Concerned the club is in danger of folding with exorbitant costs imposed on it following the new $8.6 million Maitland Sportsground opening, Chipperfield has started a fighting fund and hopes the Maitland community will get on board.

His son Terry, who was  killed in a car accident in 1995 aged 25, was a proud Maitland player progressing through both junior and senior ranks.

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“The move to the new Sportsground has come at a cost to the club including a possible annual ground fee of $18,000 [up from $5000] and a loss of more than $40,000 in revenue if Maitland City Council leases the canteen to outside operators instead of letting club volunteers run it,” Chipperfield said.

“I have supported the club for more than 50 years through good and bad and I’m not prepared to lose it.”

This week Mr Chipperfield opened an account at The Greater with $200.

“For the next 30 weeks I will deposit $10 a week which will take the account to $500,” he said.

“What I propose is that 99 people, supporters, old boys, whoever follow my lead and join me. Ten dollars equals two beers, two coffees a week.

“Just open an account and at the end of 50 weeks we present the club with 100 cheques for hopefully $5000 or whatever the total comes to. I hold no one to the amounts mentioned.

“You hold control of your account, whatever you can afford. If I get 50 people on board with this I’d be rapt. If I get 100, well, that would be just fantastic.

“I can see we’ll end up playing out at Kurri because we won’t be able to afford playing at home. 

“The Pickers are run by a hard-working, good bunch of people who don’t deserve to be put in this position.

“I don’t want to see this club fold. It’s iconic and it is the heart of Maitland.”

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Club president Frank Lawler applauded Mr Chipperfield’s plan. 

He said none of the above fees are set in stone and he is to meet with council next week to discuss a plan. 

“I was supposed to meet with them last week but had to pull out due to illness,” Lawler said. “Hopefully we will know more about what we’re up for next week. We’re still trying to work through it with council.”

The Pickers will soon play two trial games with their first official game of the season set down for April.

“Ray’s idea is great and I hope there is some strong support for it,” Lawler said. “That fund would be a great backstop for us if prices jump and we lose the running of the canteen. 

“Like all sporting clubs we need the canteen and the chook raffles to survive.”