Captain Pickering Mechs His Mark - Lions Wounded

And so to The Mechanics and a trip to Jepson Way for a North West Counties clash between AFC Blackpool and Stockport Town.

The home side was founded as Blackpool Metal Mechanics in 1947 before changing name to Blackpool Mechanics FC. Walter Jepson, after whom Jepson Way is named, was a founding member and long serving club secretary.

The Mechanics started out playing in local Fylde leagues but in 1959 took the decision to move up and join the West Lancashire League. After being crowned champions in 1960/61 and 1961/62 the club moved to the Lancashire Combination, with a best finish of runners up in 1975.

With the formation of the North West Counties Football League in 1982 they were placed in Division Three. The Mechanics were promoted as champions to Division Two in 1985/86 and enjoyed a solitary season in Division One in 1991/92.

In May 2005 Lytham St Annes FC, having resigned from the West Lancashire League, merged with the Mechanics. Then in May 2008 the club merged with Squires Gate Junior FC, with the club renamed AFC Blackpool. The nickname 'The Mechanics' or 'The Mechs' was retained, and the stadium was renamed as a nod to the club's heritage. The club badge curiously shows a squawking seagull…..

The Mechanics' best ever season saw them promoted as First Division champions in 2010/11 to rise to the Premier Division. After four seasons they were relegated to the First Division having finished bottom. Last time around was an underwhelming 19th (out of 22) but the current campaign sees the side just into the play off area after Thursday night's 2-1 win at Bacup Borough.

Stockport Town FC, 'The Lions', who play at Stockport Sports Village, was formed in February 2014 but their initial request to join the North West Counties in the Premier Division was refused in the summer of 2014. After a year of preparation (or in the wilderness) they were allowed to join Division One at the start of the 2015/16 season.

Previous tenants Stockport Sports, formerly Woodley Sports, who were playing in the Premier Division, were expelled from the league early in 2015 for postponing games, and amidst unpaid debts were liquidated. Conspiracy theories abounded.....

The Lions' first season saw them secure a play off berth, bowing out to losing finalists Bacup Borough. Last term was notable for manager Calum Sykes resigning just before Christmas and decamping to New Mills along with most of the first team. A 0-10 home reverse to City of Liverpool on New Year's Eve represented their nadir, but new manager Dave Wild steered them to 10th place with 9 victories in the 18 games over which he presided.

So on a bleak, grey Saturday afternoon it's past ELCTRICAL and TOILETORIES, then Jellytots & Dollymixtures to the M60 and the usual carnage on Barton Bridge. Off at the M61 and that 'Incontinence Supplies at Internet Prices' sign, beyond Botany Bay and then joining the M6 briefly and exiting on to the M55.

At the end of the M55 at Marton Fold it's a left into Midgeland Road, past Hollyacres Luxury Cats Hotel and then right onto School Road with two football clubs next to each other - Squires Gate, in the league above, and Blackpool Wren Rovers, in the league below. Straight over into Jepson Way where I park on the Spirit of Youth FC car park. The Mechanics is hidden just round the corner.

Inside a ground full of character - and four covered stands. Behind one goal at the top end an ancient fascia for some auto repair centre, bearing just the letters UTOS, affixed to rusted girders and above a three step terrace with corrugated sides and crush barriers.

To the left the main stand, set between the two dugouts, originally two full rows of orange and red seats but some now ripped out and abandoned on the walkway. Opposite a further two rows of seating in front of the clubhouse and changing rooms, with the 'Hospitality Suite' hemmed in the corner.

Behind the near goal a more basic covered terrace housing the AFC Blackpool ultras, the 'Tin Hut Brigade' and their many flags and drums. Beyond is the South Shore Cricket, Squash & Rugby Club, home to Blackpool Scorpions RLFC, and the runway of the reopened Blackpool Airport, primarily used by offshore helicopter operations and private planes. In the distance a mummuration of starlings and a bizarre sign 'Were you my 1964 Pleasure Beach Girl from St Georges Park ? Text Pete on...', apparently erected by a lovesick Lytham pensioner !!

The Mechanics are in all tangerine, the Lions in change all purple and the linesman on the near touchline is possibly the youngest I have seen - and the most frozen looking !! A scruffy first half ensues, spoiled by a bitter wind and a squally shower.

Town have the Lions' share of the play and chances. Aaron Dwyer takes advantage of a defensive howler but Mechs' keeper Callum Kirkland steers his shot into the side netting. The best opportunity sees George Blackwell's pinpoint cross met by an acrobatic volley from Ben Halfacre which thunders against the crossbar. The Mechanics can only muster a dangerous Ben Duffield cross which is fortuitously sliced wide by Town's Daryll Grant.

The second half is brighter and within five minutes Duffield latches onto a through ball to score assuredly beyond Lions' stopper Lewis Fielding. Seven minutes later Fielding saves one on one and the rebound from Mechs' skipper Danny Pickering is deflected high before looping in. Controversy rages as the Lions, pride affronted, furiously claim Duffield, virtually on the goal line and clearly offside, headed home. After an eternity the goal stands.

Jamie Hinchliffe pulls a goal back for the visitors from a corner but an equaliser never threatens. Duffield hits the post from another one on one, Kit Gregory shoots high and Conah Bishop goes close as the Mechanics win 2-1 to go fifth.

McDonald Is Rangers' Massiah - Mariners Sunk

And so to the FA Trophy Second Round Qualifying and a visit to Marston Road for the tie between Stafford Rangers and South Shields.

No one is able to prove conclusively when Rangers (Boro is their other nickname strangely) were actually formed, as early minute books were destroyed in the First World War. The club's formation year is recognised as 1876 because of an enquiry to the local Staffordshire Advertiser. The reply, published the following week, suggested the club was already up and running.

