Widnes Vikings Look To Step Up
Fri 11th January 2013 | General | By Ian Templeman
The application from Widnes Vikings FC to join the NWCFL is the latest step in the club’s long term plan to become a centre of footballing excellence in the town.
As the club is not currently participating in a Step 7 league Premier Division, their application has to be approved by the FA before the club can be presented at the NWCFL’s AGM for election to our League, and it will be a few weeks yet before a final decision is announced.
Originally formed as Dragons AFC in February 2003, the club was formed with the aim of making football fun for children, teach new skills and self-confidence. Since then, the club has progressed to the stage where over 200 junior players from the age of 6 to 18 now play for the club’s various teams.
The club achieved the FA Charter Standard award in December 2003, the first club to achieve this award in Halton Borough, and in 2008, the club which by this time was known as Widnes Dragons was awarded the FA Charter Standard Development award for the continuous development of grassroots football.
However, as young players progressed through the ranks, the need to provide them with opportunities at a more senior level of football was identified, and as part of this process, in March 2012 Widnes Dragons started a consultation process with Widnes Vikings RLFC to become part of the Vikings Sports brand.
On the 10th July 2012 at the club’s AGM the club’s members agreed to become part of the Widnes Sports Group and agreed on a 12 month transitional period up to the end of the current season (2012-13). To begin the relationship, a club playing under the name of Widnes Town, and playing their home games at the Widnes Vikings RLFC’s Stobart Stadium, entered the Carlsberg West Cheshire League Division Three for this season.
They currently sit in fifth place in the league table.
With the club now established with a senior team at the top of an infrastructure encompassing players aged 6 and upwards, founding member and current club Secretary Bill Morley believes that getting a team established in the NWCFL is the next logical step in the club’s progression.
“The club was formed as a junior club”, he said. “However as the club gets older we are looking to bring through our players to play at a higher level. We see it as a natural progression as the players are getting older as well.
“We have been looking to apply to the NWCFL for two seasons now. We are a very ambitious club and feel the NWCFL would suit our profile as we believe we can be an asset to the league”.
“We have a solid affiliation with Widnes Vikings RLFC, which will help our club grow and prosper. The transitional period is to help us transform from Widnes Dragons to Widnes Vikings FC to ensure we have everything in place.
“It is tough leaving behind the ‘Dragons' name as that has been our identity for the past 10 years, but I've no doubt whatsoever that the history will remain with the Vikings FC club”.
One of the interesting points about the club’s application is that they play on the all-weather i-pitch (intelligent pitch) at the Stobart Stadium, which is managed by Halton Borough Council in partnership with Widnes Vikings.
When not in use on matchdays, the i-pitch is available for the community to hire for a whole host of activities such as corporate events and birthday parties, can be used for five-a-side & seven-a-side football and touch rugby, and plays host to a number of local competitions.
However, since the surface has been used for Rugby League, there have been suggestions that injuries had been caused by the iPitch, after players suffered badly grazed knees and elbows during the opening game, and since then Widnes Vikings rugby players have suffered serious injuries when playing on the surface.
But Bill is convinced that the artificial surface is conducive to football.
“We have had great feedback from the visiting teams who have expressed their surprise in how well the i-pitch is suited to football”, he said. “We need to dispel the myth of grass burns and safety issues, as technology has vastly improved in recent years and this simply doesn’t happen. It also reduces the risks of postponements through waterlogged or frozen pitches”.
Another recent development has been the establishment of links with Everton, following on from the club achieving the FA Charter Standard Community Club award.
“We have secured a successful partnership with Everton Football Club, becoming official school boy recruitment partners”, said Bill. “The way it is planned to work is that we have a number of coaches within our club who would recommend players to Everton’s youth academy, and coaches are invited down to Everton’s Finch Farm to observe different coaching techniques”.
Having established a solid infrastructure, Bill says that the main aim of the club now is to firmly establish a route for youngsters in the town of Widnes to progress through the footballing age ranges.
“As a community club, we are planning to encourage our teams to get involved with the first team by becoming ball boys and mascots at the Stobart Stadium.
“We are also planning a coaches development program for our own coaches, and coaches from other clubs within the town, and we are also looking to bring girls football to the club.
“We are pleased that the vision and values of Widnes Vikings RLFC closely reflects ours, and together we will be stronger. We're confident that Vikings FC can grow over this time and develop into a successful side”.
