In the summer of 2023, a group of Banbury United fans relaunched the Spencer Villa Fund to enable supporters of Banbury United to “boost the budget” and contribute towards the signing of new players throughout this and future seasons.

The initiative is run wholly independently from Banbury United, yet it is supported and appreciated by the Club.

The Fund is used solely to boost the men’s first team manager’s player budget. Nothing else. Funds are held in a separate account, administered by the fund’s six trustees. Money is allocated to the football club solely at the discretion of the trustees. Whenever the manager might be keen to sign a player, but who might cost more than the within budget stipulation, the Fund can help to make it happen.

Individual fans, families, local communities, or organisations can contribute either as a one-off payment, or monthly via a standing order. Every contribution, however small, helps. And you can cancel at any time. Contributors are kept informed by email.

Signing up

Scan the QR code below for a link to an online form to set up a standing order…

...or click on this link.

… or pick up a paper form from the Spencer Clubhouse Bar, Puritans Bar, Sponsors Lounge, or Boardroom. Complete it and hand it in at the Spencer Clubhouse Bar, or to Mark Allitt at the Revival Mk.2 shop in Parsons Street, Banbury.

Standing orders can also be set up from supporters' online banking, using these details:
Bank: Lloyds Bank
The Spencer Villa Fund Team Builder
Sort Code: 30-99-50
Account Number: 78398760

Contact

Fund Trustees (Mark Allitt; Craig Whittingham; Geoff Gray; Brian Baker; Scott Matthews; Ryan Jones) will be happy to chat to supporters on match days.

Explains Fund Trustee Mark Allitt: “We formed the Spencer Villa Fund when Banbury United became a fan-owned club in 2015. The fund invited Banbury United supporters to help then manager Mike Ford recruit new players by boosting the budget that he had available. It enabled the club to sign Felipe Barcellos: his arrival ignited the team to play-off success and a return the Southern League Premier.”

“As a supporter-owned, members’ Club, we don’t have a wealthy benefactor, unlike some of our opposition in the Vanarama National League North,” added fellow Trustee Craig Whittingham. “The Club’s recruitment this season has been brilliant… but, during the season, we might lose a player through long-term injury, or after an approach by another club. We do have wonderful sponsors, but we thought it was a good time to relaunch the Spencer Villa Fund, so that supporters can have the option of helping to make a difference. If that gets Banbury as high up the league as possible, that’s a good thing for everybody.”

The fund’s name

The Football Club was founded in 1931 as Spencer Villa. It changed its name to Banbury Spencer in 1935, and to Banbury United in 1965.

Here is a video interview with the Spencer Villa Fund trustees:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odqyEqvG3YE&list=PLTNmBJnpTMpIANvGN4DEHG7gz8QjKdbl8