Interviews for new clubs first manager set to begin

1874 NORTHWICH could soon have a new manager with a deadline for applicants due to end today.

Interviews will be held during the start of next month with the aim of making an appointment by mid-April.

Any new manager would be tasked with assembling a squad which could compete in-line with a budget at step 5 to 7 level.

Trust board member, James Wood, said: “We are looking for someone who shares the ethos of what we are trying to achieve – which is to be an open, inclusive and democratically supporters-run club that puts the local community at the heart of what we do and wants to create a uniquely different model to the way that most football clubs are run.

“The team manager will play a hugely important role what we are trying to achieve so it is vital that candidates will have good man-management skills, commitment and the ability to make a difference at this level.

“We also want to be ambitious, although we need to ensure that our ambitions are balanced with the financial limitations the club will need to operate within.”

For anyone still interested in the manager’s job, applications should be sent in writing to 1874 Northwich FC, c/o 288 London Road, Northwich, Cheshire CW9 8DX or e-mailed to trust@1874northwich.com

Ground share agreement with Winsford United confirmed

1874 NORTHWICH have signed a deal with Winsford United chairman Mark Loveless, which will see the newly-formed club play their first ever league campaign in Mid-Cheshire.

The deal will ensure the clubs ground share for at least two seasons at the Barton Stadium after successful talks on Thursday.

Paul Stockton, chairman of 1874 Northwich, said: “We’re glad to be going there and Winsford are delighted to have us.

“Let’s wait and see how things develop, but I’m sure both clubs are looking forward to a partnership that will benefit everybody.”

As part of the arrangement, both sides will open their pre-season with a friendly against each other, although a date has yet to have been set.

Beer festival – more sponsors are needed

THE ORGANISER of a new football clubs beer festival has appealed for more sponsors to help make the event a success.

Andrew Perry, who has run four previous beer festivals of Northwich Victoria in conjunction with fellow fan Alex, is now busy organising the inaugural 1874 Northwich beer festival.

A number of names have already been taken for the barrels, and the Trust has agreed to once again sponsor the glasses.

However more sponsors are needed for the bar and an act, commenting on this, Perry said: “If you want to play a part in the first beer festival of 1874 Northwich, would like a chance to get your name up on the bar, or simply show some goodwill, you can become a sponsor.”

The barrels cost £90 to sponsor, whilst a donation of £150 to £200 is required for the bar.

Efforts are also being made to try and get four people to volunteer or pay £50 to get an act covered.

Perry added: “The main aim of the festival is to act as a fundraiser for the new club, and with any chance, will be one of the biggest fundraisers for them, so the more sponsors the better.”

A free shuttle bus is also due to make a number of trips from the Penny Black in Northwich to Lostock club, although festival-goers have the option of making a donation towards the Trust.

Tickets for the events, of which there are 210 available, cost £5, and can be purchased from either Brew to Bottle on London Road, through Nigel Leather at Level One computers, or from Andrew, Alex and Andrew Dignum on the Trust board at any social event or meeting.

Included in the price is a commemorative glass with the new 1874 crest, and a programme of the events, which could also potentially include the fixtures for the clubs first season.

Andrew Perry, the Beer festival organiser, shows off some of the tickets ahead of the inaugural 1874 Northwich Beer Festival.

Fans of new club opt for green, black and white home strip ahead of first season

SUPPORTERS of a new club have chosen the colours of their favourite teams strip after a vote on Thursday night.

In a well-attended meeting at Lostock Social Club, it was confirmed that 1874 Northwich will play in a green, black and white home kit.

For the away outfit, white with a hint of green proved to be the biggest hit amongst the fanbase, whilst the “Ever Glorious Motto” gained the greatest approval in the vote for the club’s new motto.

After the results of the were confirmed, 1874 fans gave their reaction, with Vicki England saying: “It was another very positive meeting.

“I am very pleased with the outcome of the vote, as two out of my three first choices were chosen.

“I would have liked to have seen claret and blue for the away strip.”

Another fan, Andrew Lowe said: “I am very happy with the home kit and the motto.

“As or the away kit, I’m not keen on kits that are predominantly white, and I would have preferred claret and blue or red and black.

“However, I cannot wait for the new season to now.”

