Caversham has scooped most of the major silverware in southern football this season. But, like most clubs, it is still finding it difficult to pay the bills. Adrian Seconi reports.
If you have paid close attention to the city's various football leagues then you will have noted Caversham is doing very nicely, thank you very much.
The senior side wrapped up the Football South Premier League title earlier this month with a 6-0 win over Green Island.
Caversham's second team was streets ahead of everyone else in division one, and the club's division three team is one more win away from a perfect season.
Everything is going swimmingly on the field. But off it, the club is struggling to stay afloat.
Caversham fell behind on its bills early last year and had to take out a $10,000 personal loan to avoid the risk of being expelled from the league.
The club was forced to hike fees from $150 to $250 and had to look for other ways to cut its cloth.
Eighteen months on, the club was still grappling with its finances, president Steve Fleming said.
''We are in a situation now ... that we don't even know how operational we will be next year or [even] if we will be,'' Fleming said.
''The $10,000 [loan] is a burden but with everything else, we are just keeping our head above water.
''We are lucky in some respects, because we are doing well on the pitch. I don't know how some of these other clubs are getting by.''
Part of the problem is the club's traditional source of revenue has fallen away.
Where members would once go back to the clubrooms and spend money at the bar, they are now going home instead or just popping in for one quick drink.
''We sell more crisps and lemonade than we do beer and that is just the nature of society these days. When I was playing, there was more of a camaraderie and you would go to the clubrooms and have a few drinks.''
Fleming said the clubrooms were probably only open for two hours each week and it was difficult to generate enough revenue during that time to cover the overheads.
And despite an impressive record of 13 premiership titles in the past 16 seasons, Caversham has been unable to attract a major sponsor.
''We've won the league enough times now but we still don't have a big sponsor. We have to scratch by as we go.''
Caversham shares its clubrooms at Tonga Park with the Carisbrook-Dunedin Cricket Club, which helps keep the costs down.
Caversham head coach Tim Horner acknowledged there was no escaping the club's financial concerns but felt Caversham's reputation as one of the best football teams in the South Island had helped shield it from even harder times.
The club has lost two senior teams but its junior ranks remain strong and it still has four senior teams.
''It is certainly a difficult environment to operate in and I think most clubs will tell you that,'' Horner said.
''Last season was probably the toughest in terms of the issues we had financially. But we have a really good group of players who have been with Caversham for a number of years and their loyalty was never questioned.
''The fact we've been competitive for so many years and we've never sort of wavered from that does help. They know they are entering into a competitive environment and one which will better serve them as a player and hopefully produce some success on the field, as well.''
Caversham football
A season of dominance
Premier
• Played 17, won 15, drawn two.
• Has a 13-point lead with three games in hand.
• Averaging 5.35 goals per game.
• Goal differential of 78Leading scorers are Tom Jackson (26), Lewis Jackson (15) and Andrew Ridden (14).
• Unbeaten at home since August 21, 2014.
• Won 13 of the past 16 premier league titles.
• Reached five Chatham Cup semifinals since 2006.
• South Island champion 2008.
Division one
• Played 19, won 18, lost one.
• Averaging 4.37 goals per game.
• Goal differential of 61.
• Chinese Charity trophy holder.
Division three
• Played 17, won 17.
• Averaging 6.18 goals per game.
• Goal differential of 83.
