THE WITTON COLUMN - By Paul Harper

ALBION chairman John Salmon released a statement with various bits of positive news around the club.

The new two-year contracts agreed by the management team of Carl Macauley and Gary Martindale is excellent news.

They are the longest-serving managers in the division having been with us since October 2015 and we’ve enjoyed a fair bit of success with them in the dugout at Wincham Park.

Promotion back into the Premier Division of the Northern Premier League in 2017 is one of the highlights the pair have brought us, and they continue to work wonders with limited resources, constantly giving us a competitive side, which operates at a very high standard at this level.

The news that they will be at the club for a further two seasons is very positive and we’re very lucky to have people of their ability, commitment and loyalty at the club.

In other news, the chairman also confirmed an extension of the agreement until the end of 2025-26 to continue the groundshare of Wincham Park with our town rivals Northwich Victoria, subject to league approval.

The two clubs will remain fierce rivals on the pitch. That rivalry will never wane, nor should it. It should drive both clubs forward to achieve more and progress as far as possible.

But, the groundshare agreement works well for both parties. Vics have a stable home within the town, and a fantastic stadium at that, while Witton receive the financial benefit of rent payments.

Both clubs benefit from the expertise and experience of staff and volunteers to assist with pitch and stadium maintenance, so it works well all round.

Vics have been excellent tenants so far, and even during this period of lockdown with Covid-19 and no football played, they have continued with their agreed payments on time, which is greatly appreciated.

Of course, during this current period, income has been restricted to us somewhat, so it has been very heartening to see so many people get involved with our online crowdfunder to help fund the club in the meantime, until we can get back to playing football to crowds and hold events in the social club.

The support has been overwhelming and we’re already, at time of writing, more than halfway to our initial target through online donations. Please see our club website for more details of how you can donate.

Finally, and going back to our agreement with Vics, the next of the annual pre-season friendlies between the two clubs, for the Vijay Anthwal Trophy, will see gate receipts donated to the NHS.

The clubs agreed last year to playing in the name of Witton’s late former club doctor and someone who was well respected within the local community.

With all the fantastic work the NHS are currently doing during this troubled time, it feels only right to show our support to that excellent work, and it’s certainly something which Doctor Anthwal would have approved of.

Stay safe everyone.