LIFE did not start too promisingly for the Viking Sports Club in Oxford.

The football team lost its first game 9-1 to Wolvercote in the Oxfordshire Junior League and often had difficulty raising a full side.

In the days of National Service, secretary Ken Rodgers frequently had to write to commanding officers pleading with them to release his players so they could appear in what he termed “important league games and cup ties”.

Despite the early difficulties, the club survived, expanded and, this year, celebrates its 60th anniversary.

It was founded as an independent football club by a group of former Regal Youth Club players.

Thanks to Mr Rodgers, it was able to field a team in the Oxfordshire Junior League within 10 weeks of its formation.

As membership increased, the club extended its activities to include cricket, table tennis, basketball and mixed hockey.

Founder member Ron Finnerty recalls: “Everything was self-funded – sponsorship was unheard of in the 1950s.

“All members had to pay an annual subscription and match fees. Fundraising played an important part in the club’s growth.

“The club was indebted to the landlord of the Shelley Arms pub in Cricket Road, who provided a meeting place during its formative years.”

The club committee was always willing to take on new challenges.

The football team paid three visits to France and Belgium, and the club also organised a large and popular six-a-side football tournament, athletics meetings and an annual six-a-side cricket competition.

There were also numerous social outings to London for ice hockey and special events, such as the visit of the Harlem Globetrotters’ basketball team.

The highlight of the year was the annual dinner and dance in May.

Mr Finnerty, of Towersey Drive, Thame, tells me: “It is gratifying to see 60 years later, the club still going strong, owning its own premises (in Old High Street, Headington) and with a thriving membership.

“This is a tribute to the hard work and imagination of the founding members in 1951.”

Those in the picture are: back, from left, Derek Earl, ? (pub landlord), Mick Skinner, Norman Jackson, Keith Gibbons, Ron Deacon, Wilf Baiden, Tony Amor; middle, Basil Hughes, Ray Brown, Ray Mills, John Huish, Laurie Warrell, Harvey Harries; front, Ron Finnerty, ? (pub landlady), Tony Miles, Alan Jackman, Ken Rodgers and John McTernan.