Non-League and Academy football writer

Tom Ruchniewicz as well as being a player for Step 7 side PFC Victoria London, is also the Chairman of the Club. PFC Victoria London play their football in the 11th tier of English football, in the Middlesex County Premier Division. They are a club who were established in 2016, as a Club for the Polish community in London. They have done really well since being established, and this season are currently aiming for promotion to step 6 of the non-League system. It is a season in which they are currently not far behind league leaders Shepherd’s Bush, in the Division standings. I recently had the great pleasure of speaking to PFC Victoria London’s chairman – Tom Ruchniewicz. To talk about the club, their current season and also some of their hopes for the future.

Could you talk me through some of your footballing background/experience in the game?

Tom: I’m 39 now, and I’ve played at around this level of football for over 20 years now. Previously I played for Old Actonians, in the Southern Amateur League. When I was younger, I spent some time with Hanwell Town, but I’ve always played football throughout. I was men’s football 1st Team Captain at the University of Sussex, whilst I was an undergraduate many years ago! Despite having played a couple of games at Step 6 in the past, Step 7 has always been the level of football I have resided. I did also help set-up a new Club – Boston Manor FC, when we were coming out of lockdown. Boston Manor now exist as London Cheetahs FC, also in the MCFL (Div 1). However, going back to my time playing the game, I’m now somewhat transitioning out of playing regularly, to taking care of Chairmanship duties at PFC; a role lending itself to a lot of important behind the scenes work. As Club Chairman, alongside our owner, we are doing all we can to be ready for promotion to Step 6, submitting our case via application to the Combined Counties Football League. My job is to ensure we’ve got the ground that complies with the criteria, which will ultimately progress the Club.

The club (PFC Victoria London) are currently ground-sharing with Ashford Town, but potentially at the back end of next season (depending on planning permission), we hope to move into our own ground which we want to construct. A Football Club is more than just the football; it’s a community asset, and whilst we give people chances to play football and to coach, we are also looking to give people the opportunities in other areas of the game. These aspects include data analysis, scouting, planning and administration, to name a few. On the playing side, we’ve got Polish players who have played at decent levels in Poland, (Division 4 and above). The owner of the Club (Tomasz Słowiak) through his contacts, has given players the chance to play football, whilst offering them employment/roles in Construction, at the Company he runs and operates out of London.

How did you come about joining PFC Victoria London as their Chairman, last summer?

Tom: So, I joined the club in 2022, as a player, through my good friend and Club Captain, Jakub Malczuk; he suggested that I came down and see what it was all about! The Club also needed some assistance with the secretarial stuff, so I was happy to lend a hand with my knowledge. I was appointed as Chairman of the Club during the close season, an honour which I gratefully accepted.

Could you talk me through a bit of the history of PFC Victoria London, as a club?

Tom: We started up in 2015: very much as a Club for the Polish community within the Feltham/Hanworth area, which has a considerable Polish demographic. Starting in Division Two of the Middlesex County League, we secured the division title in our first season. We won Division One during the following campaign, so it was back-to-back promotions for the Club. In 2017 I think it was, we played in the Middlesex County Premier Division for the first time, and we had a couple of good seasons in that league, which included us finishing top during one season. However, that was the season voided due to the pandemic. Starting as a Polish community Club, we aimed to give local people the opportunity to play a competitive level of football. In amongst this we have included second generation Polish players, players with Polish roots, and a wide range of different backgrounds from the area. Through word of mouth and some effective marketing, people have got to hear about the Club. We have had a rapid rise, starting at the bottom rung, but the big thing for us at that stage was securing Rectory Meadow (Hanworth Villa FC’s ground), thanks to our friends over there, as our base for our home games.

The Club began with just the men’s senior team, and without any sort of youth setup up or alternate football offering. Nonetheless, along the way we gradually recruited more and more players, more backroom staff, and more active volunteers as well, such as a Club Secretary, and match-day assistants, to work alongside the manager. So, as a club we have become more and more organised and structured. We also have always had a good number of dedicated training sessions for the players, training twice a week, which at the time was unheard of for that level of football. This has helped to give us a competitive advantage from the start, to pair with the solid infrastructure the Club had developed, as more and more momentum has been built throughout the journey. Our aspiration is to be a National League Club within 10 years.

What have you made of the current 2023/24 season, for PFC Victoria London?

Tom: We’re quietly confident for this season; we know we’ve got a good squad and group of key senior players who make the difference, but we like to quietly go about our Business! One problem that we had last year was discipline: too many red cards for totally avoidable situations! This season though, we have managed to cut that out, and we’ve brought in some new players, as well as some older players who used to play for the Club. This has paid dividends on the pitch, and so far this season, everything has been going to plan. With any luck, we fully expect to be playing Step 6 football next season.

Who has been in your opinion, the toughest team that PFC Victoria London have played this season?

Tom: In the League I would say that our biggest rivals in terms of finishing top, are Shepherds Bush and Pitshanger Dynamo, with potential dark horses in the from of Camden & Islington United. Kodak FC are also not to be forgotten from that equation and could well be in the mix come the end of the campaign. The best side that we have played this season however were a team from the Southern Amateur League Div 1, in the Middlesex Senior Challenge Cup – Civil Service FC. However, if we’re just focusing on the League, then I would say Pitshanger Dynamo have served up our most difficult test. They have current League top scorer in their ranks – Bilal Butt, who is a handful, having plied his trade at a good level of non-League football previously. However, we’ve got our standout striker in Paweł Kowalkowski, back at the Club, after a short stint at Haringey Borough. When he’s firing on all cylinders, I have no doubt he can average around two goals per game for us!

Could you talk me through what it’s like to be the chairman of a non-League football club at step seven?

Tom: It’s very difficult, and at times it can be a thankless task. However, I think it can have the potential to be more rewarding than playing or managing. As a Chairman you can be involved in a whole manner of things; no one job is off limits! So, it’s a role that you’ve got be prepared to devote a fair chunk of your spare time to.

For those who haven’t seen PFC Victoria London play, could you describe to me what style of football they like to play?

Tom: I’d say we are a team who like to play out from the back, and play fast football, proactive in and out of possession, whilst moving the ball quickly. We are a technical side with some excellent ability on the ball, which enables us to play through the thirds with good fluidity at times!

What are some of your standout memories of your time with PFC Victoria London, so far?

Tom: I would probably say up until now, this was securing Ashford Town as our home ground. Without playing football at a venue like the Robert Parker Stadium (ATFC), we cannot see our plans through as a club, so this is crucial for us. We’ve gone from not having a ground, and to almost folding, not so long after being founded and our progress stalling, to really stepping up on our journey now, with really high hopes and exciting times ahead!

What are some of your hopes/aims for the future for PFC Victoria London? And where do you see the club being in 10 years time?

Tom: I would like to see us in the Isthmian League Premier Division/National League South within the timeframe; I see us being a Step 3 Club, there or there about, that can really hold its own at that level. I hope that we build significantly on our growing fan base in Feltham and afar, by that stage. The blueprint for the Club is something in similar mould to FC Romania, for example. Of course we will do it our way, but I’d always look to model and take inspiration from other diaspora centred teams in the non-League system. Must mention, if one can take inspiration from a good example of the success that can be achieved in this format, look no further than Hilltop FC, a Club who have had 4 successive promotions! My vision for PFC Victoria, is to keep our Polish ethos for as long as possible; We want people to play for us, who love playing for this Club. We want to be a top team in London for our level, and a Club that welcomes all backgrounds and communities. If at the same time people learn a bit more about Polish culture and values, that would be win-win! That’s what understanding and mutual respect is all about: In football and in life!