Kilburn wants community’s help to secure long-term future as it struggles through debt
An inner-north football club says it is not on the brink of closure despite struggling through debt and owing $21,000 to the local council. Members say the club just needs the community’s help.
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Financially stricken Kilburn Football and Cricket Club is urging the local community to rally around it to help secure the Chics’ long-term future as they struggle through debt.
The club would not reveal exactly how much debt it was facing, but finance director Daniel Parks said it was “under $100,000” and it would not force the Chics to shut.
Parks said the Chics, who were established in 1923, had struggled to contend with rising electricity, Adelaide Footy League and Adelaide Turf Cricket Association fees, as well as council charges and rates for its Lionel Ave home.
According to Port Adelaide Enfield Council, the club owes about $21,000 in lease, hire fees and rates accrued since July 2016.
“It’s a manageable debt if things start improving with numbers coming to the club,” Parks said.
“It’s not the amount of money, it’s who we owe money to.
“Owing money to the council is the scary part because we are in breach of our lease and our arrears are the highest they’ve ever been.
“Things aren’t working the way they are so we have to be proactive … rather than sit back and watch the club dwindle away.
“We just need the local community’s help.
“We are chipping away at the debt but it’s very slow.”
Parks said the local area’s changing demographics over the past five years contributed to a lack of members and in turn, a dearth of funds.
The 2016 census showed 45 per cent of Kilburn and Blair Athol residents were born overseas – notably in Afghanistan, Vietnam and India.
Parks said the club stopped paying footballers ahead of the 2014 season because the amounts were unsustainable.
But it suffered a mass exodus and endured a tough division three campaign five years ago when its average losing margin was more than 300 points.
The club then asked players to raise about $15,000 a season – money that was given back to the club and some was used to pay 18 of the top A grade footballers.
Kilburn went on to win the 2015 division three premiership.
The Chics are now seventh with a 4-5 record in division four.
“It’s been part of my life for 45 years and I couldn’t imagine it if the club disappeared,” Parks said.
Port Adelaide Enfield chief executive Mark Withers said the council was “working with the club to determine how to best tackle this difficult situation”.
Withers would not comment on whether the club was facing eviction but said a decision on how to resolve the debt had not been made.
The club has set up a GoFundMe page and is aiming to raise $30,000.
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