Systems Stadium to ensure it is both compliant and as comfortable as possible.

Our thanks go to Mick Davison and Bridlington Town AFC for coordinating the significant works that have been carried out both by paid contractors and a small (but heroic) band of volunteer seadogs who have been helping out to make sure our temporary home is ready for the new season.  

While the physical works are now nearing completion, there are a number of compliance exercises which need to be carried out to ensure that we are ready for the season ahead involving a number of bodies including the Football Foundation, the Safety Advisory Group and Humberside Police, all of whom have been extremely helpful during the process.

As a reminder we will all have the chance to try out our new home on Friday 01st August when we entertain Sheffield Wednesday in a friendly fixture (kick off 19:45) and we hope as many seadogs as possible will make it to the game and we will be providing more information about matchdays at the Mounting Systems Stadium in due course.

The Valley Bar Seadogs Travel Club will be running transport for this friendly and all games this season, for more information and to book a space you can contact the Travel Club on 07598931572."

The Board have also thanked the fans who have turned out for the clubs kit launches and those who have already bought their new kit.

"Since our last update we have launched our new home and away kits in well attended and successful events at the Tow Bar and Scholar’s Bar who we thank for putting on such enjoyable occasions and their unwavering ongoing support.

We have once again enjoyed healthy early sales numbers, reaching 500 shirts already purchased in a short time frame and we have been pleased with the initial success of our new online sales platform.

We will continue to make our kit as available as possible as the season progresses but thank all who have purchased one to date and remind those who haven’t bought theirs yet that they are available to buy at https://www.prodirectsport.com/soccer/c/scarborough-athletic

Our final thank you goes to our team of incredible volunteers who have stepped forward to make sure that Matchdays at Bridlington are as safe and enjoyable as possible. Most were able to attend a meeting last night where we were able to make plans on how we may best be able to meet the challenge of a new experience and maximise the enjoyment of all who attend our games."