Hashtag United search for permanent ground for football's return
02.03.2021
Hashtag’s social media mogul owner Spencer Owen hinted at his club’s ambitions with a potent Twitter statement. The club’s every move brings excitement to non-league and Youtube fans alike, as Owen’s side occupy the unique position of online megastars and non-league minnows.
Their founder, owner, and vlogger-in-chief Tweeted in search of “Essex-based football clubs,” revealing a hunt for “a permanent home for Hashtag United.” After joining the non-league pyramid through the Eastern Counties League in 2018/19, they won the competition as champions, earning promotion to the Essex Senior League. COVID restrictions sadly dampened their grassroots-backed ambitions for another promotion, as both 19/20 and 20/21 prematurely curtailed behind closed doors.
For Hashtag United, the current doors in question belong to Bowers and Pitsea FC, with whom they share the Len Salmon Stadium as a base of operations. Owen’s Tweets reveal a drive for a more permanent solution, with a view to “ensure our partner club’s long term future” with significant investments “into the facility.” Hashtag’s online origins give them a formal and financial advantage over other clubs at their level, who struggle with revenue streams and digitisation as the pandemic wreaks havoc on spectator sports. For Hashtag United, streams are second nature.
Owen left room for the possibility of buying a ground outright, but maintained a preference for “helping another club survive in this difficult time.” Alongside their hundreds of thousands of fans and supporters, Hashtag incorporates a diverse portfolio of womens’ teams, esports teams, merchandise and content creators. Meanwhile, conventional football clubs struggle to make ends meet from Hashtag’s non-league step 9, through the National League’s steps 5 and 6 all the way to the nation’s top flight. This opens the door for a variety of potential partner clubs throughout Essex.
Supporters have already mentioned several candidates, including the National League South’s Chelmsford City and Braintree Town, and League 2’s Southend United and Colchester United. As Owen himself said, he’s “open to all options,” but one thing’s for sure: Hashtag United are going places.
Their founder, owner, and vlogger-in-chief Tweeted in search of “Essex-based football clubs,” revealing a hunt for “a permanent home for Hashtag United.” After joining the non-league pyramid through the Eastern Counties League in 2018/19, they won the competition as champions, earning promotion to the Essex Senior League. COVID restrictions sadly dampened their grassroots-backed ambitions for another promotion, as both 19/20 and 20/21 prematurely curtailed behind closed doors.
For Hashtag United, the current doors in question belong to Bowers and Pitsea FC, with whom they share the Len Salmon Stadium as a base of operations. Owen’s Tweets reveal a drive for a more permanent solution, with a view to “ensure our partner club’s long term future” with significant investments “into the facility.” Hashtag’s online origins give them a formal and financial advantage over other clubs at their level, who struggle with revenue streams and digitisation as the pandemic wreaks havoc on spectator sports. For Hashtag United, streams are second nature.
Owen left room for the possibility of buying a ground outright, but maintained a preference for “helping another club survive in this difficult time.” Alongside their hundreds of thousands of fans and supporters, Hashtag incorporates a diverse portfolio of womens’ teams, esports teams, merchandise and content creators. Meanwhile, conventional football clubs struggle to make ends meet from Hashtag’s non-league step 9, through the National League’s steps 5 and 6 all the way to the nation’s top flight. This opens the door for a variety of potential partner clubs throughout Essex.
Supporters have already mentioned several candidates, including the National League South’s Chelmsford City and Braintree Town, and League 2’s Southend United and Colchester United. As Owen himself said, he’s “open to all options,” but one thing’s for sure: Hashtag United are going places.
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