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REVIEW OF THE SEASON
Pete Tonge19 May 2025 - 10:30
2024/25 full of ups and downs
NVFC Review of the Season 2024/25
After the successful run of 6 wins in 7 league matches at the end of the 2023/24 season, it was with a good deal of optimism that Vics’ fans looked forward to the oncoming new season. After a mixed pre-season, the season started properly in early August with the first match being the FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round where we were drawn at home to Squires Gate. An exciting 3 - 2 win was the result, and this was quickly followed with a dramatic late win in our first League match away at Uttoxeter Town. However, this was about as good as it was going to get in August and losses in the FA Cup and the FA Vase coupled with dismal home defeats in the League against Whitchurch Alport and 1874 Northwich dampened the spirits. However 3 points were gained on the last day of August when 2 goals in injury time snatched a 3 - 2 win away at Highgate United.
September saw another mixed bag of results as we recorded 1 win, 1 loss and 3 draws in our 5 matches that month with striker Mamadou Djabi in sparkling form before he was tempted by the bright lights of Witton Albion!
The mixed form continued throughout October , though we were unbeaten in the league, drawing two and winning against struggling Wolverhampton Casuals with the only other game that month being a poor 2 - 0 defeat in the League Cup away at Uttoxeter Town. No cup runs this season!
November was a traumatic month for the club with Vics losing 3 - 1 against Romulus , a match after which, the management team of Matt Barnes and Chris Broad resigned. A caretaker management of senior players Matty Clarke and Joe Camozzi oversaw an 1 all draw against Stourport Swifts in the next match before the appointment of Lee Duckworth and Luke Goddard as our new Gaffers.
However the usual new manager bounce didn’t occur as we promptly lost 5 - 0 against Cheadle Town in the Cheshire Senior Cup and then 4 - 0 v OJM Black Country in the League.
It didn’t get any better during December and January with only 2 points gained out of a possible 15 though it was hard to gain any momentum as the weather and other factors meant it was a stop start 2 months with only the 5 matches during that 2 month period. Also an ever-changing squad with old players leaving and new ones being brought in meant there was no stability in the team.
Then in February came the turning point as we won all three matches during that month scoring 3 goals in each of them. The most notable was a last minute win away at Dudley Town in a match which had been re-arranged after an injury had forced the abandonment of the first match when Dudley Town were winning 3 - 0 ! They weren’t happy but it sure felt good.
The last 2 months of the season saw Vics face 8 matches against teams in the top 6 of the league, and with the prospect of relegation still a possibility ( although a slight one), it was vital that Vics continued their good run. Although the first two games against Lichfield City and Shifnal Town ( both of which ended up as being promoted) were lost, the improved performances continued and wins against Highgate United and then Atherstone Town ( another 3 - 2 thriller) ensured safety was confirmed. The season ended with another win, 3 further draws and a narrow defeat against Shifnal Town ( again!)
We ended the season in 11th place ( out of 18 ) which was an improvement of 13th the previous season so there is something to build on next season which we are already looking forward to.
Our end of season award presentation night was held on Friday evening at The Oaklands Hotel ( Thank you to them) with midfielder Will Lloyd scooping both the Supporters’ and Players’ Player of the Season awards. So it’s wonderful to know that he has decided to take up the option of extending his contract at Vics by another year.
Looking at the constitution of the Midland league next season and the ambition and determination of the Management team, next season is hopefully one to remember.
After the successful run of 6 wins in 7 league matches at the end of the 2023/24 season, it was with a good deal of optimism that Vics’ fans looked forward to the oncoming new season. After a mixed pre-season, the season started properly in early August with the first match being the FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round where we were drawn at home to Squires Gate. An exciting 3 - 2 win was the result, and this was quickly followed with a dramatic late win in our first League match away at Uttoxeter Town. However, this was about as good as it was going to get in August and losses in the FA Cup and the FA Vase coupled with dismal home defeats in the League against Whitchurch Alport and 1874 Northwich dampened the spirits. However 3 points were gained on the last day of August when 2 goals in injury time snatched a 3 - 2 win away at Highgate United.
September saw another mixed bag of results as we recorded 1 win, 1 loss and 3 draws in our 5 matches that month with striker Mamadou Djabi in sparkling form before he was tempted by the bright lights of Witton Albion!
The mixed form continued throughout October , though we were unbeaten in the league, drawing two and winning against struggling Wolverhampton Casuals with the only other game that month being a poor 2 - 0 defeat in the League Cup away at Uttoxeter Town. No cup runs this season!
November was a traumatic month for the club with Vics losing 3 - 1 against Romulus , a match after which, the management team of Matt Barnes and Chris Broad resigned. A caretaker management of senior players Matty Clarke and Joe Camozzi oversaw an 1 all draw against Stourport Swifts in the next match before the appointment of Lee Duckworth and Luke Goddard as our new Gaffers.
However the usual new manager bounce didn’t occur as we promptly lost 5 - 0 against Cheadle Town in the Cheshire Senior Cup and then 4 - 0 v OJM Black Country in the League.
It didn’t get any better during December and January with only 2 points gained out of a possible 15 though it was hard to gain any momentum as the weather and other factors meant it was a stop start 2 months with only the 5 matches during that 2 month period. Also an ever-changing squad with old players leaving and new ones being brought in meant there was no stability in the team.
Then in February came the turning point as we won all three matches during that month scoring 3 goals in each of them. The most notable was a last minute win away at Dudley Town in a match which had been re-arranged after an injury had forced the abandonment of the first match when Dudley Town were winning 3 - 0 ! They weren’t happy but it sure felt good.
The last 2 months of the season saw Vics face 8 matches against teams in the top 6 of the league, and with the prospect of relegation still a possibility ( although a slight one), it was vital that Vics continued their good run. Although the first two games against Lichfield City and Shifnal Town ( both of which ended up as being promoted) were lost, the improved performances continued and wins against Highgate United and then Atherstone Town ( another 3 - 2 thriller) ensured safety was confirmed. The season ended with another win, 3 further draws and a narrow defeat against Shifnal Town ( again!)
We ended the season in 11th place ( out of 18 ) which was an improvement of 13th the previous season so there is something to build on next season which we are already looking forward to.
Our end of season award presentation night was held on Friday evening at The Oaklands Hotel ( Thank you to them) with midfielder Will Lloyd scooping both the Supporters’ and Players’ Player of the Season awards. So it’s wonderful to know that he has decided to take up the option of extending his contract at Vics by another year.
Looking at the constitution of the Midland league next season and the ambition and determination of the Management team, next season is hopefully one to remember.
Further reading