THE VICS COLUMN - By Pete Tonge

IT’S rapidly approaching Saturday, the first day of the North West Counties League season and proper competitive football being back!

It’s been a long wait since our last competitive match, a Cheshire Senior Cup win against Runcorn Town on November 4. Let’s hope that with the vaccines leading the fight against Covid, we get to play an uninterrupted full season this time.

So, there’s not been a lot of major changes in the Vics’ squad with the majority of last season’s players deciding to stay on and try to continue their impressive form from that season.

Two notable absentees however are Darrhyl Mason and Keiron Kenny who have work commitments which obviously take priority though I believe both say they would play in an emergency and are not going elsewhere. One player who has left is forward Saul Henderson who is now plying his trade at Wythenshawe Amateurs in NWC League One.

Newcomers to the squad are midfielder Tom Schofield, who has joined us from Congleton Town, while manager Steve Wilkes moved quickly to sign three players who played part of the last season on loan at Vics and impressed, full-back Leo Roberts, and wide players Josh Winder and Brad Lynch.

So hopes are high we can continue as we left off last season and challenge for silverware and promotion. Friendly results haven’t been the best though pre-season is all about minutes in the legs, match fitness and checking player combinations and results only matter if you win! We have had two wins and a draw but then suffered two consecutive heavy losses though these were against Chester and Witton who are respectively four and two leagues above us.

The big test will come on Saturday when we travel to Prestwich Heys for that first league match. Prestwich are newcomers to the league this season after being promoted in the re-organisation of the Leagues structure.

Promoted sides are never easy to play against early on, as obviously they’re on a high and eager to make an impression so it should be a cracking game.

Vics are sure of a good backing though as the AwayDays Travel Club have organised a coach with seats being only a tenner. It leaves the Brio Centre at midday. Contact Graham Egerton on 07845 180927 or email grahamjegerton@outlook.com to book a seat.

Our first home game is on Wednesday when we take on Avro FC at Wincham Park.