Treasurer’s Update – June 2026
June marks the end of the 2025/26 financial year for Nuneaton Town FC CIC – and what a year it has been. With back-to-back promotions secured, a historic double league title on the pitch, and substantial growth in our commercial and supporter income off it, this is an ideal opportunity to step back and reflect on the year as a whole. There were no fixtures played in June, so this month’s update is dedicated almost entirely to reviewing where we’ve come from, where we stand, and the exciting preparations underway for the 2026/27 season.
Financial Year in Review: 2025/26
The headline numbers tell a compelling story. Total income for the 2025/26 financial year reached £209,386 – an increase of more than £54,000 compared to £155,387 in 2024/25. That is a 35% uplift, achieved in a single year as the club stepped up from Step 6 to Step 5 of the National League System. To put that in context: the first year of the CIC’s existence (2024/25) was played at Step 6, where the club was essentially rebuilding from scratch. This year, at Step 5, the club operated at a fundamentally different level – more home games, bigger crowds, stronger commercial interest, and a significantly expanded playing budget to match.
The comparison table below summarises the key financial movements between the two years:
A few things stand out from this comparison. First and most significantly, total income grew by 35% whilst remaining a genuinely community-funded club – no wealthy benefactor, no debt financing, just supporters, sponsors, and hard work. Second, the increase in Cost of Sales – up from £107,000 to £169,000 – reflects the step up in playing budget and the additional matchday costs associated with competing at a higher level. Player and coaching wages and expenses rose by around £38,000, which was a deliberate investment in the quality needed to compete at Step 5 – and one that paid off handsomely on the pitch.
The net profit for the year is £28,686, compared to £38,372 in 2024/25. This is a lower figure in pure terms, which is entirely expected: we invested more in football whilst growing our income base, and the result is a healthy surplus that goes straight into building the club’s reserves for the year ahead. The lower net profit in no way reflects underperformance – it reflects a club that is investing in itself and growing responsibly.
Income Highlights
A number of income streams saw particularly strong growth year on year:
• Sponsorship income more than doubled, growing from £27,684 to £65,210. This is a remarkable commercial achievement and reflects the extraordinary effort put in by Lee Davies and the wider commercial team. The profile of the club following successive promotions has attracted sponsors who simply would not have considered us two or three years ago. This is perhaps the single most encouraging trend in the accounts.
• Gate receipts and match tickets grew from £45,578 to £63,440 – an increase of nearly £18,000. Bigger crowds through the turnstiles, and the additional home games that come with an extended cup run and a strong league campaign, all contributed.
• Season ticket income grew from £10,843 to £14,966. The number of season tickets sold has risen steadily, and early signs for 2026/27 are even more positive (more on this below).
• Supporters’ Co-operative donations remained strong at £16,495, a modest increase from £15,500 the year before. The Co-op’s monthly contribution continues to provide a reliable and valued base of community funding.
Expenditure
In June, with no fixtures and the playing season concluded, expenditure was minimal. The month’s costs included:
• Coaching staff contractual payments
• Merchandise cost of sales (shirts and other clothing)
• Training equipment (training balls)
• Shipping costs for web orders
• An update to the Back to Nuneaton feasibility study (£750, classified as an Exceptional Cost)
Administrative costs for the month included bank fees, National Insurance, IT subscriptions, Stripe transaction fees, and an administration salary.
June is always a quiet month financially, and 2026 was no exception. With no home fixtures, income was limited to merchandise sales and supporter donations, whilst minimal but necessary costs continued. The month produced a net loss of £2,453, of which £750 relates to the exceptional cost of updating our feasibility study for the Back to Nuneaton project.
For the full financial year, the club records a net profit of £28,686. This represents a sound and sustainable result for a club that has invested significantly in stepping up two levels of the pyramid in two seasons, whilst building strong reserves and increasing its commercial footprint substantially.
Cash Position
The club’s cash position at the year-end is extremely strong. The closing bank balance stands at £140,722 – more than double the £63,964 held at the end of 2024/25. It is important to understand the composition of that figure, however.
The “Back to Nuneaton” bank account holds £125,850 of the total. As noted in previous updates, this account holds both the earmarked Back to Nuneaton fund (currently £98,452 – see below) and short-term cash surpluses generated through next-season’s advance receipts. The business current account holds the remaining £14,872.
The most telling figure is the “Income in Advance” balance on the balance sheet, which stands at £137,586 at the year end, compared to £56,875 a year ago. This represents next season’s season ticket and sponsorship income already received – money that has come in, but which we have not yet ‘earned’ in accounting terms as the matches haven’t been played yet. This is a very positive position to be in: it means the club enters the 2026/27 season with substantial pre-funded income already in the bank, reducing the financial risk of the early part of the campaign.
