Seasiders' Aberrations Prove Costly As Declan Is The Last Bastion

And so to Bastion Gardens, or the Motion Finance Stadium, and the Seasiders derby between Prestatyn Town and Aberystwyth Town in the Welsh Premier League.

Records show that football has been played in Prestatyn since the early 1890s with games taking place on an undeveloped field on Marine Road. Prestatyn Town FC played their first game on 20 October 1910 when they travelled to Rhyl Amateurs. However the club as we know it only came into being in the 1930s when it settled on the old Bastion Road ground behind what is now the Central Beach Club.

For a time in the late 1940s the Seasiders adopted the name Chandypore FC (the original name of the Central Beach Club) when they operated in the Dyserth Area League. However they quickly reverted back to Prestatyn Town and, apart from dabbling with sponsors' names (Prestatyn Town Nova in 1990), have remained so ever since.

In the late 1960s the old Bastion Road ground was swallowed up by housing. After considering using a pitch in the middle of the old Prestatyn Raceway, now the site of Pontin's Holiday Village, the club moved to Bastion Gardens in the 1970/71 season.

For most of this period Town had been members of either the Dyserth Area League or the Welsh League North. After becoming founder members of the Clwyd League in 1974 they enjoyed immediate success, under the charge of manager Eaton Woodfine, winning the title in the league's first two seasons.

After finishing runners up in 1993 the Seasiders took the plunge and rejoined the Welsh League North, now known as the Welsh Alliance. There was an acrimonious split at the club at the start of the 1998/99 season which led to the formation of Prestatyn Nova and Town resigning from the Welsh Alliance to rejoin the Clwyd League, where they won the treble in their first year back.

Town went back to the Welsh Alliance the following year and then became unbeaten champions in 2006, ascending to the Cymru Alliance. The Seasiders were runaway leaders in 2007/08 thereby reaching the pinnacle - the Welsh Premier League.

Silverware was gained in the form of the Welsh Cup in 2013, beating Bangor City 3-1 after extra time. This allowed the club to embark on its only Europa League adventure - beating Latvians Liepajas Metalurgs on penalties after a 3-3 aggregate draw, before succumbing to Croatian side Rijeka. The Seasiders were relegated in 2015, but promoted last time as Cymru Alliance champions. Twelve points from ten matches represents a reasonable start to the current campaign.

The visitors from Park Avenue in Aberystwyth are also nicknamed the Seasiders, but have two others - 'Black & Greens' and 'Aber Town'.

Although Aberystwyth Town FC was formed in 1884 the club probably existed in the 1870s in an earlier incarnation. Its early days were marked by friendlies and it was not until 1890 that Aber first joined a league - the Welsh League - and then for one season only before going back to friendlies.

Town did win the Welsh Cup in 1900 convincingly beating the fancied Druids 3-0 in the final, but it almost proved to be their downfall as they hit a massive financial crisis and a mass exodus of players. The club played in the English FA Cup on a few occasions, and then joined the Montgomeryshire & District League in 1904, winning several titles.

With the advent of the Welsh National League in 1921 Aber joined the Central Section, being crowned champions six times and then twice in the Mid Wales League in 1933 and 1950. The Black & Greens began a long stay in the Welsh League (South) in 1951 before becoming founder members of the League of Wales in 1992. They remain one of only three clubs to have played every season in the Welsh Premier League - Bangor City and Newtown being the others.

Aber qualified for the Intertoto Cup in 1999, losing 4-3 on aggregate to Floriana of Malta. The success of European qualification brought many changes to Park Avenue: a new BBC stand and TV gantry and the construction of the new 'Dias' stand, named after club legend David 'Dias' Williams who scored 476 goals in 433 games between 1966 and 1983.

Intertoto football was achieved again in 2004, losing 4-0 over the two legs to Dinaburg of Latvia. The club's Ceredigion player policy saw a worsening of results and a 40% slump in attendances, but their place at the top table was preserved. There was a further setback in December of that year as a serious fire destroyed much of the social club's facilities.

