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DISTANT VICS NEWSLETTER
NUMBER 194
23rd OCTOBER 2003
TEAM NEWS
Vics will be without Jonny Allan and Chris Royle for the visit of Halifax in the
FA Cup on Sunday, 3.0pm kick off. Both miss the game as a result of "cards"
received at Exeter, Allan a "yellow" that takes him over the 12pt limit and
Royle for a sending off. Andy Woods will probably return to action in goal as
new signing Andy Ralph is cup tied. Vics hope that Mark Foran will have
recovered from his hamstring problem which has slowed him down for several
matches. It will probably be "make of break" time for some of the squad in
another way. Alvin McDonald has made no secret of his disappointment with the
attitude of certain players. This could be their last chance! Should the game
be drawn the replay will be at Halifax next Wednesday.
CLUB NEWS
Fans are reminded that due to new regulations from the FA (requiring that clubs
provide a breakdown of which fans entered at what price) everyone must enter by
the correct turnstiles. This means that concessions must go in separately
through their own turnstile.
In addition the club are requesting that fans arrive in good time. There is also
expected to be a police presence in case of crowd trouble.
The reason the game is on Sunday is that Bridlington did not want to change the
original fixture against Witton.
Andy Ralph has signed a contract for the remainder of the season with an option
for another year. This almost certainly means that summer signing Andy Woods
will be one of the players that Alvin hopes will move on. The only interest from
other clubs, circulated with the news that we have players who can go, was from
Hyde who are after a goalkeeper.
The league game at home to Burton Albion scheduled for Tuesday 11th November has
been postponed and, instead, Vics will now be at home to Stalybridge Celtic in
the second round of the Cheshire Senior Cup.
The Youth team beat Witton Albion Youth 3-0 last weekend.
Last reminder that Vics are running a soccer school at Davenham Cricket Club on
Wed/Thu/Fri 29/30/31st October 10.0 - 2.00pm. Contact the club to register. £8
per day or £20 for all 3.
VICTORIA STADIUM
Not much to report this week. The grass is growing well and is definitely giving
a green colour to the new pitch!
The internal blockwork under the Danebank is about ¾ completed.
3 of the floodlight bases have now been cast and the towers will be going up in
2 weeks. There will be 4 towers, one in each corner, with nothing on the
Danebank terrace as there was at the Drill Field.
The work on the main drain is now almost completed and then the foundations for
the new stand can be commenced. The concrete and steelwork will be arriving very
shortly.
There is an excellent feature in this week's Northwich Guardian about the new
ground. It is revealed that the cost of moving the Danebank terrace is £250k.
When built, new, 6 years ago it cost £470k. Quite a saving at the new ground.
SEEN ON THE INTERNET
BBC Non-League Site - 23/10/03
Northwich Victoria manager Alvin McDonald and captain Phil Brazier have more
reason than most to believe in the magic of the FA Cup.
The duo will launch another campaign against Conference rivals Halifax Town on
Sunday after creating one of the biggest upsets the first-round has ever seen.
Last season McDonald led Vauxhall Motors of the UniBond League to victory over
Second Division Queens Park Rangers in a replay at Loftus Road.
Motors triumphed in a penalty shoot-out after Brazier had scored the equaliser
which took the tie into extra-time and then beyond.
Brazier, a former Liverpool youth-team player, and McDonald have since been
re-united at Northwich, and McDonald admits that this weekend's fourth
qualifying round tie has brought the memories flooding back.
He said: "I don't think that will ever happen again. The way we performed at
Loftus Road and the journey we had back afterwards will never leave me.
"I will enjoy waking up on Sunday morning. Waking up on FA Cup day is different
from any other morning and is what makes the Cup so special.
"I am sure it will also bring back good memories for Phil."
There are other players in the Vics squad, such as Mark Devlin and Val Owen, who
know what it's like to beat League opposition thanks to a win over Bury three
seasons ago.
And McDonald hopes their positive thoughts will also help him enjoy his first
win, bar a County Cup success, as Northwich boss.
"I don't think there is any pressure in the FA Cup," he added.
"It's something to enjoy and if it's your day anything can happen, and I think
that's why you get shocks.
"The pressure is more from the league games, especially when you're in our
position and you need to win points.
"We can play with a bit more freedom and for any club in our position you want
to get to the first-round and play a League club.
"A win would also bring the self-belief back, because I don't think we're too
far away."
Meanwhile, McDonald has returned to Vauxhall Motors to make goalkeeper Andy
Ralph his first signing since taking over at Wincham Park.
"I think he's the best goalkeeper below the Conference and now he's got a chance
at this level.
"I'm happy to give him that chance and I think he's got a good future," said
McDonald.
Ralph, 20, kept a clean sheet on his debut against Gravesend last Saturday but
is cup-tied so is unable to play against Halifax.
ROUND AND ABOUT
Thackley, who knocked Vics out of the FA Youth Cup went on to beat Darlington
3-2 and now play Huddersfield or Grimsby away.
Jimmy Quinn scored again for Shrewsbury last week. As did Greg Blundell for
Doncaster and Gary Fletcher for Lincoln.
Mark Patterson has resigned as manager of Leigh.
Andy Taylor, at Vics last season has joined Exeter to help them over an injury
crisis.
YANKEE
Winning Code 9783 - no winner.
Messrs Lydon, Egerton, Fahy, Parry, Lawrence, Maguire, Wyatt, Clarke, Barnett,
Rowley and Dunne each win £20 for trebles.
Next week's jackpot £700