The forum user, Deb T agreed, adding: “I’m pleased with the green, black and white for home strip, but I’m disappointed that red and black wasn’t chosen for the away strip.

“It would have been nice to have some historical connection to the old club, and I can’t see white washing very easily, but that’s democracy for you.”

Supporters were more sceptical of the motto positioning and wording on the club crest, with the user IanHud, saying: “Personally I can’t understand why a motto is written in a dead language, and most people will not have a clue what it means.”

Tony Rogers echoed these comments, when he said: “I agree, it has to read ‘Ever Glorious’, and get rid of the Latin and use proper English.”

Before the vote for the new strip, fans had been torn on whether to play in green and white and claim the heritage of Northwich Victoria, take the compromise position of green, black and white, or have a complete change in alternative colours.

But the vote which required fans to choose rank a shortlist of eight different home and away kits, with the lowest rank becoming the new replica shirt, revealed that 1874 Northwich fans will soon be able to buy a green,black and white strip ahead of their first ever season.

In other news, Trust members ratified the decision they took to merge the Trust with Northwich FC and in doing so create 1874 Northwich.

White with a hint of green was confirmed as the away kit of 1874 Northwich for their first ever season.

The potential colours of the home strip of 1874 Northwich.

Fans of new club torn on choice of replica shirt ahead of vote

SUPPORTERS of a newly-formed football club are split on the colour combination of their favourite teams strip, ahead of a vote which will also determine whether the new club has a motto.

1874 Northwich fans will decide their choice at a meeting on Thursday evening but have already took to the message board to make their views clear.

Of the users on the forum, a proportion want to play in green and white, others would prefer a move completely away from any association with the old club by changing the traditional colour of the strip, and a certain section are looking for a compromise position.

One of the forum users, Frank Corrigans Bootlace, who feels strongly about 1874 playing in green and white, said: “We are not lets start a brand new club supporters Trust.

“The new club must reflect the reason we all joined the Trust in the first place.

“Think of it as a phoenix club, created with remarkable foresight before the current version has gone bust.

“Green and White it must be, as worn in the 1984 Final, with ‘Roberts Bakery’ on the front!”

Another user, NotJim, agreed, when he said: “Everything is going well at the moment but I still feel we need something visible from past times to rally round (like the flag on the battlefield?)

“We have lost the unique name and the ground etc so I feel that playing with green in the strip is not an unreasonable ask for those who nostalgically want to hold on to something tangible from happier times.

“It doesn’t have to be like a previous strip, just have a significant amount of green with whatever other colour goes with it. But green is the glue that binds us together?”

Whilst, the user Vicktor, simply said: “For me they will always be the Greens and the Vics and hopefully when JRFC become Flixton Victoria we can have our name back as well.”

However, not all fans agreed with these sentiments, arguing that 1874 Northwich should move on from the past.

Lifelong fan, Nicki, said: “We’re not Vics, we’re not the Trickies and we never will be.

“There is a massive chance to grab the situation with both hands, create a new, exciting and fresh club but at the moment I’m just seeing signs of Vics 2.0.”

In similar comments, Alan R, said: “Do you want to have the same colours as JRFC?

“So when you are in town wearing your scarf people don’t know which team you support.

“Should we have a change and not be associated with JRFC?”

Other fans prefer a compromise situation of green, black and white, such as Trust board member, James Wood, who said:  “We also need to acknowledge the role that white has played in the club and therefore my continued favoured option is black and green striped shirts, white shorts and some sort of black and green socks.”

Amid the vote, a random number of supporters were taken from the volunteer list, along with the current list from the 1874 Northwich newsletter, to rank a list of mottos and club colours which would then be voted on by fans.

Emails have already been sent out for fans to vote who cannot attend Thursday’s meeting, with a list of six different mottos and eight colour selections for each of the home and away strips chosen, where fans will be told to rank their favourites and the option with the lowest rank will become the new club’s motto and playing strip.

The options for the home strip include: green and white; green with a hint of white; green and black; green, black and white; gold and black; orange and black; and claret and sky blue.

To vote, you can email your reply to trust@1874northwich.com, or attend the General Meeting at Lostock Social Club on Thursday, March 14.