Goole is all I hoped it would be, says club backer

A US businessman who has made a major investment in Goole AFC says the town is "exactly what he thought and hoped it would be".

Michael Becker, a digital health entrepreneur from Wisconsin, has bought a stake in the club, who currently play in Division One of the Northern Counties East League – the 10th tier of English football.

He has made the 3,800-mile (6,100km) trip to watch the team play for the first time, after following them from afar for the past 18 months.

"This town reminds me of home. It's got a football club with a rich history that's just waiting to get woken up again. So, yes, I'm excited to be a part of it," Becker said.

The vice-chairman previously told the BBC he had first learned about the Vikings through a contact he met while investing in Northern Irish side Carrick Rangers.

The businessman declined to disclose the value of his investment but said it represented a "substantial" percentage stake in the club.

"If it ends up making a lot of money in years down the road... if it's worth a lot of money, all it means is we've wildly succeeded on the pitch and for the community," Becker said.

"So I hope it makes money, but not for the money. [It will] mean we've done something here."

Keelan Hall, the club's joint manager, said: "There's excitement in the town. The crowds are growing.

"We averaged about 180 in attendance last year. We're already up at 350 on average, and we expect [Friday night's game against South Leeds] to be at about 500."

During a tour of the town before that game, Becker was introduced to businesses and local people who were keen to talk about the positive impact increased footfall in the town would have.

"That's the hope," he said. "If we get more people coming to football, and coming to Goole, then we have more foot traffic and we can get more families in.

"It won't happen tomorrow – but maybe next week," he joked.

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