Vics ask FA to approve ground switch (From Northwich Guardian)
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Northwich Victoria plan appeal to the FA over ground share for next season
4:00pm Friday 15th June 2012 in Sport
Exclusive By Andrew Simpson, Senior Sports Writer
Vics ask FA to approve ground switch
JIM Rushe has not given up hope of Northwich hosting opponents in Manchester next season despite league bosses insisting Stafford will be the club’s base.
Vics owner will ask the Football Association to force the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League to bend its own rules and allow the team – allocated a place in the competition’s southern section – to play home matches at Flixton’s Valley Road ground.
The game’s governing body listens to his case at an appeal hearing later this month.
In the meantime, Vics’ place in Division One South for next season is to be made official at tomorrow’s annual meeting in Blackpool.
“For us, the situation is unchanged,” a league source told the Guardian.
“Stafford Rangers’ Marston Road continues to be the sole designated home ground for all Northwich fixtures during the coming campaign.”
The FA’s leagues committee recommended last month that Northwich play in the NPL’s southern division as a consequence of the club’s agreement with former Conference foes Stafford, a switch sanctioned only hours before a deadline in March.
Vics originally came to an accord with Skelmersdale to play at their West Lancashire College Stadium but, then still in with a chance of promotion, had to find an alternative when inspectors said the ground was not up to scratch for the Northern Premier League’s top tier, and in turn the Conference.
However, last month the FA confirmed that Flixton’s home patch was fit enough only for North West Counties League fixtures.
The Guardian understands that, plus a reluctance to ask the other 21 Division One South clubs to travel more than 50 miles further north for away matches to Greater Manchester, is the reason behind the league’s refusal to approve a change.
Stafford would not complain though.
“As far as we are concerned, Northwich have our blessing to go somewhere else,” said chairman Mike Hughes.
“We have an agreement, but I have told the league that we wouldn’t hold them to it or demand compensation.”
Flixton, despite being invited to, have not commented.
Their resignation from the North West Counties League is set to be accepted at that competition’s annual meeting, also scheduled for tomorrow, Saturday.
One team definitely calling Valley Road home next season is Northwich Villa.
“After much discussion I have managed a share move for us to play there,” said new secretary Ken Stevenson.
The North West Counties League has the same security of tenure regulations as the Northern Premier League, but has decided to make an exception for Villa.
“The intention was for Northwich Villa to continue playing at Winsford but that changed when the latter amended the terms of the original ground share,” said a spokesman.
“Villa therefore looked for a new venue, and the league's emergency committee approved this one.”
Winsford wanted to be paid next season’s rent before a ball is kicked.
But Villa, who switched to Barton Stadium in January after the Victoria Stadium’s new owners Thor Specialities (UK) Ltd said football could no longer be played there, refused.
Comments(6)
Vicsfan
says...
6:29pm Sun 17 Jun 12
Keeping NVFC within mid- cheshire would secure much bigger support, safeguard the club in the short-term and keep the clubs fans together for a possible takeover if the opportunity arose, failing that it would give a new NVFC fans club a far better chance if required (ie. the current club folds).
Bob Astles
says...
12:00pm Mon 18 Jun 12
/Leagues/NationalLea
gueSystem/GroundGrad
ing
jamo
says...
1:19pm Mon 18 Jun 12
Bob Astles wrote:Thanks for the Information and refreshing attitude of help if Vics ever need it, Bob.
To take the Barton Stadium up to the necessary "E" grading for Evo-Stik Division One would not be a mammoth task and I suspect that most of the work could be carried out by a few willing helpers. We are currently carrying out a lot of the work by bringing the changing rooms up to standard and servicing the floodlights. The main problem would be bring the ground up to the "D" grade which would have to be done within 12 months, the main task of which would be in-filling the fence around the pitch, most of the rest of the infrastructure is in place. All the ground grading criteria can be found here: http://www.thefa.com
/Leagues/NationalLea
gueSystem/GroundGrad
ing
Best of luck to the Blues for 2012/13, i'll pop up to the BS for a game or two.
GTI
says...
11:38am Wed 20 Jun 12
Jim Budden
says...
12:40pm Fri 29 Jun 12
I am sure it would be a better choice than going all the way to Stafford.
I think that the Evostik board are just trying to make Northwich Vics go out of business and makng life as difficult as possible for them. I for one would chase this up as it could be theanswer to both our prayer. Go on ya know it makes sense
jMBO
Bob Astles says...
5:07pm Sun 17 Jun 12
Towards the end of last season it became obvious that Northwich Villa were in danger of being unable to complete their fixtures and Winsford United contacted the league to say that rather than have them removed from the fixtures we would accommodate their home fixtures whenever possible. This was agreed and they played five home matches at the Barton Stadium. Jim Rushe asked me for a meeting to decide what was happening next season and a contract was signed on the closing day for ground share agreements for Northwich Villa to play at Winsford next season at an agreed cost. We stipulated that invoices would be presented at the end of each month and payment had to be made with seven days. Unfortunately this was not the case and partly due to illness of a Villa official we had to make several requests for payment. The final payment was made on June 6th and their are now no outstanding debts. As a result Winsford United asked that a total payment for next season would be paid by 50% in August and 50% in January but this they found to be unsatisfactory and they decided to play at Flixton.
Also, some time ago when the problems with Northwich Victoria came to a head I suggested to Mr Rushe that a groundshare with the Vics was not an impossibility and that the Barton Stadium is not far off the "E" grading necessary for the Evo-Stik First Division. However, things took a different course.
Although there has been a long rivalry between our teams on the field we only wish the best for the Vics and it would be a tragedy if a great non-league club was to disappear and we have said many times that if there is anything The Blues can do to help the situation we will do wherever possible.