Debtors stand at £47,920, representing sponsorship and other invoices raised but not yet settled. We expect the majority of this to be received in the coming weeks as sponsors make their annual payments ahead of the new season.
The stock of clothing figure has risen to £11,819, reflecting the new home and goalkeeper kits for 2026/27 which arrived during June and are now ready for sale. The kit launch is imminent – watch the club’s website and social media for the announcement.
Season Tickets and Sponsorship: A Record Start to 2026/27
It would be remiss not to highlight the extraordinary start being made to the 2026/27 commercial year, even though this technically falls into the new financial year. The figures already committed, through to the week ending 17th July 2026, are as follows:
Season tickets sold: 275 (a record for the club)
Season ticket income to date: £22,454
Sponsorship income to date: £72,217
To put these numbers in context: 275 season tickets is a record for the club – surpassing even the 2013/14 season when Nuneaton Town competed at Step 1, the highest point in the club’s history. Last season, 221 were sold for the full year. To have exceeded that total before a ball has been kicked in anger is a remarkable achievement, and a real statement of supporter commitment to the club and the project.
On the commercial side, the £72,217 of sponsorship income already committed for 2026/27 compares to just £42,600 at the same point last year, itself more than three times the figure from the year before. Lee Davies and the commercial team are doing extraordinary work, and the fact that businesses across Nuneaton and beyond are choosing to back the club in increasing numbers is a real endorsement of everything this club stands for.
Player Recruitment
Preparations for life at Step 4 are well underway on the playing side. Darren Acton and Russell Dodd have done a fantastic job in adding new faces to the squad – and the calibre of player now committing to Nuneaton Town is a testament to the draw of the club.
A number of the new signings have come from higher steps of the National League System, choosing to join us despite the modest playing budget that a community-owned club necessarily operates within. That says a great deal about how the club is perceived in the non-league world right now – the culture, the ambition, the growing supporter base, and the genuine belief that this club is going places. Darren and Russ deserve real credit for their recruitment work, and we look forward to seeing the new-look squad take to the field.
Back to Nuneaton Update
The “Back to Nuneaton” fund stands at £98,452 following £250 of donations received during June. As always, this figure represents money specifically earmarked for the Back to Nuneaton project; the bank account of the same name holds a larger balance, which includes short-term cash surpluses not yet committed to the fund.
The £750 spent updating the Back to Nuneaton feasibility study during June is classified as an Exceptional Cost in the accounts, and reflects the ongoing investment being made to keep the project moving forward.
On the project itself, there are genuinely encouraging signs emerging from our discussions with Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council. The new Council administration is developing a more detailed understanding of the nature and scope of the project, and that deeper engagement is producing a more constructive dialogue. The Council is also revaluating the other sites previously discussed alongside Vale View.
We are also launching our vision for the new facility as being far more than football ground. Modern non-league grounds often serve as a community hub, and work with other organisations to provide often much needed services and facilities to the wider community. Please keep an eye on the club website and social media channels for further updates.
If anyone would like to make a donation to the fund, you can do so here or by emailing finance@nuneatontownfc.co.uk.
What to Expect in July
July is a key month as the club builds momentum towards the new season. A number of pre-season friendlies are being arranged, including some home fixtures at the Oval, which will give Darren, Russ and the squad the chance to bed in together and give supporters their first look at the new signings. Home friendlies are free for 2026/27 season ticket holders – another benefit of securing your seat early. It is worth noting that these games do incur additional costs, primarily the hire fee for the Oval, so your continued support through attendance and matchday spend is genuinely appreciated.
July also sees the club’s fans forum at the Queens Hall on 16th July. This is a fantastic opportunity for supporters to put their questions directly to Darren and Russ about their plans and ambitions for the new season. We hope to see as many of you there as possible – it promises to be a lively and exciting evening.
How can I help?
There are several ways that fans and local businesses can help support the club as we prepare for our Step 4 debut:
• Secure your season ticket for 2026/27 – 275 already sold and counting. You can pay in full or in three interest-free instalments.
• Come to a pre-season friendly at the Oval in July – free for season ticket holders, and a great first look at the new squad.
• Attend the fans forum at the Queens Hall on 16th July and put your questions to the management team
• Join the NTSC 200 Club – support the club financially and be in with a chance of winning monthly cash prizes: Join the 200 Club
• Join the Nuneaton Town Supporters Co-operative and help shape the future of the club: Join the Supporters Co-operative.
• Local businesses: contact commercial@nuneatontownfc.co.uk to discuss sponsorship opportunities for 2026/27.
• Donate to the “Back to Nuneaton” fund: donate here.
