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The football articles on You and Yesterday are some of our most popular postings. Although many are understandably linked to Derby County, there is a considerable interest in football in Derbyshire well beyond the Rams. Here Peter Seddon presents a potted history of Borrowash Victoria, one in a series of articles on Derbyshire-based football clubs past and present.

Borrowash Victoria Football Club was formed in the Derbyshire village of Borrowash in 1911. The team at that time played in the Long Eaton & District Church League.

Little is known of the club's first two decades, save that it survived to continue after the First World War.

Being situated between Derby and Nottingham, the club struggled to forge a strong geographical identity, and opted in the early 1930s to play in the Derby Amateur League. However, they returned in 1937 to the Long Eaton League.

After the inevitable hiatus caused by World War II, the team was reformed as the Borrowash Wesleyan Youth Club, again allying itself to Derby by playing in the Derby & District Welfare League. That side progressed nicely, and in 1953 lifted the League title.

Despite that success they struggled to survive, and disbanded in 1957.

For the next six years Borrowash had no senior representative side in local League football, but that state of affairs was remedied in 1963 when a village team again took its place in the lower divisions of the Derby & District Welfare League - conscious perhaps of local tradition, that side called itself Borowash Victoria, known to all as the 'Vics'.

From that second defining moment the club began a rise in status with outstanding consistency over the next 20 years. Season on season they gained promotion, progressing through the Central Alliance and East Midlands Regional Leagues into the Midlands Counties League, by which time the Vics had become one of the leading amateur clubs in Derbyshire.

When they finished Champions and Cup Winners of Division 1 in 1980-81 the future looked very promising, but they were denied promotion due to what the League authorities considered to be the 'inadequate ground facilities' at their Deans Drive home.

In 1982 the Midlands Counties League and Yorkshire Amateur League merged to form the Northern Counties East League. The Vics lost no time in making their mark in the new set-up, winning the Division 1 title at their first attempt by a clear margin. But once again their rightful reward eluded them - for a second time they were denied promotion to the Premier Division on account of their lowly facilities.

To forestall the possibility of suffering the same fate 'ad infinitum', it was decided that the club would move to the Asterdale Club on Borrowash Road in the neighbouring village of Spondon - thus they became Spondon's most celebrated lodgers!

The snazzily-named Asterdale Bowl was developed with floodlights, perimeter fencing, changing rooms and a covered spectator standing area. These much-improved facilities enabled the club to enter the F.A. Cup and the F.A. Vase.

That period also saw the club attract its record gate, when on 22 October 1985 a crowd of 2,000 witnessed a friendly game against Nottingham Forest to mark the 'big switch-on' of their first floodlights.

In 1986 a number of leading Midlands clubs formed the Supreme Division of the Central Midlands League - Borrowash Victoria became a founder member.

In 1993 the owners of the Asterdale Bowl Complex offered to sell it to the Vics. After long and hard negotiations, and with the help of the local council, the site was purchased.

Then with a great deal of assistance from the Robinson Construction Group, the club built a 250 seater stand which provided the springboard for the newly revitalised Vics to move upward in the pyramid system.

The club lists 4 Championships, 3 League Cups and the Derbyshire Divisional Cup among its triumphs. In 1990-91 the Vics achieved the commendable feat of reaching the last 32 of the F.A. Vase, eventually losing to Bridlington Town 3-1.

Under the management of Martin Rowe in 1992-93 they were only one round away from the 1st Round Proper of the F.A. Cup - they beating St. Helens Town 3-1, Belper Town 2-0, and Macclesfield Town of the Conference 2-1, only to fall 3-0 to Emley one step short of a mini glory day.

The club returned to the Northern Counties East League in 1995 where they held their own in Division 1. Under the guidance of Mick Rodgers and Gary Adul the Vics again reached the last 32 of the F. A. Vase in the 2000-01 season, and in the same campaign won the Division 1 title.

This time the improved facilities allowed promotion to the Premier Division, the highest level of football in which the Vics have competed in their long history. Alas they were relegated back to Division 1 at the end of 2004-05 season.

As at 2007-08 they remain in Division One of the Northern Counties East League, but continue to strive to move onwards and upwards. Their registered colours are red and white striped shirts with black shorts and socks.

They also field a reserve team and have developed strong links with the junior club Chesapeake FC - it serves as a nursery side in bringing on young and promising players.

There is no doubt that Borrowash Victoria has a long and eventful past. It is to be hoped that the club has a long and even more successful future.

• Borrowash Victoria FC - Spondon's Celebrated Lodgers

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