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Bolton County FC Limited
Charity Registration Number: 1185286 Company Registration No: 11938554
Trustees' Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 30 June 2025
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Contents
Administrative Information ................................................................................................................................................. 2 Chair’s Report ................................................................................................................................................................... 3 Trustees Annual Report including the Directors Report ................................................................................................... 4 Structure, governance and management .......................................................................................................................... 4 Objectives and Activities for the Public Benefit ................................................................................................................. 4 Review of Activities and Achievements ............................................................................................................................ 4 Future Plans ...................................................................................................................................................................... 5 Financial review................................................................................................................................................................. 5 Reserves Policy................................................................................................................................................................. 5 Trustees’ responsibilities in relation to the financial statements ....................................................................................... 6 Statement of Financial Activities ....................................................................................................................................... 7 Balance Sheet ................................................................................................................................................................... 8 Notes to the Accounts ....................................................................................................................................................... 9
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Administrative Information
| Trustees/Directors | Stewart Dawes | (Chair) | Appointed 12 September 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew Ross | Appointed 25 February 2021 | ||
| David Hough | Appointed 12 September 2019 | ||
| Andrea Lindsay | Appointed 12 September 2019 | ||
| Jessica Ross | Appointed 25 February 2021 | ||
| Martin Smith | Appointed 12 September 2019 | ||
| Directors | Mark Ormrod | Appointed 2 January 2024 | |
| David Tomlinson | Appointed 2 January 2024 | ||
| Mark Critchley | Appointed 2 January 2024 | ||
| Registered Charity | |||
| and Company | 7 Holbeck Close | The County Ground | |
| Address: | The Meadows | Radcliffe Road | |
| Horwich | Darcey Lever | ||
| Bolton | Bolton | ||
| BL6 6RJ | BL3 1AN | ||
| Bankers: | Lloyds Bank | ||
| Hotel Street | |||
| Bolton | |||
| BL1 1DB | |||
| Solicitors | Cyril Morris Arkwright (CMA | Solicitors) | |
| Capital House | |||
| 51 Churchgate | |||
| Bolton | |||
| BL1 1LY |
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Chair’s Report
We began the 2023/24 season with 11 Junior Teams (Boys and Girls), 3 Open Age Teams all playing in local leagues. There was a mixture of league positions attained at the end of the season.
Following the appointment of 3 new Directors last year the team has worked well together with new ideas and their prior experience has proved invaluable. At the end of this financial year Martin Smith resigned as a Director and we would like to thank Martin for his dedication and commitment to Bolton County over the last 50 years assuming many roles including player, manager and Director.
We continue to welcome new volunteers and players to the club and are encouraged by the success of our recruitment to our Academy that sees children under 6 begin their footballing careers.
I once again thank everyone involved with our club for their commitment and optimism as we head into the new year. We look forward to continued success and growth in the coming year.
Stewart Dawes
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Trustees Annual Report including the Directors Report
The trustees present their report and the unaudited financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2025. Included within the trustees’ report is the directors report as required by company law.
Structure, governance and management
Bolton County FC Limited is a registered charity and a Company Limited by Guarantee with the Charity Registration Number 1185286. The governing document of Bolton County FC Ltd is a memorandum and articles of incorporation dated 10 April 2019.
The Trustees, who are also directors under company law, are appointed by ordinary resolution passed at a general meeting. Trustees met three times during the period in question.
Trustees are appointed at general meetings by ordinary resolution.
Members of the charity guarantee to contribute an amount not exceeding £10 to the assets of the charity in the event of winding up. The total number of such guarantees at 30 June 2025 was nine.
The key management personnel are identified as the Trustees and Directors
Objectives and Activities for the Public Benefit
The objects are for the public benefit generally but with particular reference to the inhabitants of Greater Manchester and its surrounding areas:
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To promote community participation in healthy recreation by providing facilities for the playing of association football and other sports capable of improving health;
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To provide and assist in the provision of facilities for sport, recreation and other leisure time occupation of such persons who have need for such facilities by reason of their youth, age infirmity or disability, poverty or social and economic circumstance or for the public at large in the interests of social welfare and with the object of improving their conditions of life; and
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To advance the education of children and young people (including their physical and academic education) by such means as the Trustees may from time to time determine.
