A weekly newspaper campaign has helped save Chester City Football Club from almost certain closure.
Chester were relegated from League Two in May and were in danger of going out of business after the Football Association initially refused to affiliate them following financial irregularities.
But the FA backed down after the Chester Chronicle gave its backing to a fans’ campaign to save the club, including a back page with the headline: “Do not let this historic club die”.
The FA confirmed last Thursday that it was readmitting Chester City to membership, although it has started the season on -25 points.
Michael Green, executive editor of the Chronicle, told HoldTheFrontPage: “From time to time, local newspapers like the Chester Chronicle produce pages which do more than just reflect what is happening in the area – they come from the heart.
“For all the traumatic events which have beset Chester City Football Club, especially during the past year, it is an institution which lies at the very core of this historic city.
“That is why we took the step this week of trying to do what we could to influence, albeit in a small way, the decision makers at the FA who held the very existence of the club in its hands.
“Our back page plea was also intended to remind them that they had a duty to uphold the interests of the most important people of all in this crisis – the supporters.”
Click here for more recent articles on journalism, sport and sports journalism
Join the SJA today – click here for details and membership application form