VCD CLUB HISTORY
01 Jul 2010

VCD ATHLETIC FC - A BRIEF HISTORY

VCD Athletic is one of only a few clubs to have originated during the Great War when, in 1916 they were formed by workers employed at the Vickers armaments factory in Crayford. The club have played at the firm's sports ground, Oakwood, in Old Road, Crayford, from the outset right up to the present time, save for eight seasons spent groundsharing whilst trying to get permission for floodlights.

In the early days, only friendly matches were played as there were no official competitions during the war years. Records show that a club called Vickers (Erith) joined the re-formed Kent League in 1919, changing their name to Vickers (Crayford) a year later. In their first season in the Kent League they visited Maidstone United on Boxing Day and played in front of a crowd of 13,500. The Vickers team that day contained seven Arsenal players who were finishing off their war service.

Two years later, Vickers joined the Dartford & District League, followed by entry into the newly formed Kent Amateur League, Division One in 1923. Their first trophies came in 1927 when they won the Kent FA Junior Cup and the Kent Benevolent Cup.

It was a further 25 years before more silverware came their way, when they won the Kent Division One title in 1953. The Kent Amateur Cup was won in 1962 and in 1964 but the following season saw a spectacular slump and relegation, with a record of P24 W0 D2 L22, goals for 25, goals against 199.

Promotion was gained in 1969, but after a mediocre period during the 1970s, they were relegated in 1980 back to Division Two. A season later they were promoted back to Division One and in 1985 won the championship, gaining promotion to the restructured Premier Division. By now the Kent Amateur League had changed its name to the Kent County League and the club enjoyed further success when they won the Kent FA Intermediate Shield in 1988. In the same year the club was involved in the last ever match played at Maidstone United's London Road ground when they won the West Kent Challenge Cup.

In 1993, Martin Ford joined the club as manager and, in season 1994/1995 a unique cup treble was achieved with wins in the Kent Intermediate Shield, Kent County League Cup, and the Erith Hospitals Cup. Season 1996/1997 then saw the club win the Kent County Premier Division title for the first time in their history, and by a record 15 points.

Senior status was awarded that same year and a successful application was made to join the Winstonlead Kent League where, in their first season in modern times, VCD Athletic finished in a creditable ninth place. The following season saw the club begin a ground-share with Thamesmead Town, finishing up in seventh place but also reaching the final of the Kent League Cup, where they lost 1-0 to Deal Town in a closely fought match. Deal at this time were assembling the side that was later to win the FA Vase at Wembley.

A season later the club went one better, beating Faversham Town 4-0 in the final to bring the club a first ever senior trophy, and the season after that the club made its third consecutive cup final appearance when they reached the final of the Kent Senior Trophy. However, they narrowly missed out on more silverware when they went down 10-9 on penalties to Whitstable Town. It was, on reflection, a period of great achievement considering that the likes of Herne Bay, Ramsgate, Deal and later Maidstone United were all expected to make their mark in these competitions, and yet a small club such as ours with no ground and little money frequently came out on top in head to head contests reflecting the unity that the club possessed.

The club eventually spent five seasons as tenants of Thamesmead Town before the agreement was ended, and then Lordswood kindly took their place. Two seasons were spent with them, but the difficulty in attracting players to travel such a distance saw the club embark on a one year term with near neighbours Greenwich Borough. However, despite the handicap of having to ground-share, VCD have consistently been one of the league's strongest members during their time in the league.

The club reached the final of the League Cup in 2002/2003, but the on the day there was no celebration as VCD were comfortably beaten 2-0 by Cray Wanderers. The following season was a disappointment as far as the cups were concerned, but a creditable third place was achieved in the league. Further cup success followed however when, in season 2005/2006 the club reached the final of the Kent Senior Trophy for the second time. Having suffered a loss in the first final on penalties, there was a reversal of fortune this time when, after having drawn 1-1 with Tunbridge Wells at the end of extra time, the VCD players held their nerve to win the penalty shoot-out 3-1.

During 2005 the long awaited news the club wanted to hear finally arrived when planning permission for floodlights and the development of the Oakwood ground was granted by Bexley Council. This, together with a substantial grant from the Football Stadia Improvement Fund, part of the Football Foundation, enabled work to commence early in 2006.

The pitch was levelled, rotated 90 degrees and re-laid. New perimeter paths were laid, along with perimeter fencing to enclose the pitch. Floodlights were erected in June 2006, at the same time that work on enhancing the changing rooms also began. The spectator stand was re-sited and extended, and further additions included a new raised hospitality area situated to overlook the pitch, and a new tea bar adjacent to the popular members bar.

At the end of the 2007 season Martin Ford resigned as manager and the club are grateful for his vision and enthusiasm over the years that took VCD from being a Kent County League side to one that was always around the top of the table in the Kent League, and on his departure the club had just reached reached the last 16 of the prestigious FA Vase for the second consecutive season. Head coach Dean Frost took over as caretaker manager, and under his guidance the club obtained runners up spot in the league, narrowly missing out to Whitstable Town during the last week of the season.

At the start of the 2007/08 season, team captain Paul Foley was appointed manager of the first team, with Dean Frost reverting to his former position of head coach, and under their stewardship the club again narrowly missed out on the championship, finishing runners up once more. A year later, after a strengthening of the back room staff, VCD then had the most successful season in its history when winning the Kent League Premier Division title together with the Kent Senior Trophy, culminating in the long awaited promotion to the Ryman Football League

The first season was a success with an 8th place finish, but the club were left stunned when the Ryman League deemed ground issues warranted demotion, and despite an appeal to the Football Association, the decision was upheld and the club went back to the Kent League. Manager Paul Foley resigned to join Chatham Town, taking virtually the whole team with him, and the club appointed Ricky Bennett his replacement, as the club looks to regain promotion to what it considers its rightful place. With the setback, came a sense of unity around the club, and it is hoped that this will now lead to renewed success both on and off the field.