Vic Akers
Encyclopedia
Victor David Akers, OBE
(born 24 August 1946 in Islington
, London
) is a former football player and manager. He played as a left back and is currently Arsenal's
kit manager. He was also manager of Arsenal Ladies
from the club's foundation in 1987 until his retirement from the post in 2009.
but did not sign a professional contract with the club. He moved into non-league football with Tonbridge (where his consistency at left-back meant that the young Malcolm Macdonald
was forced to play as a left-footed right back, before converting to striker when he joined Newcastle), before signing for Bexley United in May 1969. In July 1971 he signed for Cambridge United
for £5000, and was part of the side that claimed the club's first Football League promotion. He made 129 league appearances for Cambridge before joining Watford
in July 1975 for a fee thought to be either £
1000 or £2000. He was an ever-present for the first half of the club's first season back in the Fourth Division
after relegation, making 22 league appearances as well as a further 4 in cup competitions. In July 1976 he joined Dartford
for free, helping them win the Southern League Cup. He went on to play for Hayes
in 1978, and had joined Slough Town
by October 1980. By March 1984 he was playing for Carshalton Athletic
and he joined Arsenal's staff that same year.
— the FA Women's Cup
ten times, the FA Women's Premier League Cup ten times and the FA Women's Premier League
eleven times; this included five League and FA Women's Cup Doubles and four domestic Trebles. Akers also won the UEFA Women's Cup
with Arsenal in 2007, the first English side to do so. He retired in 2009 from the Arsenal Ladies post having won thirty-two major trophies in total. He is now Arsenal's kit manager.
Akers was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2010 New Year Honours.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 24 August 1946 in Islington
Islington
Islington is a neighbourhood in Greater London, England and forms the central district of the London Borough of Islington. It is a district of Inner London, spanning from Islington High Street to Highbury Fields, encompassing the area around the busy Upper Street...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
) is a former football player and manager. He played as a left back and is currently Arsenal's
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
kit manager. He was also manager of Arsenal Ladies
Arsenal L.F.C.
Arsenal Ladies Football Club are an English women's association football club affiliated with Arsenal F.C.. Founded in 1987, they are the most successful club in English women's football having won 34 major trophies to date; which are 12 FA Women's Premier League titles, 11 FA Women's Cups, ten...
from the club's foundation in 1987 until his retirement from the post in 2009.
Playing career
Akers started his career in the youth set-up of FulhamFulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
but did not sign a professional contract with the club. He moved into non-league football with Tonbridge (where his consistency at left-back meant that the young Malcolm Macdonald
Malcolm Macdonald
Malcolm Ian Macdonald is a former English footballer nicknamed Supermac, famed for scoring goals for Luton Town, Newcastle United and Arsenal.-Football career:...
was forced to play as a left-footed right back, before converting to striker when he joined Newcastle), before signing for Bexley United in May 1969. In July 1971 he signed for Cambridge United
Cambridge United F.C.
Cambridge United Football Club is a professional football club from Cambridge, England. They are currently playing the 2011-2012 season in the Conference National, the fifth tier of the English league system, where they have competed since 2005 following their relegation from the Football League...
for £5000, and was part of the side that claimed the club's first Football League promotion. He made 129 league appearances for Cambridge before joining Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
in July 1975 for a fee thought to be either £
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
1000 or £2000. He was an ever-present for the first half of the club's first season back in the Fourth Division
Football League Fourth Division
The Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...
after relegation, making 22 league appearances as well as a further 4 in cup competitions. In July 1976 he joined Dartford
Dartford F.C.
Dartford F.C. are an English football club based in Dartford, Kent. After finishing as champions of the Isthmian League Division One North in the 2007–08 season, they compete in the Isthmian League Premier Division. They finished in 8th position in their first season...
for free, helping them win the Southern League Cup. He went on to play for Hayes
Hayes F.C.
Hayes F.C. was an English football club based in Hayes, in Greater London. The club started out as Botwell Mission in 1909 taking its present name in 1929. The team nickname, The Missioners was a salute to the history of the team. The club played in the Conference South for their last few seasons...
in 1978, and had joined Slough Town
Slough Town F.C.
Slough Town F.C. is an English semi-professional football club. The club was officially founded in 1890 after the amalgamation of three local clubs, Swifts, Slough Albion and Young Men's Friendly Society, who between them forged a new club, Slough F.C....
by October 1980. By March 1984 he was playing for Carshalton Athletic
Carshalton Athletic F.C.
Carshalton Athletic F.C. is an English football club based in Carshalton in the London Borough of Sutton, London. They currently play in the Isthmian League Premier Division, and are based at the War Memorial Sports Ground.-Early years:...
and he joined Arsenal's staff that same year.
Management career
Akers was appointed head of Arsenal's community section in 1986 and in 1987 founded the Arsenal Ladies team. He has managed Arsenal Ladies to every major trophy in English women's footballWomen's football in England
While women's football has been played in England for over a century, it has only been in the 1990s that the game has seen a large increase in female players, as well as in female spectators, culminating in England hosting the Women's European Championships in 2005....
— the FA Women's Cup
FA Women's Cup
The Football Association Women’s Challenge Cup Competition, commonly referred to as the FA Women's Cup, is the top cup competition for women's football clubs in England – designed as an exact equivalent to the FA Cup created 99 years earlier...
ten times, the FA Women's Premier League Cup ten times and the FA Women's Premier League
FA Women's Premier League
The FA Women's Premier League is the second tier of women's football in England. It previously formed the top tier prior to the creation of the FA Women's Super League in 2011. The Women's Premier League has been run by The Football Association since the 1992–93 season...
eleven times; this included five League and FA Women's Cup Doubles and four domestic Trebles. Akers also won the UEFA Women's Cup
UEFA Women's Cup
The UEFA Women's Champions League is the first international women's association football club competition for teams that play in UEFA nations. Initially known as the UEFA Women's Cup, the competition has been re-branded since the 2009-2010 edition as the UEFA Women's Champions League...
with Arsenal in 2007, the first English side to do so. He retired in 2009 from the Arsenal Ladies post having won thirty-two major trophies in total. He is now Arsenal's kit manager.
Akers was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2010 New Year Honours.