I will be going to watch WITTON ALBION RESERVES this afternoon at Barnton and also at Trafford in the Cup Final but if the name changes to Northwich Utd then for me their identity is lost IMO.
Can we afford a reserve team anyway - what do we get from it player wise - and IF the club is funding it would the money not be more wisely spent increasing the !st team squad?
I was talking to Neil Gill last night at the under 17’s FA Youth Final. I think I can say that yes, Witton Albion Reserves will change their name to Northwich United next season. My first reaction was similar to everybody elses - total disbelief - but I now beleive there maybe ‘some’ sense in it.
I think the main idea of the name change is to take the restriction away from how far the reserve team can go up the pyramid. I believe with the reserve team tag on it, it can not go as far up the pyramid as a team without a reserve tag on it. This should better the club, as our ‘reserve team’, whatever they are called could be playing in a higher standard of football, and thus, hopefully supply the 1st team with more experienced players when called upon.
The more weaker argument is the word ‘Northwich’ in the title. I believe the thinking about this is that currently we only attract footballers who support Witton. With the new name, we should be able to attract the best players in the area, whether they support Witton or Vics.
I am not totally sure of these facts, and welcome some official statement from the club on exact facts of this issue, because this issue is causing more constenation amongst fans at time when we have enough problems on our hands.
What time is kick off at Barnton?
We could be seeing Northwich Utd passing Witton Albion up the pyramid the way things are at the minute.
If we must ahve a name change for the reserves what is wrong with Witton United?
WHS.
Surprised at u WHS wanting to be associated with a team called " United " :dry:
Good post TT,
My understanding is similar to yours, I think there are positives and negatives of the suggestion. A lot depends on the nature of the relationship that the team has with the first team, whether the objective is to feed players into the first team environment or to create something with more independence. The objectives influence the naming of the side to some degree and the name is the public identity. I believe that V*** are having similar thoughts in respect of Woodley in the same league that is/was operated by Jim Rushe.
The issue of funding clearly has a part to play, certainly if it deflects investment in the first team then there needs to be value equation to determine how important we consider this.
One thing for sure is that Neil has done a very good job this year and their appears to be several very bright prospects coming through the team.
Personally if the name has to be changed then I feel the word ‘Northwich’ is what causes most people to frown, the words Northwich and football don’t sit well in the same sentence!!! I think a vote amongst fans and shareholders would be the best way forward. If it is about attracting more people from a wider area then to do this perhaps a name like Vale Royal FC or maybe something that includes the words Weaver or County???
Equally good post Rabbit.
However, the name change could already be a done deal, as I know it has already been put forward to the Mid Cheshire FA for sanction. Unfortunately, although I knew about this over a month ago, when I attended the Mid Cheshire F.A. Council meeting, I was not allowed to divulge this info outside of the meeting.
Possibly Chad or G.E. will no better if it is too late or not.
Please notice that Chad has started a new thread about this game, as this thread has wandered of onto other subjects. The reason I am posting this is, if you look at the beginning of this thread, Chad gives the kick-off time as 3’o’clock, and I for one have arranged to give lifts to the match based on this kick-off time.
The new thread corrects this, and gives the [size=5][color=#FF0000]KICK OFF TIME as 2’o’clock![/color][/size]