The Trustees confirm that they have followed the relevant regulator guidance on public benefit.
Review of Activities and Achievements
During the year, Bolton County FC had 11 junior teams from under 8 to under 18. These junior teams included 9 boys teams and 2 girls teams The teams participated in FA accredited leagues across Greater Manchester and Lancashire.
In addition, our academy for children under 6 ran successfully and thrived as we endeavour to recruit players to play in the junior teams of the future.
The club has two open age men’s teams competing in The Manchester Football League with the first team unfortunately being relegated from the Premier League to Division 1 at the end of the season.
The club also has an open age women’s team who compete in the Lancashire FA Women's County League.
All told, approximately 125 young people are participating in coaching/training sessions or games under the banner of Bolton County FC every week, alongside approximately 60 at open age. We have around 40 volunteers who have worked with the club throughout this year.
All teams and individuals have developed and enjoyed not only their football but being part of Bolton County FC.
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Future Plans
We continue to aim to grow our junior teams by actively recruiting and promoting our academy for both boys and girls.
The Beer Festival held with a local Cricket Club was a success and we will look to do similar events in the future. Other fundraising Fundraising this year was limited but a Social Committee has been set up and will endeavour to plan more events in the coming years.
As ever, a focus on coach development and utilising skills across teams will improve further the experiences we are able to offer our players.
The club will continue to invest at a suitable level in its current site at Darcy Lever, ensuring the pitches and pavilion are of a high standard.
The activities reported last year to finalise the deal to release covenants it holds on land that it leases to a caravan storage company, in return for significant funds has been completed this year. The majority of the monies received for this have been classed as reserved funds and will continue to grow by earning interest. Options are now being considered to find the best resolution for the club in the future be it significant improvements to its current site or to explore the potential sale of its lease on the Darcy Lever site to a developer, facilitating a potential move to a new home in the future.
Succession planning for important roles within the club will also continue in the coming year to ensure consistency and prevent a lack of skills in certain areas in the future.
We hope to continue to grow and have success with our teams and to have more social and fundraising events that bring everyone together and raise funds to allow us to invest in our teams.
Financial review
For the period in question there was an operating deficit of £830.43. Donations and funds from the sale of the covenant contributed greatly to enable us to run efficiently, making a small loss at the end of the year.
At 30 June 2025, the total funds of the charity were £1,200,720. Of this, £795,230 relates to fixed assets primarily the land and buildings at The County Ground and £401,834 of restricted funds following the monies earned for releasing the covenant on some land.
Reserves Policy
At the end of June 2023 total funds of the charity were £1,200,720. Of this £798,886 is unrestricted funds. However, after deducting fixed assets the unrestricted cash reserves are £3657.03. £401,834 are restricted funds.
The Trustees will review their reserves policy in 2025/2026 to ensure that it is suitable for the charity.
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Trustees’ responsibilities in relation to the financial statements
The trustees (who are also directors of Bolton County FC Limited for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the trustees annual report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
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Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently
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Observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP
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Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent
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State whether applicable UK Accounting Standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements
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Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company's website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.
This report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies’ regime of the Companies Act 2006.
