'The club is in good hands going forward' - Stephen Cleeve on new owners
Stephen Cleeve penned an open letter to King's Lynn Town after it was announced his ownership of the club was coming to an end after nine years at the helm. Here's what he wrote:
We have had a great journey since May 2016 when I arrived at the club bright eyed and bushy tailed:
2016/17 Norfolk Senior Cup winners
2017/18 Play-off finalists
2018/19 Champions and promoted to National League North
2019/20 Champions of National League North – promoted to National League
2020/21 Now full time and reached FA Cup second round v Portsmouth after beating Port Vale away
2021/22 Relegation and pain
2022/23 Reached FA second round v Stevenage after beating Doncaster away in a live TV fixture. Finished runners-up in the league averaging over two points a game
2023/24 A tough season where we avoided relegation and welcomed Turn Capital to the club, finishing 18th
2024/25 Finished sixth and lost in a tight play-off game 1-0 at Chorley
In that time we have been instrumental in selling players, such as Frazer Blake-Tracy, Cameron Norman, Ethan Coleman, Kairo Mitchell, Jama Loza, Junior Morias, Pierce Bird, Sonny Carey, Adam Crowther, Ben Stephens, Bart Cybulski, Theo Widdrington, Josh Barrett. All moved on with our love and helped to finance the dream.
Our academy was founded, Joe Taylor came through and the club benefited when he played league football and scored at Wembley in the Championship play-off final; a huge thanks to Alex, James and Matt and everyone who played and is playing a huge part in making it happen. It now thrives with hundreds of local children taking part in 50 weekly sessions and an education pathway with KES and the University of Loughborough.
The media team have worked wonder, and the content has been engaging ever since they sank their teeth into the project, and I have worked with too many people to mention who have given their time for free. The stadium has improved with new catering options, a scoreboard (which will work next season), a broadcast quality TV gantry etc, a much longer lease negotiated with the council which protects the club going forward at a peppercorn rent.
The club is in good hands going forward and I am looking forward to working with everyone on our creative commercial initiative.
Thankyou to you the supporters, who followed us around the country and without whom the journey would have had no purpose.
Forever in Blue and Gold
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