THE VICS COLUMN – by Peter Tonge

WELL, we finally reached the end of what can only be described as a strange year.

It started normally enough with Vics recovering slowly from a poor start to the 2019-20 season, where they developed the bad habit of conceding late goals and turning victories into defeats.

However, by January they had improved and new faces had settled in and although we were never going to threaten the top three, we were heading for a comfortable top-half finish.

Then in mid-March, Covid-19 struck and the league was initially suspended and then cancelled with Vics finishing on a four-match unbeaten run.

So as disappointing as this decision was, there was really no alternative as there was still a good two months and lots of games to play and strange things happen in football.

So onto the new season, which eventually started with the FA Cup and the FA Vase taking centre stage in September before the league started in October.

Typically, the weather intervened and Vics’ first match against Charnock Richard was postponed late on due to a waterlogged pitch.

We eventually kicked the season off against title favourites Warrington Rylands and it seemed as nothing had changed as we fell to a last minute goal to lose 3-2 after more than matching our opponents.

Now it’s the end of the year and we aren’t even a fifth way through the league due to Covid-19 and the weather.

It is looking increasingly likely that the season won’t be finished again, but who knows!

Now through all this uncertainty and interruptions, we have been fortunate to have such a hard-working committee at the helm led by two of the most experienced football people anywhere.

Chairman Brian Turner and secretary Dave Thomas have been connected with the club for more years than anyone can remember!

They are backed by vice-chairman Ian Egerton and these three have taken the brunt of everything that has been thrown at them during these troubled times working all hours all for the love of their club.

I would like to express our gratitude, on behalf of all the loyal fans for all the hard work they along with the rest of the committee do daily to keep this great club running, especially over the last few months.

It is unbelievable how much extra work has been involved lately, keeping up to date with all the new rules and conditions and making sure that every new directive from the league is complied with.

We are lucky to have them at the helm.

Here’s to a new year and let me be the first to wish you all – whichever team you support – all the best for a prosperous and above all healthy 2021.