NORTHWICH VICTORIA FC PEN PICTURES 2007/2008

Written by Brian Edge - updated 2nd April 2008
 

JONATHAN ALLAN (Forward) 

24 year-old Jonathan joined his hometown club, Carlisle, at the age of 12 and following his apprenticeship he proceeded to play 35 times for the first team, mostly in a mid field role scoring 3 goals before joining VICS in August 2002. He is now in his third spell with the club following a period with Halifax Town. Always a favourite with the Northwich crowd Jonny has been voted VICS’ Player of the Season for two of the last three seasons. He has now made 176 appearances for the club scoring 66 goals in the process. Unfortunately Jonny had two long-term injuries last season and he has yet to make his re-appearance this season.

21-year old Barker signed for VICS at the beginning of January having been with St Patricks Athletic where he played a handful of games. Previously the 6’ 2” striker had been made12 appearances for Rochdale after having been a prolific goal scorer with Blackburn’s academy.

24-year-old Cortez is a big strapping 6’ 4” defender who arrived at Vics in mid-January having been at Halifax since the start of the current season. Cortez made 17 starts for the Shay men and also had 2 appearances as a substitute and scored one goal in his brief stay with them. He had previously been with Merthyr Tydfil and then Chester for whom he made a total of 19 starts and scored 2 goals.

20-year-old Michael joined Vics in January on loan from Stockport County for whom he has made 9 league starts this season as well as coming on as a substitute on 4 occasions and playing in 5 other games for County’s first team.

RYAN BROWN (Defender) 

Having signed schoolboy forms for Port Vale Ryan made his debut in 2003 and went on to make 18 appearances before being somewhat surprisingly released by the Burslem based club. He joined Leek Town and a series of impressive performances there led to Steve Burr signing the 22-year-old left sided player prior to the start of last season. To date Ryan has made 67 appearances and scored three goals

DAVID BROWN (Forward)

29-year old Brown started his career at Manchester United and after a loan spell at Hull City, he moved there on a permanent basis making 131 appearances for the Tigers. David had a short spell at Torquay in the league before going into non-league football, initially with Chester and then Telford and then in 2003 he joined Hereford.

David joined Accrington in March 2005 and has made 92 appearances and scored 19 goals. He joined VICS on loan in March having previously been on loan at Rushden at the start of the year.

AARON BURNS (Forward) 

Aaron is another player signed by VICS in January 2008. The 20 year-old had been with FC United of Manchester in the Unibond league and netted 8 times in his 14 appearances this season. Aaron, as well as an eye for goal, has a terrific turn of pace and is sure to be a handful for many defenders. In his 17 appearances so far for Vics Aaron has scored 4 goals.

22-year-old Michael left school and joined Bolton Wanderers as an apprentice before signing professional for Stockport County in September 2003. He represented Wales at Under 17 and 19 levels before making his debut at Under 21 level in November 2002 against Azerbaijan and then in May 2007 he made his debut for the Welsh Non League side.  Michael signed for Vics in February 2005 and to date he has made 123 appearances and scored 19 goals, returning to the side in December following a long spell out of action due to injury.

 JOEL BYROM (Midfield)
21 year old Joel started his career at Blackburn Rovers after being spotted playing for local junior side Oswaldtwistle United. After starting at Ewood Park as a schoolboy, he was taken on as a trainee and graduated to the reserve side before being released in the summer of 2006. Accrington Stanley then signed him in August 2006 after showing a lot of promise while on trial. Scored an excellent goal on his Vics’ debut against league leaders Aldershot another in the win at Droylsden and then a last minute equaliser at Histon at the beginning of April. 

MICHAEL CARR (Midfield)

BEN CONNETT (Goalkeeper)

24-year-old Ben joined Vics in 2001 having previously been at Liverpool under the watchful eye of Joe Corrigan. At Northwich Ben figured in the Youth and reserve sides as well as representing the Mid Cheshire District FA prior to joining the first team squad and he has now made 89 first team appearances.

MATT CROWELL (Midfield)

23-year-old Matty enjoyed a successful youth career with his home-town club Swansea City before joining Southampton in August 2002. Despite progressing through their youth side, appearing in many reserve team games and representing his country at various age levels he saw his path to the first team blocked at the Saints and so in 2003 he moved to Wrexham and made nearly 100 appearances for them before signing for Vics in January.