Town qualified for the Europa League as Welsh Cup finalists in 2014, losing 3-2 to The New Saints, but Derry City knocked them out at the first stage 9-0 on aggregate. This season has started in disastrous fashion, taking just two points from the first 7 games, and lying next to bottom with only one league win thus far.

And so under battleship grey skies it's past Cheshire Portable Buildings, living up to its name as all the buildings have disappeared !! Down to the M56, past wind turbines going like the clappers at Stanlow, then through to Shotwick where I take the coastal road.

Over the magnificent cable-stayed Flintshire Bridge at Connah's Quay, then beyond Flint Castle with The Old Courtaulds Pitch, home of Greenfield FC, on my right. Then at Llanerch y Mor lies the rusting hulk of TSS Duke of Lancaster off the coast near to Mostyn Docks. It resembles an abandoned ghost ship ready for the breakers yard - caused by a long running dispute between owner John Rowley and the local authority.

Then to Point of Ayr, the northernmost point of mainland Wales and site of a long since closed colliery. A slight detour into Rhyl, bypassing the Botanical Gardens, the superbly named Sun of a Beach tanning salon and Sacred Soul Tattoo to reach the sea front.

An unpleasant stroll along the front with heavy winds whipping up the sand and stinging our faces. Admiring the Pavilion Theatre - but the world famous (!) Rhyl Sun Centre has been demolished without trace.... Then the National Crown Green Bowling Centre, where two matches are in progress despite the weather.

The 250 ft Rhyl Sky Tower, bizarrely acquired from the 1988 Glasgow Garden Festival, stands tall - and cordoned off as a safety hazard. Plans now are to convert it into a landmark light beacon, and the graphics depicting a timeline of Rhyl at its foot is a pleasant surprise, notwithstanding the schoolboy spelling error of Eupore (but the Welsh version is correctly spelt !!) 

The Breaks Family Entertainment Centre is no more either, subsumed by the new Marina Quay retail development, although only two units are currently let. The Miniature Railway is closed too, not leaves but trees on the line... but the iconic Pont y Ddraig bridge remains impressive. Lunch at The Sussex is Welsh dragon sausages and mash with Brains gravy and, appropriately enough, a pint of Trade Winds ☺ Stinging sand gives way to stinging rain as we make the 3 mile jaunt back up the coast to Bastion Road, then Bastion Gardens. The stadium is at the very foot of the cul de sac with Pontin's behind the near end.

Immediately inside is the hot food outlet and clubhouse, and to my left a walkway housing a three storey gantry, the second tier a police room and at the top a cameraman, exposed to the weather and desperately trying to stop the flapping tarpaulin flying away to the rolling hills beyond. Segregation Gates, clearly unused for some while, have been flung on the floor.

At the top is a grassed area, an abandoned tea hut open to the elements and an Academy mobile classroom falling into disrepair. To my right is the Martin Walsh Stand, a three row all seater covered stand running the length of the touchline and so shallow that those sitting on the front row block the gangway... Behind is the cricket club and the sea.

Prestatyn are in all red and the Black & Greens are in green and.....white !! With a hint of black trim..... It soon becomes clear that there will only be one winner in the Seasiders derby, and that's the wind. Aber have it in the first half, but Prestatyn score first on 8 minutes with Jack Kenny's shot parried by Chris Mullock to Michael Parker who taps in at the far post.

The rest of the half is scrappy, punctuated by far too many free kicks despite lenient refereeing. Aber are poor, failing to use the wind and creating little. Craig Hobson has a header scooped off the line by Prestatyn keeper Carl Jones, John Owen glances over, Ryan Wade has a ferocious shot blocked and in the final minute Matty Jones brings an outstanding save from his namesake. A flurry of corners brings naught.

The consensus at half time is that Prestatyn have done the hard part and it's a question of how many. For a while that seems to hold true, as despite Hobson drawing another good save from Carl Jones, the home side hold the initiative. After a one two with Ben Maher, Parker should have put the game to bed but blazes over and Zyaac Edwards' shot is saved by Mullock's chest.

There becomes an air of desperation about Prestatyn, too keen to kill the game off with the second goal, and committing too many men forward. Aber use the counter intelligently and with 18 minutes left one such attack sees Wade involved, Ashley Young's shot is saved and Owen scores from the rebound to equalise.

