A likely move for the Vikings

Published on 8th May 2008 in Letters

Goole AFC await the news from a meeting of the Leagues committee to decide where they will be playing their football from August 16, writes Graeme Wilson.

The likelihood, although hardly set in stone - how can it be in non-league football with all its variances and nuances - is that they will be moved into the UniBond One North from the South, where without question they should have been last season.

How the line, drawn by the FA in their infinite wisdom, took a wicked turn to the north near Goole and then whisked back south again is one of the more remarkable pieces of geographical nonsense seen, somewhere along the lines of Forest Green once being placed in the Conference North.

However, that has now past and although the Vikings have thrown away a glorious chance to play at step three in the UniBond Premier Division after a disastrous last month to the campaign, they can look forward to more local 'derbies' next season.

Meanwhile, the close season sees the club Presentation Evening at the Vikings Hotel on Saturday May 24, with three acts and a three-course meal sure to be the perfect environment for the Player of the Year and other end of season awards.

In the race for the coveted Player of the Year, chosen by the supporters, are Liam Chapman and Craig Parry, and it is no surprise that Goole's season started to go wrong with the former's knee ligament injury in February.

To that point the Vikings had the third best defensive record in the league, and between then and the end of the season, they conceded as many goals again.

For Craig Parry, he was simply superb between the sticks and only missed one game - that through suspension at Colwyn Bay in the penultimate game.

Although his goal was breached towards the end on numerous occasions, he made few mistakes in a great first season.

Progression needs investment

And, of course, to get things really moving at the Victoria Pleasure Grounds would be significant investment.

The Vikings do suffer in regard to not having their own facilities to a degree, but that can work to advantage in others, but in order to push forward, and indeed with the restoration of the Under 19s planned for next term, that is what is required.

They are making movements in one or two directions and hope to make an announcement shortly on a new shirt sponsor - that though is just a start.