Farsley Celtic fans boycott Buxton as chairman responds

The club has already played one ‘home’ game at The Tarmac Silverlands Stadium and has agreed to play at least their next three 'home' matches there in the run up to Christmas due to stalled work on a new 4G pitch at The Citadel (formerly known as Throstle Nest). 

Chairman Paul Barthorpe is under fire from the group for how they perceive him to be running the club.

Giving his response to the boycott, he told the T&A: “Everyone has the right to choose how they spend their free time, and should that be a decision to not support the club and it’s players while they are playing at Buxton then as stated that’s a personal choice.

“It’s our choice as a board to continue to support our players whenever and wherever they are playing wearing our badge. 

“Having previously stated the reasons why we are at Buxton, there is really nothing more we can add to that.”

Farsley's fans watching a game between their side and Bradford (Park Avenue) at Throstle Nest back in 2023. (Image: Alex Daniel.)

While the boycott was the headline news from the Supporters’ Club meeting, they also convened to discuss Barthorpe’s response to their vote of no confidence in him earlier this month.

A supporters' club spokesperson said: "The chairman has not responded directly to the supporters' club, nor directly addressed our concerns.

"We are increasingly embarrassed by how Farsley Celtic is being run and the continuing uncertainty surrounding the club.

“We are reiterating our calls for Paul Barthorpe to take responsibility for the issues and to sell the club. The buck stops with him.

"The chairman has been unwilling to give a definite date for the recommencement of pitch work at the Citadel.

"We still have no confidence in the statements made by the chairman regarding the recommencement of the delayed pitch works. 

“Despite his statements to the contrary, there is no evidence the 'killing the ground' works started at The Citadel last week.

“We also note no work will take place this week due to inclement weather and have no faith the pitch will be ready in time for January 1.

“It’s increasingly clear the pitch will not be ready for this date - we were told it would be ready for September.

"Following the departures of Tom Allan, Danny Greenfield, Tom Morgan, Gareth Liversidge and Jake Lofthouse from the club, we have no confidence that the Chairman can ensure the continued loyalty of the current playing squad, staff or supporters.

"By taking this action, we are continuing to show solidarity with players, staff and other stakeholders in Farsley Celtic FC. 

"Supporters have shown remarkable patience over several years with the owner, but enough is enough.

“We understand there are potential buyers who are waiting in the wings and urge Mr Barthorpe to look after the interests of the wider club and put it up for sale.

“The supporters club has also called for an end to all matchday volunteering by members of the Supporters Club at Farsley Celtic ‘home’ games which have been rearranged.”

Barthorpe, who has also had financial allegations raised against him by the Supporters’ Club, responded with a club statement which said: “We have already responded to the points raised by the supporters club, where we could, and many of those issues have now been resolved.

“But to reiterate again, we as all business directors do, have a responsibility and a confidentiality agreement with the business meaning that internal information can’t be discussed publicly, regardless of how many times it’s repeatedly mentioned. 

“As stated, last week we had engineers on site, who were due to return this week, but haven’t been able to due to adverse weather conditions.

Farsley Celtic's pitch looked in a bad way 10 days ago and the wintry weather this week is not going to have improved matters. (Image: NQ Staff.)

“All of the dates and deadlines given for works are ones that we are passing on from engineers, we have not created these dates ourselves.

“We are working to a programme of works and processes supplied to us, that has been shared with and agreed by the league.

“We are wary of sharing any of this information publicly because if there is any sort of problem with it, it becomes branded as ‘misleading information’.

“Clubs like ours run on the goodwill of a small handful of matchday volunteers, and should those volunteers no longer continue, then it is the club that suffers, nothing else. 

“The chairman continues to invest heavily in the club on a weekly basis to ensure its operational activity and survival through this tough time.

“A further reminder that all issues surrounding the pitch are as a result of the chairman and the board’s desire to invest further in the club, to develop it and make it bigger and stronger.

“Had there been no ambition, desire, a lack of care or effort, commitment or willingness to invest then none of these issues would be happening.”