EAST COWES VICTORIA ATHLETIC FOOTBALL CLUB
01 Dec 2006

CLUB HISTORY

East Cowes Victoria Athletic Football Club (The Vic’s) were formed in 1885. The name incidentally is the longest registered with the English F.A. The Victoria part derives from the fact that the ground in “Beatrice Avenue” is part of the crown estate and in the area owned by Osbourne House, the home of Queen Victoria.

The Vics’s were founder members of the Isle of Wight F.A, and played on the Island for the first 30 years. In 1889 the Isle of Wight F.A introduced cup competitions including the Isle of Wight Senior Gold Cup, this trophy is reported to be the most valuable football trophy in the world being made of solid gold. The only drawback is that if you win the Gold Cup you can’t keep it! Most clubs insure it for the annual presentation night and return it to the bank. In 1947 Vic’s joined Division 3 of the Hampshire League and spent 9 seasons in Division 3, 18 in Division 2, 12 in Division 1, then moved to the Wessex league before being relegated in the 1999/2000 season and rejoined the Hampshire League.

Following relegation the club formed a new Committee and finished 4th in the Hampshire Premier Division. In 2001/2002 the Vic’s had their best season in recent years, when they narrowly missed out on promotion to the Wessex League, finishing runners-up to Alton Town. But they did win the Hampshire Trophy-man Cup Final beating Liss Athletic 1-0. In Season 2003/2004 Vic’s returned to the Wessex League after the Football Associations restructuring of the leagues.

Vic’s Reserves play in the Isle of Wight Division 1, and we also have a Veterans side playing in the Isle of Wight Division 2.

The club has a youth policy and has associations with other youth clubs on the Isle of Wight. Vic’s policy is to encourage team spirit, play attractive football and for the senior players to help the club in its development.