Three minutes later another counter produces a corner - Wade takes, Carl Jones drops it and full back Declan Walker has the easiest job to put Aber ahead. It's a lead they hold on to comfortably to the final whistle ☺

Camels Take The Hump Then Get The Abbey Habit To Become Lairds of The Manor

And so to Kirklands aka the North West Construction Stadium, and a first ever meeting between Cammell Laird 1907 FC and Abbey Hulton United FC today in the North West Counties Division One.

The Camels' history dates back to 1899 when a team from the Upper Boilers shop at Laird Bros played in Birkenhead Park, before switching to rugby. Cammell Laird Institute AFC was established in 1907, playing in the West Cheshire League at Prenton Park, Tranmere.

After World War I the Cammell Laird company faced cutbacks due to reduced government spending on ships and the football team was taken back in house. In 1922 a team was entered into the Birkenhead & Wirral League under the name of Kirklands FC coinciding with the move to the current ground from their two previous homes - Birkenhead Park and Bebington Oval.

The side was disbanded at the outbreak of World War II and reformed in 1946 as Cammell Laird AFC. The Lairds rejoined the Birkenhead & Wirral League before moving up to the West Cheshire League, where they were 19 time champions, including 15 titles in 20 seasons between 1975 and 1994.

The Shipyarders joined the North West Counties in 2004 and back to back promotions took them to the Northern Premier League Division One North. A sideways move to Division One South a season later brought promotion to the Premier Division as runners up, but the Camels were relegated at the end of their first campaign after failing ground grading criteria.

The club disbanded at the end of the 2013/14 season, and a new club, Cammell Laird 1907 FC, went into the North West Counties Division One, earning automatic promotion at the first attempt. However last term produced only three league wins, all after relegation was confirmed, and a bottom placing with a goal difference of -100......

Abbey Hulton United FC was formed in 1947, and named after the Scheduled Monument of Hulton Abbey, founded by Henry de Audley in the early 13th century. It was dissolved by Henry VIII in 1538 and little remains of it today. Hulton was recorded as 'Heltone' in the Domesday Book, meaning 'hill town'.

Abbey played on council land before moving to Bucknall Park in 1962. There they stayed until 1985, before acquiring a piece of land at Birches Head Road. Originally United played in local leagues - the Longton, Fenton & District, Burslem & Tunstall and Newcastle & District Leagues.

Having moved to the new facility at Birches Head, the club opted to join the Staffs County League (North) and were crowned champions at the end of the 1997/98 season. Abbey then moved up to the Staffordshire County Senior League, becoming Premier League champions last season.

An application to join the North West Counties League was successful and the club was elected, having met ground grading criteria. After a bright start to the season, the floodlight failure at St Helens excepted, United's form has been inconsistent and they currently lie a point and a place below the Lairds. 

So past the new Laurus Homes Stonebrook housing development and then a vintage double decker Belle Vue bus parked outside St Margaret's Church, on a day for a wet, wet wedding, it's down to the M56. An Arla truck - 'My other lorry is a tractor' - fumes belching out at Stanlow and not surprisingly the wind turbines going like the clappers.

The weather has deteriorated appreciably as I join the M53, ignoring Cheshire Oaks and Vauxhall - the car plant on one side, Vauxhall Motors FC on the other - it's off into Higher Bebington. Beyond the curiously named 'Woman More Than Nails' and into Rock Ferry, and then Kirklands.

A fiver in, or £2 for Liverpool, Everton or Tranmere Rovers season ticket holders, as Storm Brian wreaks havoc with sheeting rain and high winds. To my right is the Kirklands Kitchen Stand, a covered all seated stand next to which is the food and drink serving hatch and the Macron club shop. Behind this are the Lairds Social Club and St Peters Church.

At the top is the Volleyball Net End (yes really !!) with modern housing beyond, and across the way is the Stagecoach Merseyside Family Stand, with covered standing and seated areas and the bus depot right behind. On the left is an open end with old council maisonette housing.

