DISTANT VICS NEWSLETTER

PART OF NORTHWICH VICTORIA SUPPORTERS TRUST

NUMBER 527 11^th MARCH 2010

CLUB NEWS

Vics hopes of achieving a play off place were dealt a blow this week with the confirmation that Farsley Celtic have folded and their record will be expunged thus depriving Vics of the 6pts they had gained against them. To keep in touch they really need to take maximum points from the home games against Stafford on Saturday and Vauxhall on Tuesday.

Simon Grand has left Vics for Fleetwood on a free transfer but there may be a later modest payment depending on Fleetwood’s promotion push. Medadowcroft and Winter have been recalled from loan as the size of the Vics squad continues to shrink by the week! Full details on the loan situation courtesy of Andrew Simpson (below).

Brian Dutton (3 games) and Michael Connor (2 games) have suspensions coming up. They commence on the 16^th and 23^rd March respectively.

Reduced prices for the Stafford Game
Adults (standing): £10 Concessions £8 14-16s (standing): £5 Under 14s (standing): £1
Students (standing): £5 (on production of a valid student card)
This applies to the standing areas of the ground.

Mobile Phones

Remember to bring along your old mobile phones to the Stafford Rangers game on Saturday.
Collection boxes will be located around the ground for any old devices you may have.
For every 100 phones the club collects £700 in cash will be raised, with all proceeds going directly to the club.

THE GUARDIAN - Andrew Simpson

ARTICLE No 1

NORTHWICH Victoria’s supporters celebrated the life of former manager Keith Alexander before the kick off against Corby Town.

The hosts’ fans stood to applaud for a minute before a ball was kicked to mark their gratitude for what he achieved during his tenure in charge of the club.

He died last week, aged 53.

“We felt strongly that it was right to do something,” said owner Jim Rushe.

“I’ve spoken to a lot of people this week connected to Northwich Victoria and they all have had a story to tell about Keith’s time here.

“It’s obvious he had a big impact on everybody.”

Rushe has been invited to attend Saturday’s Keith Alexander Day at the home of his last club and Vics’ Cheshire neighbours, Macclesfield Town.

The Moss Rose outfit have announced a celebration of his contribution to the game by extending an invite to supporters of clubs connected to him to their League Two encounter with Bury.

Vice chairman Andy Scott said he hopes to see as many club’s colours represented as possible in the crowd.

“Keith was a real football man,” he said.

“And we can’t think of a better tribute than to see fans sporting their colours on the terraces.”

The afternoon will also involve a wreath-laying ceremony involving representatives from the clubs previously managed by Alexander.

Ex-Northwich chairman Rod Stitch, who appointed Alexander as successor to Mark Gardiner in October 2000, has been invited to attend too.

Saturday marks’ Macclesfield’s first home encounter since Alexander’s passed away on Wednesday.

ARTICLE No 2

NORTHWICH Victoria have recalled on-loan pair Danny Meadowcroft and Harry Winter from their temporary stays at rival clubs.

Andy Preece told the Guardian that the duo could both feature in Saturday’s Blue Square North encounter against Stafford Rangers.

Their return eases the pressure on a Vics squad short on numbers in recent weeks following the departures of four first team regulars.

“They give us more options,” he said.

“We’ve asked a lot of the players in the past few weeks and I think one or two have been looking a little tired.

“It’s no secret that we’ve had fewer players to pick from because people going out and also because of the transfer embargo, so I’m pleased we can call on those two for what remains of the season.”

Mat Bailey, Ryan Brown, Jonathan D’Laryea and Lee Elam have all moved on in the past month, plus teenager Jimmy Spencer returned to parent club Huddersfield Town after a month-long loan spell.

Meanwhile central defender Meadowcroft and midfielder Winter, both bit part players in the early part of the current campaign, were enjoying successful stints at Colwyn Bay and FC Halifax Town respectively in UniBond League Division One North.

Both impressed playing two levels lower than their parent club.

“I made it clear when they both left that both of them still figured prominently in my plans,” said Preece.

“I’ve heard great reports on their progress but that doesn’t surprise me because we believe they are quality players at Conference level, never mind the UniBond League.”

Winter, who switched to the Victoria Stadium from Trafford for a four-figures fee in the summer, scored five goals in eight starts for the Shaymen.

The promotion hopefuls are sad to see him go.

Disappointed Halifax boss Neil Aspin told the Evening Courier: “We are disappointed; he will take some replacing.”

Meanwhile Meadowcroft is now back to full fitness after breaking a bone in his leg in a league match at Droylsden in August.

He started seven league matches for the Seagulls.

Meanwhile Preece can not call on utility man Mark Cadwallader until later this month when his temporary deal with neighbours Witton Albion expires.