Approved by the trustees on 23[rd] March 2026 and signed on their behalf by:
Andrea Lindsay Trustee
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Statement of Financial Activities
| Bolton County FC | Bolton County FC | Bolton County FC | Bolton County FC | Bolton County FC | Bolton County FC | Bolton County FC | Bolton County FC | Bolton County FC | Bolton County FC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Statement of Financial Activities | |||||||||
| July 2024 - June 2025 | |||||||||
| 2024/2025 | 2023/24 | ||||||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | ||||
| Restricted | Unrestricted | TOTAL | **Restricted ** | Unrestricted | TOTAL | ||||
| Income | 0.00 | Income | 0.00 | ||||||
| Charitable activites | 0.00 | Charitable activites | 0.00 | ||||||
| Fundraising | 702.15 | 702.15 |
Fundraising | 5,029.73 | 5,029.73 |
||||
| Total Charitable activites | £ 702.15 | £ 702.15 | Total Charitable activites | £ 5,029.73 | £ 5,029.73 | ||||
| Donations and legacies | 30,690.05 | 30,690.05 |
Donations and legacies | 40,462.80 | 40,462.80 |
||||
| Release of Covenant | 395,000.00 | 5,336.99 |
400,336.99 |
Grant | 0.00 | ||||
| Total Income | £395,000.00 | £ 36,729.19 | £ 431,729.19 | Total Income | £ 45,492.53 | £ 45,492.53 | |||
| Total | £ 36,729.19 | £ 36,729.19 | Total | £ 45,492.53 | £ 45,492.53 | ||||
| Total Expenditures | £ 37,559.62 | £ 37,559.62 | Total Expenditures | £ 46,148.63 | £ 46,148.63 | ||||
| Net Operating Income | -£830.43 | -£830.43 | Net Operating Income | -£656.10 | -£656.10 | ||||
| Net Income/(Expenditure) | -£830.43 | -£830.43 | Net Income/(Expenditure) | -£656.10 | -£656.10 | ||||
| Total Funds Brought Forward | 799,876 | Total Funds Brought Forward | 800,572 | ||||||
| Total Funds Carried Forward | 1,200,720 | Total Funds Carried Forward | 799,876 | ||||||
| The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. |
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Balance Sheet
Balance Sheet as at 30 June 2025
| 2024/25 Restricted Unrestricted Total Funds 30 June 2025 Fixed Assets £ £ £ Tangible Assets 795,229 795,229 Total Fixed Assets 795,229 795,229 Current Assets Cash at Bank and in hand 401,834 3,657 405,491 Creditors amounts due within oneyear Net Current Assets/Liabilities 401,834 3,657 405,491 Total Assets less current liabilities Funds of the Charity 401,834 798,886 1,200,720 Total Funds 401,834 798,886 1,200,720 |
2023/24 Restricted Unrestricte d Total Funds 30 June 2024 |
|---|---|
| £ £ £ 795,229 795,229 |
|
| 795,229 795,229 |
|
| 4,647 4,647 |
|
| 4647 4647 |
|
| 799,876 799,876 |
|
| 799,876 799,876 |
For the year in question the company was entitled to exemption from an audit under section 477 of the companies act 2006 relating to small companies
Directors Responsibilities
The members have not required the company to obtain an audit if its accounts in accordance with section 476
The Directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts
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Notes to the Accounts
1) Expenditure
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be recognised reliability. All expenditure is shown inclusive of VAT.
2) Allocation of support costs
Support costs are those functions that assist the work of the charity but do not directly undertake charitable activities. Support costs include back office costs, finance, personnel, and governance costs. Support costs have been allocated between governance costs and other support. Governance costs comprise all costs involving public accountability of the charity and its compliance with regulation and good practice.
3) Operating Leases
The charity has no operating leases.
4) Creditors and provisions
Creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probable result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provision re normally recognised at their settle met amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.
5) Corporation Tax
The charity is exempt from tax on income and gains falling within section 505 of the Taxes Act 1988 or section 252 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects.
6) Key estimates and accounting judgements
In applying the charity’s accounting policies, the Trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions in determining the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities. The Trustees’ judgements, estimates and assumptions are based on the best and most reliable evidence available at the time when the decisions are made, and are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be applicable. Due to the inherent subjectivity involved in making such judgements, estimates ad assumptions, the actual results and outcomes may differ.The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to the accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised, if the revision affects only that period, or in the period of revision and future periods, if the revision affects both current and future periods
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