1874 NORTHWICH supporter Vicki England, football secretary at the North West Counties League club, has written an open letter following their second birthday celebrations at the weekend.

It reads:

“I REMEMBER talking to two FC United fans outside Gigg Lane before Northwich Victoria, the club I used to follow, played a match there April 2012.

“They asked about what was going on and I explained that with no ground, the prospect of playing home games outside of mid Cheshire and ‘noises’ from the chairman that he may not be able to continue to support the club financially, the future was extremely uncertain.

“They told me we needed to start our own fan-run club.

“I remember thinking that however bad things are, surely you can’t turn your back on your team?

“However I knew it wasn’t my club any longer when I found out shortly afterwards that it planned to appeal in Europe a decision to refuse permission for it to play home games at Flixton.

 “I couldn’t stand any more the negativity and heartbreak.

“I stopped my support, but my affection for a club I grew up idolising would always be there. My tattoo would read: ‘Vics 1874–2012.’

“Fast forward to September 2012, and momentum was gathering for fans to start again.

“I must admit I wasn’t 100 per cent sure about the timing [of setting up a new club].

“But I soon realised that we could miss a trick if we weren’t ready to play by August, so I took the plunge and backed the idea.

“I’ll go public now; I was one of the 20 signatories to the motion calling for a vote. There, I’ve said it!

“Here was me, named after our beloved old club, turning my back on it.

“I then put my hat in the ring to help out.

“So on to 1874’s second birthday at the weekend...

“After an incredible amount of hard work by many people, I sit here as proud as punch at what we have achieved together.

“No one person is more important than anybody else.

“Our management team and the players are behind the concept; they love our club because it is theirs.

“The Green Army continues to amaze me, regularly turning up in wonderful numbers to some of the most hospitable places in the football world.

“Move over the big grounds I have visited. Give me Barnoldswick, Bacup, Colne or Eccleshall any day.

“Can a new club be created? Can you swap your allegiance from one to another? Absolutely YES!

“I couldn’t have decided to follow another existing club and make it my own.

“To those who thought it wasn’t right to start over; maybe you need to speak to the hundreds that did make the choice.

“Speak to those who have watched a game and are now hooked.

“Speak to the older supporters, who together had clocked up hundreds of years following Vics; they will tell you they love 1874.

“Visit the local companies that sponsor the club or advertise with us; they will tell you they have no issue attaching their good names to it.

“Speak to Britannia Carpets; they supported the old and they are happy to support the new, and boy are we proud to have their name on our shirts!

“Would I go back? Not in a million years.

“I’d love to meet those FC United supporters again that I spoke to that day in Bury.

“I’d tell them they were right.”

 

Vicki England

Football secretary

1874 Northwich FC