The Camels are in all blue, United in change grey with fluorescent green trim. Huddled in the two covered stands because of the dreadful conditions the crowd of 65, which seems suspiciously low particularly with at least 25 from Abbey Hulton (including their drummer boy !), are treated to an entertaining first half.

The Camels have at least five golden opportunities, all spurned. Jamie Colebourne takes advantage of a kamikaze back pass but Luke Birkinshaw does just enough to divert his shot onto the outside of the post, and Colebourne blazes wide later. Ben Holmes is denied by a brave block from Sam Luke and also hits the side netting. Charlie Macinnes ineptly spoons wide.

In response United see John Lynch, the Lairds keeper, save well from Kieron Ball, prompting a strange appeal of 'handball' from the Abbey contingent, and then he tips over Keiron Williams' free kick.

Finally five minutes before the break Josh Maldon breaks the deadlock - the Camels' free kick going through the eye of a needle beyond Birkinshaw although Kevyn Davies may have got a touch for an unwanted own goal.

The second half is a different type of affair with the elements, a constant torrent and biting wind, against the Lairds, who resort to time wasting, back pedalling and a suspicious amount of balls into the churchyard. Abbey dominate as the portly Joshua Graham heads over and then captain Joshua Tune is played in, sidesteps Lynch and shoots into an empty goal - only for the ball to hit a puddle and be hacked clear.

The referee signals 7 minutes of added on time, the first of which produces a rasping shot from substitute Jonathan Birks to level for United - and provide a truer reflection of the overall game. The Camels, who have created nothing in the second half, respond and in the sixth additional minute win a free kick. From it Adam Rooney plants a header beyond Birkinshaw and the Lairds lead again - cue a manic dance, twice, down the flooded touchline by one home fan, rumoured to be Rooney's father...... And that goal at the death gives the Lairds the three points.

Ten Out Of Ten For Town As Congleton Can't Bear It...

And so to Pavilions, the home of Runcorn Town FC and today's North West Counties Football League fixture with Congleton Town FC, themselves from Ivy Gardens (or Booth Street if we're being picky, but it doesn't have the same ring to it ! ) or Richborough Estates Stadium (definitely not !!).

The home side was established in 1967 (celebrating its 50th season in football this term) as founder members of the Runcorn Sunday League under the name of CKD, a works team from 'D' section at the local Castner Kellner plant. The club changed its name to Mond FC in 1970, reflecting the Mond Division of ICI which ran the Castner Kellner plant.

 

In 1973 there was a move to Saturday football with Mond joining Division 5 of the Warrington & District League. At the end of their first season the club amalgamated with struggling Division 1 side ICI Weston, becoming Mond Rangers FC and 'earning' a four division promotion.

 

1984 saw a move to the West Cheshire League and there was another change to the club's name before the 2005/06 campaign - this time to Runcorn Town FC. After winning Division 2 a year later, 'Town' were elevated to the North West Counties at the start of the 2010/11 season following a third place finish.

 

Promotion to the Premier League was achieved at the first attempt, and Town were runners up in their first season at the higher level. However, after 4th and 5th place finishes there followed two disappointing 13th positions and 2016/17 saw a new manager and a brand new squad, with not one player being retained. Last time Town finished third, and the new season has seen nine straight league wins as, perhaps unexpectedly, Runcorn sit top with a 100% record.

Congleton Town was formed in 1901, starting life in the Crewe and District League where they were champions in their first three seasons. This prompted a move to the North Staffordshire & District League, and having conquered this in the 1919/20 season they were off again - this time to the Cheshire County League.

 

45 years later and yet to crack it, there was a brief 3 season foray into the Manchester League before joining the Mid Cheshire League. After winning this three times in 1974, 1976 and 1978, Town reverted back to the Cheshire County League and their last ever season there brought the Division 2 championship in 1982.

 

The restructuring of the leagues saw Congleton become founder members of the North West Counties League, and they moved up to the newly created Northern Premier League Division One in 1988. Perennial strugglers, Town were finally relegated back to the top tier of the NCWFL in 2001 - and continue to ply their football there.

