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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 played at the firm's sports ground, Oakwood, in Old Road, Crayford, from the outset right up until the end of season 1997/1998 when they had to enter a ground-share agreement to play at the home of Thamesmead Town, pending the outcome of a floodlight application.
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 their ground-share with Thamesmead Town, finishing up in seventh place and also reaching the final of the Kent League Cup, where they lost 1-0 to Deal Town in a closely fought match.
A season later they 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.
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 has been levelled, rotated 90 degrees and re-laid. New perimeter paths have been 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 with provision to be extended, and further additions include a new raised hospitality area situated to overlook the pitch, and a new tea bar being constructed adjacent to the popular members bar.
At the end of the 2007 season Martin Ford resigned as manager of the club, leaving the club in a healthy league position, and having reached the last 16 of the 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 there is much optimism around the club that this season the club can go one step further, and gain promotion to the Ryman Football League.
Under the leadership of chairman Gary Rump, extensive work is being carried out around the ground, with work on the pitch, the construction of outside toilets and the provision of a second turnstile, in order to bring it up to the required standard for promotion.
Since returning home, our gates have more than doubled, with more and more people around Crayford becoming aware that they have a progressive senior football club on their doorstep, and with it, the added attraction of FA Cup and FA Vase football.
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