A WIN-WIN FOR BOLD WELWYN!

FOUNDED in March 2023, AFC Welwyn, of the Spartan South Midlands League Division Two, are about to celebrate their first anniversary.

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As with 1000GBP.com, this is their first season in Non-League football and they are pro-actively embracing social media, new filming and editing technology and the many opportunities it now gives clubs to expand their supporter base and develop new income streams.

Having recently heard about 1000GBP.com, 40 of AFC Welwyn’s players and supporters have registered to play The Ultimate Football Quiz, and they’ve even staged their own online version on YouTube.

The club was founded by owner and player Tawhid Juneja and this week he explained how the club came about, what the challenges have been and why they are embracing innovative new ideas, such as 1000GBP.com’s unique way of raising funds for Non-League clubs.

WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO START A NEW FOOTBALL CLUB?

I made my debut for Boreham Wood at the age of 15, so I’d been playing Non-League football for more than a quarter of a century. Having also spent many years in business, I decided to look at how I could stay fully involved in the game when my friends tap me on the shoulder and suggest it is time to retire!

Initially, I planned to buy and run a club myself but none that I approached were available or interested in selling, so I realised that an obvious solution would be to start one myself.

The club was founded by me and our now first team manager Richard James on March 28 and AFC Welwyn were ready for the start of this season.

WHAT WAS THE PROCESS OF SETTING IT UP?

I did a lot of initial research as I knew it was important to have a sustainable business plan and a good location and potential fan base.