ARTICLE NO 3

NORTHWICH Victoria did not make the most of their chance to close in on the Blue Square North’s top five, according to Andy Preece.

The Vics boss told the Guardian that the hosts’ lack of care at both ends of the field had cost them following their 2-2 draw with Corby Town.

It leaves them two points of a play-offs place.

“I’m gutted we couldn’t see the game through,” he said.

“We’re just not taking enough of our chances when we are in front; they were teetering a little bit during the first few minutes of the second half and I felt a second goal then would have been enough.

“Instead I’m sat reflecting on a draw.”

Vics led twice, first after Wayne Riley had looped a header over Corby keeper Mark Osborn then in the final quarter hour when Michael Connor powered in another header to cancel out Leon Mettam’s equaliser.

But substitute Gavin Strachan, guilty of a glaring miss seconds earlier, scrambled home a leveller three minutes from time after Northwich failed to clear Paul Mayo’s long throw.

“We should have defended both of their goals much better, no doubt about it,” said Preece.

“The damage done to us was self-inflicted both times as we’ve failed to deal with the second ball after it drops inside our box.

“That’s really disappointing.”

He reserved some ire too for referee Ricky Wootton following two controversial decisions at the start of the second half.

First the referee ignored the hosts’ appeals for a penalty after Chris Hope appeared to trip Mark Danks – he gave a free kick instead – then he showed only a yellow card to stopper Liam Dolman after he appeared to block Connor’s path to goal.

“It looks like we’ve had another couple of big decisions go against us,” he said.

“I thought it was a penalty when Mark Danks was brought down in the box and then the referee fails to send off their defender after he stops Mike Connor running through.

“I feel like I’m constantly moaning about the officials at the moment, but they were both big moments in the game when we were leading.

“But despite those incidents we should have been a couple of goals in front by half time.

“Ironically that’s when Corby were more dangerous too as they got behind us a couple of times but overall I felt we deserved to win the game.”

Preece’s opposite number, Corby manager Graham Drury, disagreed.

He said: “I think a draw was the right result.

“We created good chances of our own and in the end it might have finished four or five-all, but we’re happy with a point.

“Northwich are in fine form at the moment and for me are one of the top three teams in Blue Square North with Fleetwood Town and Southport.

“They have done incredibly well just to be with a shout of making the play-offs after starting the season with a points deduction.”

CONFERENCE RAMBLINGS

On Monday, 8th March 2010, the Football Conference was notified that Farsley Celtic FC would be unable to fulfil their Blue Square North fixture on Tuesday, 9th March 2010, following advice received from the Administrator overseeing the financial affairs of the club.
This meant the club had failed to fulfil three fixtures, with each being a breach of Football Conference Rule 8.6.
The club had also consistently failed to pay its Football Creditors, being a breach of Football Conference Rule 11.
The Football Conference then received instruction from the club secretary to cancel all their players’ registrations, with those players having been advised by the club that they were free to seek other clubs. None of the players registered by the club were “contracted”. With a continuing player registration embargo on the club, this makes it impossible for the club to sign or loan replacement players.
Clearly the actions of the club have brought the competition into disrepute, a breach of Football Conference Rule 18. Furthermore, the Football Conference noted that the Transitional Agreement entered into by the Administrator with the consortium, which had enabled Farsley Celtic (1908) Limited to fulfil fixtures up to 1st March has now expired and had not been renewed. The club was, therefore, unable to fulfil any further fixtures.
The lack of any players, and the impossibility of fulfilling any further fixtures, means the Club’s membership of our Competition has been frustrated. In any event, the Football Conference was faced, with regard to the instruction from the club secretary concerning the release of players, as de facto resignation.
Due to these circumstances, the Football Conference was left with no other option than to formally accept the club`s resignation from the competition and their full playing record is expunged forthwith.

Droylsden are hoping to win on and off the field by letting fans in for nothing on Saturday.
Bloods’ boss Dave Pace revealed that everyone will be allowed into the Butcher`s Arms free of charge for Saturday’s match with fellow play-off contenders Eastwood Town.
With the area’s big guns not in action that day, Pace hopes fans of those teams will be sufficiently intrigued to make the trip.
He said: "It’s absolutely free for everyone; home supporters, away supporters and everyone else. Ideally we’d like to make the crowd the extra man.
"Manchester United and Manchester City both play on Sunday and our crowds have been down given the financial siutation.
"By making it free for everyone, we’re hoping fans of those teams and others will come along and have a look at the standard of football at this level.
"With us being fifth in the league and Eastwood in sixth, it’s a real `six-pointer` so the more people who come along the better."

