Richard is back with part two (of three) of summer stories. You can catch up on part one about hospitality here

PLATINUM CLUB

Additional units were bought from Steve Burt (as mentioned in our hospitality updates) and were deployed close to the dugouts, providing a new club shop behind the existing Pewit Bar and, above this, a dedicated hospitality area for members of Emley AFC’s exclusive Platinum Club.

Marcus explained: ‘The Platinum Club was something I created several years ago. And what’s great about it is it proves sponsorship is not just about businesses - individuals want to support the club too. I realised that some people wanted to give something above and beyond a season ticket, so the way the Platinum Club works is people pay an amount of money per season (£600) and in return they get a hospitality package on match days and various exclusive benefits. When the scheme started I said, “Stick with me guys, and we’ll end up with a dedicated hospitality unit which will be exclusively yours for match days.” And here we are!

‘And not only that we’ve given them something extra - a fabulous, and dare I say prestigious, raised viewing area. They’re over the moon and if anyone is wondering, “How do I get to stand up there with them and enjoy that location?’ just come and talk to us. We’ve got 15 members right now with a maximum capacity of 20.’

The Platinum Club’s hospitality unit opens onto its own raised viewing platform which has been created above the Pewit Bar. Access to both is via a pitch-side steel staircase opposite the Dugout Diner.

Marcus said: ‘Steve Burt is a bit of a character and when I put the platform idea to him I said with everything else we’ve got on this summer it might be 12 months too early. But he said: “You’ve always liked a challenge, Marcus but, you know what, it’s doable. So let’s get on and do it!”

‘Steve had some stairs that suited the space but the landing platform at the top of the steps was facing the wrong way, so it needed cutting off and reversing to connect with the platform which we had custom built by Hirstle Fabrications of Kirkheaton, a father and son team and another local company. Once that was sorted my guys fitted the flooring, got the signage sorted out and finished everything off just in time for the Huddersfield Town game.’

The club members are looking forward to their first season with fantastic facilities.

CHANGING ROOMS

While the hospitality and shop units were taking shape, work also continued on an extension to the main clubhouse, concrete foundations having been laid back in March. Once the extension had been completed and made watertight, Marcus’s team knocked through from the original clubhouse. Then the away changing room showers were re-sited within the new structure and the original shower wall was demolished, enabling the visitors’ dressing room itself to be considerably enlarged.

‘The first priority was to satisfy NPL ground grading requirements by increasing the size of the away changing room,’ said Marcus. ‘So we did that, but with an eye on the future we took the opportunity to create an extra changing room, toilet and shower as well. A useful addition allowing us to cater better for female officials, and another box ticked.’

SANCTUM

Adding to the buzz of activity at the Welfare Ground over the summer was the technicians from Sanctum Energy, a new sponsor with a base close to the club and in this case one working with Emley AFC.

Marcus explained: ‘Sanctum Energy is a very new company and one of the directors, Christian Ely, is a born and bred Emleyer. Christian approached us when he was in the early stages of setting up his business, proposing we install solar panels on the main stand. That led to discussions about mounting them on the changing block roof as well, and then he came back to us suggesting a sponsorship arrangement, saying he wanted to use the club to showcase his company and its products.

The supply and installation of the panels and associated infrastructure is all being done at Sanctum’s cost with the practical benefits coming 100 percent to the football club. The system will create stored energy which we will use to power the club on match days and on a day-to-day basis, ultimately reducing our electrical bills to zero and earning us revenue from feeding the grid. And from Sanctum’s point of view, what better way to advertise their products and services than to have a system fully fitted and working close to their own premises.’

Read more about Sanctum Energy in our sponsor announcement.

Next instalment : Thursday 7 August.