CAYNE HANLEY (Forward) Cayne was signed in January 2008 from FC United of Manchester having had previous spells with Kidderminster and Burnley.  

LUKE HORROCKS (Forward)

This pocket dynamo player signed for Vics in October 2007 having previously been with Woodley Sports in the Unibond League. Luke possesses a good turn of pace and also has quite a bit of trickery in his armoury.

NATT KERR (Defender)

Natt is 20 years of age and currently on loan to Vics from Rotherham United. He is a six foot strapping centre half who has made 1 start and 2 appearances as substitute for the Yorkshire side. Like Lucas Akins, Natt made his debut for Vics against Rushden and settled in very well with a creditable performance.

22-year old Danny started his football career as a trainee at Stockport County and then after a two-year spell he joined Morecambe and in fact made his Conference debut for the shrimps at the Victoria Stadium at the start of last season in their 2-0 victory. He made a total of 12 appearances for Morecambe and signed for Vics in January 2008. 

JAMIE MULLAN (Forward)

Jamie joined Vics in mid-January after having been on short-term deal at Rochdale. Jamie had learnt the ropes at Manchester United before being released in the summer of 2007. 

MICHAEL RODDY (Midfield)

Michael was another January signing by Dino Mamria as he looked to strengthen his squad with younger players. The 19-year old had previous spells with Bolton and Lincoln.

JAKE SPEIGHT (Forward)

22-year-old Jake became Manager Neil Redfearn’s first signing for VICS in June 2007. Jake was previously known to Redfearn as they were at Sheffield United and Scarborough together in 2005. The striker didn’t make the first team at Sheffield and after his spell at the McCain Stadium he joined Bury where he made 7 starts and 22 substitute appearances scoring three goals. Unfortunately a spate of injuries has meant that Vics’ fans have not seen the best of Jake yet.

 LEE STEELE (Forward) 

This likeable 33-year-old Liverpudlian spent the 1996/7 season with VICS and he scored 20 goals whilst making 44 starts (and 12 appearances as a substitute) and it was his fine scoring ability that tempted Shrewsbury into paying a fee of £30,000 to secure his services the following season. Lee made 128 appearances for the Shrews and scored 38 goals before moving on a free to Brighton, after which he had spells at Oxford, Leyton Orient and Chester before rejoining VICS at the start of the current season. To date Lee has scored 34 goals whilst making 81 appearances for Vics.

SCOTT TYNAN (Goalkeeper)

Scott was the second player brought in by Dino Maamria in October and he went straight into the side for the game against Exeter – becoming an instant hit with the supporters as he helped Vics record their first clean sheet of the season. Scott started his career with spells at Wigan and Nottingham Forest before going on a short loan spell to Telford and then joining Barnet on a free transfer. After notching up 34 games with Barnet he was transferred to Rushden & Diamonds for £10,000 in January 2006. Happily for Vics supporters Scott signed a permanent deal with Vics in January 2008.

MICHAEL WELCH (Defender)

 25-year-old Welch was born in Crewe but started his career at Barnsley before moving to Macclesfield Town where he made 118 First team appearances and scored 5 goals. In 2005 he moved to Accrington Stanley where in 2 years he made 62 appearances and scored 4 goals. He was released at the end of last 2007 season and signed for VICS in July 2007. To date Michael has made 34 appearances for his new club and netted four important goals. Now team captain.

DANNY WILLIAMS (Midfield)

Danny was brought to the club in October by Dino Maamria and whilst lacking match practice he quickly slotted in to the Vics midfield and made an instant good impression on the supporters with his al-round ability and willingness to work. He had previously been with Forest Green and Rushden and Diamonds.

JOSH WILSON (Defender/Midfield)

Josh signed for Neil Redfearn’s side just prior to the start of the current season having previously played abroad. He is a most reliable defender but is equally at home in the centre of midfield.

Dino is an experienced well-travelled footballer who has enjoyed spells in the Conference with a number of clubs including Southport, Stevenage, Doncaster and Rushden and Diamonds. He joined Vics in the close season and became caretaker manager following the departures of Neil Redfearn and Paul Warhurst. Dino has now played over 250 games in the Conference and scored 77 goals.