Chester City have been wound up in the High Court over an unpaid tax bill.
The 125-year-old club, who were expelled from the Football Conference in February, owed HM Revenue & Customs £26,125.
Chester failed to fulfil their last two Blue Square Premier fixtures and were initially suspended, then thrown out of the league last month.
However, `City Fans United`, a supporters group, have vowed to start a new club in a lower league. Spokesman David Evans said: "125 years of history have been extinguished today but that's just the body of the club - its soul lives on.
"Today is the day to say to everybody that our club will be run in a professional way and be a credit to our city and to football.
"Our model is AFC Wimbledon or AFC Telford, where a new club has been run on a very prudent basis. We want to atone for the way the club has been run - we see this as our responsibility even though it wasn't our fault."

Merthyr Tydfil could be playing in the Toolstation Western or FTL Futbol Hellenic League in 2010/11.
That seems to be the certain outcome unless a new buyer for the club emerges, and that looks extremely unlikely. “We could well have to take two steps back and play at a lower level,” said club secretary Anthony Hughes. “But, if that happens, it may prove for the good of Merthyr Tydfil in the long term.”
The Martyrs went into administration at the start of this season and are being run by the Merthyr Tydfil Football Supporters Trust.
They are keen to keep the club running in the English pyramid season next season and Hughes said: “That may mean the football club being dissolved. If that happens our idea would be to carry on playing at Penydarren Park. The football authorities would place us in a league two steps back, probably either the Western League or the Hellenic League. Our plan then would be to work hard within our means to make progress again and take the club forward. We are hopeful that our manager Garry Shephard and his staff would stay.
“As we stand, the club is being run by the Supporters Trust and steps have been taken to ensure we break even. We will finish this season on schedule. Clearly, we are in staying in close contact with the administrator and decisions about Merthyr Tydfil’s future will be made over the next few months.”

EX-VICS

Ben Connett has joined Warrington Town

Terry Barwick has joined Droylsden

REMINDERS

2nd NVFC BEER FESTIVAL - 12/06/2010 at the club.
Tickets for the event are going to be on sale from the club shop on match days, cost for the event is £5.00 and it is a ticket only event with all proceeds made going to the club.
We are also looking for sponsors for barrels of beer at the event, cost for a barrel is £75.00 and for this you receive two tickets for the event, your details on the bar as sponsor, in the beer programme and we hope like last year that you will get a mention in the Northwich Guardian and on their web page.
Also we are looking at selling advertising on the programme, it will be for a 1/4 page advert and cost will be £25.
If anyone is interested then they can contact Andy on 07989836303 or by e-mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

THE WIDER WORLD OF FOOTBALL

One of the best articles I have read in a long time (stick with it there is a strong football element eventually!)

Francis Beckett

guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 9 March 2010

Last weekend, Keele University celebrated Neil Baldwin's 50th anniversary there. It was a splendid two-day affair, with speeches from distinguished alumni, a dinner, a testimonial football match, and a service of thanksgiving for his work conducted by the Bishop of Lichfield, a Keele graduate.

But Baldwin has never worked at Keele in any capacity, or been a student there, or had any formal connection with the place. He walked into the students' union in 1960, an engaging schoolboy with learning difficulties from the local town of Newcastle-under-Lyme, and became a fixture. "I liked the campus and the chapel and the people," he tells me on the phone.

When, four years later, Malcolm Clarke walked nervously into the students' union on his first day at university, this stout, jovial young man ambled towards him and said: "Welcome to Keele. I'm Neil Baldwin." Clarke says today: "I appreciated his warm welcome, but who exactly was he? As always with Neil, his exact status was unclear."

Most Anglican bishops have met Baldwin at least once. A keen churchgoer, he turns up at their homes for tea like an old friend, and, though a little puzzled, that's how they treat him. At a thanksgiving in the Keele chapel a few years ago for Baldwin's work there, the visiting vicar recounted how he had first met Baldwin 20 years before, while at theological college in London. "He seemed to know all the bishops," he said.

Clarke became the student union president in the turbulent year of 1968, when Keele students occupied the registry. Clarke opposed the action and resigned as president over it, but not before proposing Baldwin for honorary life membership of the student union. For that, at least, he got unanimous support. I too was there in the late 60s and remember Baldwin as a solid if enigmatic figure. I'm pretty sure we first met in the union bar, late at night. In 1974, Clarke became mayor of Newcastle-under-Lyme, and on the day of his inauguration, Baldwin sat beside him in the back of the mayoral Daimler, waving regally at puzzled bystanders.

As the 70s closed, Keele appointed a new vice-chancellor and Baldwin phoned Clarke, by then living in Manchester, to give him the news. "It's Professor David Harrison of Cambridge," he said, "and 'e's a very nice man." "A very nice man" is one of Baldwin's most frequently imitated phrases; he says it emphatically, and as though there's a D in the middle of "very".

