THE VICS COLUMN - By Darren and Victoria Barrow

IN August 2017 a small minibus full of Trickies set off to Padiham in Lancashire. Relieved and excited at having been accepted into the North West Counties League as the football club had just been taken over from its previous owners by the fans.

Back then, little did this group know how the football club would grow on and off the field.

Whilst the football on the field at this time wasn’t the greatest, the optimism and belief from the supporters still remained and when Steve Wilkes took charge of the first team the away days really started to take off.

Going from 16 to 23 seater buses for league games to a 50 seater executive coach to the FA Vase game at Newcastle Benfield (2018-2019), an away day that will live long in the memories of many Trickies.

That year’s FA Vase run saw the away days go from strength to strength, the small minibuses were no longer required as fans were rushing to book seats on not only 1 but 2 coaches to games such as Histon in Cambridgeshire and Chertsey in Surrey, where Vics would bow out of the competition at the semi-final stage.

In the summer of 2019 The Vics had scheduled a pre-season friendly at Llandudno.

The demand for seats at this game was overwhelming and the idea to create a membership scheme was made into a reality, where new members were issued with a fans welcome pack which guaranteed them a seat on any away days coach and Vics goodies.

We are now mid-way through November and the away day’s members club is growing rapidly and has provided Vics supporters with travel to every single away game.

Receiving pleasant and warm welcomes when arriving at rival grounds and getting a reputation of being a very vocal group, win, lose or draw.

Off the field, away days have been able to forge links with national charities such as the Kick It Out campaign which has enabled us to partner with them in sponsoring home fixtures.

OddBalls - a testicular cancer charity, have recently got involved providing supporters with their popular winter woolly hats for the cold away days on the road.

With money generated on the away days the club benefits in all aspects, from donating prizes at recent events held by the football club to sponsoring tables at Sportsman’s Dinners most recently attended by Norman Whiteside.

We travel this Saturday to Avro in Oldham and members and non-members can still book the final seats on our coach, which leaves Brio in Northwich at 12.30pm.

Or alternatively, sign up and join our away days and enjoy the ride. To book travel this weekend or regarding membership contact Darren Barrow 07596277443 or Graham Edgerton 07845180927 who are only too happy to help.