Page 12 - Raynes Park Vale v VCD Athletic TEST

TODAY'S VISITORS
T ODA Y ' S VISIT ORS
VCD ATHLETIC

VCD Athletic FC is one of only a into the newly
few clubs to have originated during formed Kent
the Great War when, in 1916 it was Amateur
formed by workers employed at the League,
Vickers armaments factory in Cray- Division
ford. The Company originally played One in 1923.
only inter-departmental games until Their first
it was decided that the best players trophies came in
from the various sections would be 1927 when they won
elected to represent the firm. the Kent FA Junior Cup and the Kent
The club have played at the firm's Benevolent Cup.
sports ground, Oakwood, in Old Road, A spectacular slump and relegation
Crayford, from the outset right up to It was a further 25 years before more sil-
the present time, except for eight sea- verware came their way, when they won
sons spent ground sharing whilst trying the Kent Division One title in 1953. The
to get permission for the erection of Kent Amateur Cup was won in 1962
floodlights. and in 1964 but the following season
No official competitions saw a spectacular slump and relegation,
In the early days, only friendly matches with a record of P24 W0 D2 L22, goals
were played as there were no official for 25, goals against 199.
competitions during the war years, and Promotion was gained in 1969, but
records show that a club called Vick- after a mediocre period during the
ers (Erith) joined the re-formed Kent 1970s, they were relegated in 1980 back
League in 1919, changing their name to to Division Two. A season later they
Vickers (Crayford) a year later. In their were promoted back to Division One
first season in the Kent League they and in 1985 won the championship,
visited Maidstone United on Boxing gaining promotion to the restructured
Day and played in front of a crowd Premier Division. By now the Kent
of 13,500. The Vickers team that day Amateur League had changed its name
contained seven Arsenal players who to the Kent County League and the
were finishing off their war service. Two club enjoyed further success when they
years later, Vickers joined the Dartford won the Kent FA Intermediate Shield
& District League, followed by entry in 1988. In the same year the club was