THE VICS COLUMN - By Pete Tonge

THERE’S lots of work going in the background at Northwich Victoria during the current lockdown.

Manager Steve Wilkes is working hard on building his squad for next season, whenever that will be, with around 80 percent of the players from last season, being asked and agreeing to stay on.

He’s looking at four or five new signings to come in.

Hopefully with the improved form and spirit shown at the premature end of last season, this should bode well for 2020-21.

For the remainder of this week’s column, I’m taking a look back at the only time in Vics’ history that we’ve faced Premiership opposition.

This came about in the 2005-06 FA Cup run when we faced Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on January 8, 2006, in the third round.

Vics, under the managership of Steve Burr, had reached the third round after wins against Frickley Athletic, North Ferriby Utd, Barrow, Morecambe and then Woking.

The day dawned, and more than 3,500 fans set off on the long journey, most of them in a convoy of coaches from the Victoria Stadium, an amazing sight as they made their way up the motorway to the North East.

I, as is my wont, drove up with my regular car crew, stopped off for a bite to eat before making our way to the out of town car park where a coach would ferry fans to the ground.

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We made our way into the magnificent Stadium of Light to join the mass of Vics fans in the stand behind one goal.

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Unfortunately, the appeal of Northwich Victoria hadn’t really pulled in the Sunderland supporters, and there were only about 15,000 of them there in a half filled stadium.

As always, the Vics’ fans were loud and proud, and despite going a goal down early on, they kept cheering their team on.

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Vics were more than in with a chance during the first half, creating a few chances but not taking them before a killer second goal arrived four minutes before half time.

The game was sealed for Sunderland midway through the second half as Antony Le Tallec scored a third but Vics were definitely not disgraced.

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Sunderland’s manager Mick McCarthy said after the match: “I thought Northwich were great, they were lively and caused us problems and their supporters were fantastic.”

It was a long way home but an experience not to have been missed, it’s not every day you get to see your local team play a Premiership team .

Lastly this week, myself, and all at the Club would like to wish one of our loyal supporters, Ian Brown all the best, and a full recovery and return to health after his recent spell in hospital.