KELLO ROVERS F.C 110 club
02 Feb 2013

After languishing for years in the Ayrshire District League, Kello Rovers gained promotion into the Stagecoach Super League Division 1 at the end of season 2011/12.  This was down to the hard work put in by the playing staff and the backroom staff of manager Ronnie Caldwell who was ably assisted by coaches Colin Duff, and Russell Ferguson. The first priority of Kello was to establish themselves in this higher league, thus avoiding going back down into the Ayrshire District League.  There was no could envisage the start that Kello made in the 1st division, as the start that Kello made astounded even the most ardent fans. At present, Kello have 23 points from 13 games, and are sitting in 4th place in the league, with the leaders having played three games more, and have 27 points. With the team doing well at the moment, the financial strain on the club is causing concern.  This is mainly due to travelling costs, coupled with games having to be called off due to the weather.  Whilst the team is not playing, they still have to train, and the cost of hiring all weather parks is costly. Travelling to away games is proving to be a burden, as it was decided that due to the geography of away venues, it would be better if players and staff could travel by bus, with the remainder of the seats taken up by paying fans. There are a fair number of fans using the bus to these games, but there are some fans who travel by car.  There is not enough people using the bus to cover the cost, and there has been a shortfall to be met for these away fixtures, and this could be between £120 to £200.  We have been fortunate that we have managed to meet these shortfalls which seems excessive, but considering it would cost round about £100 if cars were to be used for travelling to these games, it looks more professional when you see ALL players arriving off a bus, and not in dribs and drabs from cars, and not losing their way in getting there. If Kello are to remain in their present league, and possibly gain promotion to the Premier League, where the could be facing the likes of Glenafton, Cumnock, Auchinleck, Irvine Meadow, Hurlford, this in itself would generate quite a bit of revenue, as it would mean an increase in crowds and less travelling expenses. But this would mean that Kello would need to cast their net wider to attract other players to Kirkconnel. I have made enquiries as to how other clubs raise the funds to achieve this standard, and it is down mostly to them running 100 or 150 clubs, and asking for a certain amount of cash before the start of the season. If Kello were to run a 100 club, and ask these 100 members to pay £70 per season, this would generate, £7,000, which would go a long way in attracting players to the club, not that Kello would be needing to add many new players to the present squad. If every person who joined the 100 club received a season ticket which would allow them into the thirteen home league games.  With admission money currently at £5, they would be in effect would only be costing them £5 if they attended all home league games. A hundred persons or more joining this club would be of great benefit to Kello Rovers.  This CAN be done, as was proved in November/December 2011, when Kello had problems with their gas account, and the people of Upper Nithsdale, and further afield came to their rescue. So I ask everyone reading this to consider the benefit that this would be to Kello Rovers and to the village. Anyone interested in making up numbers in a 100 club, contact any committee member of Kello Rovers F.C.                                                              Jim Campbell, Kello Rovers F.C.