"Do you know him then?" asked Clarke. "I've just had tea with him and his wife in Cambridge," replied Baldwin. Clarke now says, rather carefully: "I think Professor Harrison may have been under the impression Neil was the Anglican chaplain."

Baldwin's Keele student friends thought he was fantasising when he talked about his friendships with Kevin Keegan, Gordon Banks, Graham Taylor and other famous footballers, until one day a well-known member of the Stoke City squad dropped him off at the student union, having given him a lift home from an away game. When Clarke met the players, they told him they knew Baldwin well – but had doubted his stories of his friendship with the mayor of Newcastle.

Eventually, Baldwin became a regular fixture on the Stoke City team coach for away matches. He makes it sound terribly simple. "I met Lou Macari [Stoke manager in the 1990s and a former Scottish international] outside the ground and we got talking. He made me the team's kit man." It sounds as though it can't be true, but it's confirmed in Macari's autobiography, Football, My Life, which has seven pages about Baldwin. Macari treated him as a kind of mascot, getting him to dress up and sit on the touchline for the amusement and morale of his squad – once in a chicken suit, another time in full white tie and tails.

Macari, like Clarke, grew to love him. He and Baldwin were often seen together in Stoke, walking Macari's dog. And one day in 1993, during a friendly against Aston Villa at Villa Park, Baldwin's old friends among the Stoke supporters saw him, in full Stoke kit, warming up on the touchline. With five minutes to go in the match, Macari actually sent this rather overweight man of nearly 50 on to the pitch. The players on both sides and the referee must have been in on the plan, because Macari then had 12 players on the pitch – and the players passed the ball to Baldwin, who almost got a shot at goal.

In his autobiography Macari calls him "my best-ever signing". Baldwin's unselfconscious remarks were a constant source of amusement for the players, and did wonders for morale. They never paid him properly as kit man, but have now given him free entrance to Stoke games for life. Baldwin says Macari is "a very nice man".

The late John Golding MP used to tell a story about how he walked into the House of Commons restaurant one night and saw Tony Benn, then energy secretary, at a table with Baldwin. Golding was a Keele graduate and MP for Newcastle-under-Lyme, so he knew him well. Golding was also the Labour right wing's chief fixer, and he loathed Benn with a passion, so he left swiftly before either of them saw him. He never worked out how Baldwin had got the energy secretary to invite him to dinner.

It was quite simple. Baldwin had come to the House of Commons and put in a card for Benn saying, "Neil Baldwin from Keele – friend of Steve's." "Steve" was Tony Benn's son Stephen, and Baldwin was not making it up. Like many Keele graduates, Stephen Benn keeps in touch with Baldwin to this day.

Stories about Baldwin abound, and they are almost always true. He once sold a Keele rag magazine to then prime minister Harold Wilson and buttonholed the Duke of Edinburgh for a chat about world problems. He wrote on spec to an American oarsman who was in the Cambridge boat race crew one year, and got himself on board the official launch that followed the race and into the boat-race ball afterwards.

"Neil's complete lack of self- consciousness has made him many genuine friendships with the famous," says Clarke. "People say he's a fantasist, but he isn't – he turns his fantasies into reality."

As a young man he had an unskilled job in the pottery industry in Stoke, and in the 80s he travelled as Nello the Clown in Sir Robert Fossett's circus. His other travels were aided by his habit of putting on a clerical collar before hitching lifts. His mother, Mary, used to worry about how he would cope after her death and sensibly made him move into his own flat; she died a few years ago, and Baldwin is managing.

People are always willing to help him, because, says Clarke "there's not an ounce of malice in him". Every generation of Keele students for 50 years has looked after Baldwin, and he in turn has enriched their lives with his extraordinary adventures. Generations of Keele students, including Stephen Benn, have played in the Neil Baldwin Football Club, of which he is the manager and captain, and in which he wins Player of the Year every year. Clarke calls it "a motley collection of students of the day, managed, coached, captained and kit-managed by Neil".

Now his footballing days are probably over. He is 64 this month and will go into hospital this year to have two new hips. He may continue to train his team, though. "I've always been grateful to the people at Keele," Baldwin says in his calm, gravelly voice with its strong Potteries accent. "The students have always been wonderful, they are still good friends to me."

Baldwin's old friend Malcolm Clarke now chairs the Football Supporters Federation and is the supporters' representative on the Football Association council. The two meet regularly at Stoke City matches.

Clarke and Keele alumni officer John Easom want the university to give Baldwin an honorary degree, as do many Keele graduates, including me. "He has contributed a lot more to the university than most people who get honorary degrees," says Clarke. For the moment the university establishment is resisting. Clarke has even bigger ambitions: he wants Baldwin to have an honour. He plans to petition Gordon Brown. It might just work. There could be votes in it. And it can only be a matter of time before I hear Baldwin say that "he's a very nice man".