27thaug04

VCD Athletic are returning back home to Crayford

IN 1996 David Baddiel and Frank Skinner sang “Football’s Coming Home” as England held the European Championships for the very first time, and dreamt it would end thirty-years of hurt for the national football team, writes Stephen McCartney.

Indeed, thirty-years without winning a major honour was a very long time for the country’s long-suffering football fans to endure, and they still are, but imagine your club playing seven years away from your own ground.

That was the case for Go Travel Kent League side VCD Athletic – originally based at Old Road in Crayford.

Although they have groundshared at Kent League rivals Thamesmead Town (5 years) and Lordswood, everyone connected with VCD Athletic can finally look forward to a much brighter future, in more ways than one.

After a long and painful seven years, Bexley Council have finally granted the club permission to install floodlighting at their ground and with it a chance to improve ground facilities and it’s future.

To his credit, manager Martin Ford has managed to put a side onto the pitch, albeit not their own pitch, to challenge for honours during that time, and he admitted he was delighted with the decision, after hinting previously he could have quit the club if the ground decision wasn’t favourable.

He said: “I am very pleased with the outcome, and the club has a chance of surviving.

“We have another eight teams at the club, and they all rely on the support from the first team, and now we can generate the revenue to keep the club going.”

Although the club’s youth and reserve sides already play at Old Road, they will still play at the club once the work gets underway in the New Year, playing their games on an upgraded second pitch.

But the club can’t wait to get back to playing Kent League matches in Crayford.

Ford added: “We finish the season at Lordswood.

“If all the grants are improved, that we have been promised, if they can go through at the right times, work can be done at Old Road over the new year.”

Ford revealed the pitch will be moved 90 degrees, completely dug up and re-laid.

A new two metre path will be laid around the pitch, which will be completely fenced in.

The club will install six floodlight pylons.  Four bulbs on each pylon  in each corner, and two bulbs in both towers in the middle.

It’s the kind of boost the club needs ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round tie against Godalming & Guildford – being played at Lordswood’s North Dane Way ground (3pm).

Ford added:  “The lads are very pleased with the chance of moving back home.

“We can push in the right direction as a club.”

VCD will also be wearing their new first team strip on Sunday, which is sponsored by Abbeystone Construction, owned by the club's new chairman.

After a summer operation to cure his knee operation, Gary Ward is expected to be in the squad on Sunday.

However, Danny Evans is expected to join Erith Town after his first team opportunities have been limited.

VCD Athletic vs Godalming & Guildford
FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round
SUNDAY 29 August 2004
Kick Off 3:00 at Lordswood FC, North Dane Way