Moors Chairman Brad Groves has underlined the importance of the upcoming local elections and insisted that the outcome could have huge ramifications for the future of the Club.
In his recent interview with Moors TV, Groves discussed his sixteen years at the helm of Spennymoor Town, bringing it from the brink of extinction to become an established and well-respected member of National League North.
Whilst Graeme Lee’s men remain the hunt for a play-off place with three league games rem, the talk of the town is the Club’s impending trip to Wembley after they won a dramatic FA Trophy semi-final at Rochdale in incredible circumstances.
It will be the second time under Groves’ watch that Moors have strutted their stuff in the National stadium after their glorious FA Vase triumph back in 2013.
And as the iconic arch looms large over County Durham and captures the imagination of the town, Groves has underlined the significance of the upcoming Local Elections.
“The Club is at a really key stage” Groves said as he discussed the future of Moors. “The clear message for me is we absolutely need a majority in this town who is going to get behind the Football Club.”
Local Elections are to be held on Thursday 1st May 2025, and will determine the make-up of both Spennymoor Town Council and Durham County Council for the next four years.
Amongst the candidates up for election is Moors Managing Director, Ian Geldard, who is heading up a push to return a Labour majority to the Town and County Councils after eight years of Conservative and Independent representation in Spennymoor.
Groves reiterated his absolute backing for a change in local politics, whilst offering a clear and passionate endorsement for the local Labour Team.
“My clear view is that, when I look at the plan that Labour has for Spennymoor, I am 100% putting my support behind it, and I am putting my 100% support behind Ian and his colleagues.
“I’ve known Ian for over 10 years, and I remember the support he gave the Club when Labour did have a majority in the town.
“He worked for me in my family’s Foundation where he did some great things and I got to know the individual, and I can see that his values are exactly aligned with Labour’s plan.
“During the last eight years, I genuinely wouldn’t know anyone at the Town Council, and if I’ve done what I’ve done for 16 years, and not had people like that through the door, seeing how important it is, then we have a problem.”
The Chairman also gave his thoughts how the image of national politics may play a part in the local elections – and he encouraged people of Spennymoor to make their minds up based on what is right for this town and not those in the capital.
“I’m not someone who’s ever been involved in politics, but this is about local people and local issues,” he insisted.
“I’m not really interested about Labour in London, I’m interested in Spennymoor and County Durham.
“It is about having a real plan for this town going forward. These elections won’t have any bearing on Parliament, but there could be real positive change here for our town and for the Football Club.
“Progress won’t be made unless we’ve got someone in a majority, who can be held accountable, and have a voice in Durham County Council and a voice to challenge them in there.
“We’ve got a plan and vision for this Club, with the right investors and people to come on board who can actually deliver that plan – and that’s not just for football, it’s creating major jobs in Spennymoor.
“If we don’t have someone to hold account, then the best thing to do is that over the next 6 to 12 months I have to make sure we’re not challenging to be at a level we can’t afford which then risks the entire Football Club.
“This Club is set up in such a way that it should always be there for the future. However, the people in this town have to decide if they want to carry on and find their natural level or do, we really want to kick on to the next level and put in place an infrastructure to compete.”
With elite cricket prospering for Durham at their Riverside home in Chester-le-Street, Groves is now hoping the support afforded by the local authorities for cricket can be replicated in football to help unlock Spennymoor Town’s potential for the benefit of the whole region.
“In 16 years of ownership, we’ve done everything we’ve ever said we were going to do.
“Now it’s time for us to take the next step together with the full support of the Council behind us to make the ambitious plans we have become a reality.”
