Vic Akers

Bio

Akers played as a full back for Slough Town.

Before joining Slough, he played for Cambridge United, where he made 129 League appearances between 1971-75, and Watford (22 appearances between 1975-76).

Akers started his career in the youth set-up of Fulham 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 £5,000, 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 £1,000 or £2,000. 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. In season 1980/81 he helped the Rebels to a treble - Isthmian League Premier Division, Berks & Bucks Senior Cup and Isthmian League Cup. By March 1984 he was playing for Carshalton Athletic.

He later joined Arsenal as head of the 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 football, as well as the UEFA Women's Cup in 2007. He is also kit manager at the Premiership giants.

Akers was awarded an OBE in the 2009 Queens New Year's Honours list after stepping down as Ladies manager at the end of the 2008 season. During his 22 years at the helm the team collected a staggering 32 trophies.

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