Brunsmeer Athletic has a rich history in grassroots football in Sheffield.
Formed in 1967 after players at Meersbrook and Brunswick Church joined together, the club now runs 26 teams including men’s, boys’ and girls’ teams.
The women’s team formed in 2022, breaking away from Rotherham United’s women’s reserves.
Manager Trevor Fox has led the group to two promotions, moving up from Tier 7 to Tier 5.
This season, although the team has sometimes struggled on the field against more established clubs such as Huddersfield Town and Bradford City, the biggest hurdle has remained the long journeys.
The team will have racked up over 2,000 miles (3,220 km) on the road, with an average of 199 miles (320 km) per round trip for away games.
Fox says: “The unfortunate thing is that because of the travelling, many of the players have decided it’s too big a commitment.
“We’re a small grassroots club. All the funding we receive is via sponsorship. The travelling is an expense we didn’t account for.
“It’s costing us the best part of £6,000, which for a team of this size is unsustainable.”
While Brunsmeer Athletic currently sit in 10th place in their division, just above the relegation zone, two other teams – Hull United and York Railway Institute – have already succumbed to the financial pressures and folded in the past two years.
