Vics celebrate

Pictured: Duncan Statham (back row, left, first-team manager), Richard Rawsthorn vice-chairman). Martin Skinner (centre, left, MC), John Gilder (amateur football correspondent from the Oldham Evening Chronicle), Malcolm Carr (chairman), John Brierley (president), David Corcoran (secretary), Phil Morris (Manchester County FA). Steve Daley (front left, guest speaker) and Trevor Varley (committee member).

OLDHAM Victoria, from the Lancashire and Cheshire League, celebrated their 25th anniversary with a mixed dinner at Middleton Masonic Hall.

The guest speaker was former Wolves and Manchester City midfielder Steve Daley, who also dished out the end-of-season awards.

Victoria were founded in 1983 and spent their first season, when they were known as Korverton United, in the Oldham Sunday League.

They switched to the South-East Lancashire League 12 months later and moved to the Manchester League in 1986.

Victoria became members of the Lancashire and Cheshire League in 1992, and were crowned division three champions in only their second season.

Boasting one of the longest-serving managers in local league football — Duncan Statham has been in charge since 1990 — they finished mid-table in division two last season, while the reserve team filled a similar position in division ‘C’.