Northwich Victoria will no longer be using Wincham Park after this season. This is to enable more teams playing under the Witton Albion name to have access to the stadium.
Club Statement on groundshare arrangements with Northwich Victoria
Witton Albion Football Club and Northwich Victoria Football Club would like to announce that at the end of the current 2023 – 2024 season the groundshare agreement that has been in place since 2018 will not be renewed.
Graham Wood, Chairman of Witton Albion said “The club have decided, after due consideration, not to renew our ground sharing agreement with Northwich Victoria Football Club which has existed since March 2018. This has not been an easy decision and has been taken to allow us to establish a Women’s team and a reserves / Under 21 team as part of our joint approach with Witton Albion Juniors, Witton Albion Academy and our ESPFL team based at Sandbach to develop a full pathway for anyone interested in grassroots football. We also have a commitment through our registered charity, Witton Albion in the Community, to develop other aspects of football in the community. This vision is simply not possible without the availability of our pitch for our sole use. We wish our friends at Northwich Victoria all the best in the future and would like to express our thanks to Ian Egerton and in particular to Brian Turner and the rest of their volunteers who have assisted us admirably with maintaining our ground since 2018.”
Ian Egerton Chairman of Northwich Victoria said “Whilst disappointed Northwich Victoria would like to place on record our sincere thanks to everyone involved at Witton Albion especially Graham Wood and Julian Jackson and fully understand Witton’s desire to go into a different route with the Ladies football and the possibility of an U21’s team. We have thoroughly enjoyed our time at Witton and have made many friends along the way and we wish Witton Albion every success in the future. As a football club, Northwich Victoria will now look at possible ground options in the local area as it remains vital that we stay as close to or within Northwich as possible. There will be an important members’ meeting this coming Friday at the Cheshire FA for our members to discuss our options therefore we urge everyone that can make it to arrive for 7pm. New members can join on the night for £35.”
Just seen on Winsford’s X account that they have agreed for Vics to groundshare with them for an initial 3 year period starting next season.
Andrew Simpson has posted on X tonight that the groundshare agreement with Northwich Victoria has ended early at their request.
Apparently, Chairman Graham Wood confirmed yesterday.
It appears that they will move to the Barton Stadium now rather than next season.