Widnes Vikings Look To Step Up
Fri 11th January 2013 | General
By Ian Templeman
The application from Widnes Vikings FC to join the NWCFL is the latest step in the club’s long term plan to become a centre of footballing excellence in the town.
As the club is not currently participating in a Step 7 league Premier Division, their application has to be approved by the FA before the club can be presented at the NWCFL’s AGM for election to our League, and it will be a few weeks yet before a final decision is announced.
Originally formed as Dragons AFC in February 2003, the club was formed with the aim of making football fun for children, teach new skills and self-confidence. Since then, the club has progressed to the stage where over 200 junior players from the age of 6 to 18 now play for the club’s various teams.
The club achieved the FA Charter Standard award in December 2003, the first club to achieve this award in Halton Borough, and in 2008, the club which by this time was known as Widnes Dragons was awarded the FA Charter Standard Development award for the continuous development of grassroots football.
However, as young players progressed through the ranks, the need to provide them with opportunities at a more senior level of football was identified, and as part of this process, in March 2012 Widnes Dragons started a consultation process with Widnes Vikings RLFC to become part of the Vikings Sports brand.
On the 10th July 2012 at the club’s AGM the club’s members agreed to become part of the Widnes Sports Group and agreed on a 12 month transitional period up to the end of the current season (2012-13). To begin the relationship, a club playing under the name of Widnes Town, and playing their home games at the Widnes Vikings RLFC’s Stobart Stadium, entered the Carlsberg West Cheshire League Division Three for this season.
They currently sit in fifth place in the league table.
With the club now established with a senior team at the top of an infrastructure encompassing players aged 6 and upwards, founding member and current club Secretary Bill Morley believes that getting a team established in the NWCFL is the next logical step in the club’s progression.
“The club was formed as a junior club”, he said. “However as the club gets older we are looking to bring through our players to play at a higher level. We see it as a natural progression as the players are getting older as well.
“We have been looking to apply to the NWCFL for two seasons now. We are a very ambitious club and feel the NWCFL would suit our profile as we believe we can be an asset to the league”.
“We have a solid affiliation with Widnes Vikings RLFC, which will help our club grow and prosper. The transitional period is to help us transform from Widnes Dragons to Widnes Vikings FC to ensure we have everything in place.
“It is tough leaving behind the ‘Dragons' name as that has been our identity for the past 10 years, but I've no doubt whatsoever that the history will remain with the Vikings FC club”.
One of the interesting points about the club’s application is that they play on the all-weather i-pitch (intelligent pitch) at the Stobart Stadium, which is managed by Halton Borough Council in partnership with Widnes Vikings.
When not in use on matchdays, the i-pitch is available for the community to hire for a whole host of activities such as corporate events and birthday parties, can be used for five-a-side & seven-a-side football and touch rugby, and plays host to a number of local competitions.
However, since the surface has been used for Rugby League, there have been suggestions that injuries had been caused by the iPitch, after players suffered badly grazed knees and elbows during the opening game, and since then Widnes Vikings rugby players have suffered serious injuries when playing on the surface.
But Bill is convinced that the artificial surface is conducive to football.
“We have had great feedback from the visiting teams who have expressed their surprise in how well the i-pitch is suited to football”, he said. “We need to dispel the myth of grass burns and safety issues, as technology has vastly improved in recent years and this simply doesn’t happen. It also reduces the risks of postponements through waterlogged or frozen pitches”.
Another recent development has been the establishment of links with Everton, following on from the club achieving the FA Charter Standard Community Club award.
“We have secured a successful partnership with Everton Football Club, becoming official school boy recruitment partners”, said Bill. “The way it is planned to work is that we have a number of coaches within our club who would recommend players to Everton’s youth academy, and coaches are invited down to Everton’s Finch Farm to observe different coaching techniques”.
Having established a solid infrastructure, Bill says that the main aim of the club now is to firmly establish a route for youngsters in the town of Widnes to progress through the footballing age ranges.
“As a community club, we are planning to encourage our teams to get involved with the first team by becoming ball boys and mascots at the Stobart Stadium.
“We are also planning a coaches development program for our own coaches, and coaches from other clubs within the town, and we are also looking to bring girls football to the club.
“We are pleased that the vision and values of Widnes Vikings RLFC closely reflects ours, and together we will be stronger. We're confident that Vikings FC can grow over this time and develop into a successful side”.