 

Congleton Town are known as the Bears, a throwback to the 1620s when bearbaiting was popular in the town and if historic lore is to be believed, in an attempt to attract more spectators, it used money set aside for a Bible to buy a more aggressive bear:

 

'Congleton Rare, Congleton Rare,

Sold the Bible to buy a bear. '

 

Consequently the town became known as Beartown....

So on a wet autumnal afternoon it's beyond the as yet unopened Mayar Travel and Mama's Cakeria, under the same roof (!), past Cloudchasers and you have to feel sorry for the wedding party having photographs taken outside St George's Church in the teeming rain. Down to the M56 in atrocious conditions, yet still with motorists refusing to switch on their lights, bypassing the Stretton Fox and Daresbury Park, and off at Sutton Weaver.

 

Onto the Expressway, with huge amounts of roadworks, coned off lanes and confusing signage, then into Weston, The Prospect pub, and atop Weston Point for a view of the River Mersey and gargantuan wind turbines. A sharp left into Sandy Lane and Pavilions is on the right.

 

Pavilions itself is 'the number one venue in Runcorn to hold your function' - it looks a bit tired and faded to me and in need of a refresh. A bowling green hides behind it, and on the puddled walkway to the entrance hut there is a decrepit football pitch on the left, complete with crumbling stand and dugouts - the old Runcorn Albion FC base.

 

The first thing you see inside, unlike most grounds, is not the pitch but a set of wooden steps with yellow handrails - the pitch is about two metres above ground level. A three sided ground again with the far end cordoned off, and marshalled by an elderly steward/ ball boy. The near end has a walkway about a metre deep which makes things cosy....

 

On the right hand side is the bar and lounge and then a partly built/ abandoned covered standing area, and behind it the roar of the Expressway. The main side hosts an assortment of ragtag lean tos, with a 'Here's The Tea Hut' sign at one end - it's boarded up and there is a newer sign on the opposite side above the bar.

 

Next is the main stand, the seats strangely red for a club whose colours are two shades of blue. The backdrop is the massive Inovyn Chlorvinyls plant. The ground is also directly underneath the flight path to Liverpool Airport so a succession of planes from Easyjet and Ryanair, those not cancelled anyway, pass over during the match. Also above are the electric cables connecting pylons either side of the Expressway.

The pitch has taken a lot of rain, with parts beginning to waterlog and plenty of mud in evidence. Town are in sky and navy blue, Congleton in change yellow and black hoops and resembling wasps rather than bears.

 

Within four minutes the Bears' offside trap is breached, Runcorn's Simon Thelwell sallies past keeper Andrew Jones, and lays the ball on for Craig Cairns - who is guilty of an astonishing miss. Five minutes later, with their first attack, the Bears score - Josh Heaton heading in, unchallenged from a corner.

 

On 16 minutes the Bears double their lead as William Hasler-Cregg, under pressure from a defender, hits a sublime twenty yarder that dips into the net via the underside of the bar. Town keeper Reece Airey is left clutching at, well er, air... Not quite the start we expected !

 

Runcorn respond immediately and Mark Reed hits home a piledriver within two minutes and by the quarter mark the sides are level. Cairns sprints on to a route one ball, sidesteps Jones and strokes home the equaliser. Ten minutes before the break Runcorn lead as Thelwell, having seen a shot smuggled off the line, beats Jones at his near post, and, with both defences looking porous, it's raining goals as the deluge continues.

 

More of the same in the second period as three minutes in Cairns crosses for Kieran Evans to make it 4-2. Five minutes later Cairns' audacious lob with the outside of his boot hits the bar, and a minute after he dinks the ball over Jones only to see the ball cleared off the line. On 56 minutes Cairns cleverly plays in Reed who puts Runcorn 5-2 up.

 

And then the rain stops...and so do the goals, but not for the want of trying. Cairns is again denied as another lob crashes against the bar, and Jones then produces a magnificent fingertip save to prevent him from scoring Town's sixth.

The Bears hit the woodwork twice, Airey goes down with two head injuries in two minutes amidst calls for a crash helmet, and Adams sees his shot deflected wide by a desperate goal line clearance. 5-2 at the death but it should have been 11-4 - thoroughly entertaining nonetheless as Runcorn continue their 100% start to the league season ☺