Initially playing friendlies and FA Cup ties, Rangers flitted between the Shropshire, Birmingham and North Staffordshire Leagues, moving to Marston Road in 1896 and winning the Birmingham Combination in 1913. The first 'Golden Era' came in the late 1920s, producing a Birmingham League title, twice runners up and two third place finishes.

The good times came to an abrupt end as the 1930s proved to be a constant battle for survival on and off the pitch. A shortage of players forced secretary RP Brown to play in one match - scoring the goal that earned Rangers their first away point of the season. Only a successful appeal for £100 to pay creditors enabled the club to continue.

Rangers resumed in the Birmingham Combination after World War II and then controversially moved to the Cheshire League in 1952. The 1960s were a struggle but the 1970s heralded the second 'Golden Era'.

The club was promoted to the Northern Premier League, and under Roy Chapman won the treble of the NPL, the FA Trophy - 3-0 against Barnet - and the Staffordshire Senior Cup in 1972. The FA Cup 4th Round was reached in 1975 and another FA Trophy final the following year, this time losing 3-2 after extra time to Scarborough. The returning Chapman secured a second FA Trophy success in 1979, beating Kettering Town 2-0.

Rangers were founder members of the Alliance Premier League, but after 4 seasons of toil were relegated back to the NPL in 1983. The club bounced back to win the NPL two years on but life was largely a fight against relegation, despite the six figure sum received for the transfer of Stan Collymore to Crystal Palace in December 1990.

Rangers were relegated from the Conference in 1995, and a second consecutive relegation followed, after only 2 points were gleaned from the first 19 games in the Southern Premier League. 2000 saw the team win the Dr Martens League Western Division.

Rangers qualified for the newly formed Conference North in 2004 and were promoted back to the first tier in 2006 after a penalties play off win against Droylsden. Life at the top only lasted two seasons before a return to the Conference North, and, despite appointing high profile managers Steve Bull, Tim Flowers and Matt Elliott, fortunes failed to improve.

Further relegations in 2011 and 2014 saw Rangers slip to the fourth tier of non league football. The Northern Premier League First Division South was captured at the end of the 2015/16 campaign, where they currently sit one division above this afternoon's visitors.

A few references have been found to the origins of a town football club playing in the 1870s, but the first recorded public appearance of a named South Shields AFC was in 1888. Several other local clubs flickered but it was the South Shields Adelaide Athletic club, set up in 1899, that went on to be elected to the Second Division of the Football League in 1919 as South Shields FC.

Lack of public support meant only the sale of its best players and FA Cup runs kept Shields in business. Inevitably, without money to bail the club out of impending bankruptcy, the only possible viable alternative to closure was to move. In 1930 the club left the town and moved to Gateshead, where it was welcomed.

A new club was established in 1936, nicknamed 'The Babes', before becoming 'The Mariners' in 1950 on its move from Horsley Hill to Simonside Hall. Shields played in several leagues until joining the Northern Premier League in 1968.

However 'insufficient' match attendances prompted the directors to sell Simonside Hall in 1974 with a view to returning to Horsley Hill. In a controversial and quite disastrous land fiasco both sites were transformed into housing sites. The club was penniless and homeless - and history repeated itself as the team went to Gateshead again, re-emerging as Gateshead United FC and taking Shields' place in the NPL.

A new club, South Shields Mariners FC, was formed immediately, based at the council's Jack Clark Park, and beginning a 17 year crusade for a home of its own. The club progressed through the Northern Alliance and Wearside League to the Northern League.

In 1992 the redundant and vandalised sports club and ground of Filtrona FC in Jarrow became available. It was purchased by club chairman John Rundle and the Mariners had a new home - Filtrona Park. Rundle was a volatile man, twice publicly threatening the club with closure, and (in)famously locking the gates at Filtrona Park ahead of a home match in 2006.

At the end of the 2012/13 season South Shields were relegated from Northern League Division One, and forced to move to Eden Park, Peterlee after their lease expired. Two seasons with average attendances of 69 and 70 meant the club faced a huge challenge to survive.

After being taken over by new chairman Geoff Thompson in the summer of 2015 he subsequently bought Filtrona Park, now renamed Mariners Park, and the club moved back. Under the captaincy of ex Sunderland and Middlesbrough midfielder Julio Arca the Mariners won Northern League Division Two title in 2015/16.

Last season saw a famous quadruple - the Northern League Division One title, after a 32 game winning streak, the Durham Challenge Cup, the Northern League Challenge Cup and a 4-0 victory in the FA Vase at Wembley against Cleethorpes Town. Average attendances increased to 1,226.

This season Shields are joint top of the NPL Division One North, with eleven wins and one defeat, and three games in hand. Darlington and York City, two steps higher, were both knocked out of the FA Cup.

And so on a bright, chilly morning it's the Metrolink into the city centre. After yesterday's 'tram kiss', a minor two tram crash that naturally caused major disruption across the network - and was initially blamed on signalling issues and an RTA - today's journey is less eventful and about an hour and a quarter shorter..... Just the swans at Watch House Cruising Club and a lone heron at Pomona Wharf before arrival at Piccadilly.

Then a Cross Country train and the Hat Museum at Stockport, the iconic Arighi Bianchi at Stockport and the famous Hand with Chronos at Stoke on Trent station. Into Stafford, through Victoria Gardens by the River Sow and onto Tenterbanks, past the Broad Eye Windmill and up to Gaol Road, home of HMP Stafford.

Then up Marston Road beyond Saladmaster, 'We Change Life', and the entrance to the stadium is actually on Astonfields Road. Inside is the impressive all seater Stan Robinson Stand - for £2 extra. Across the way covered terracing and to the left the Social End, which houses the Social Club. Bizarrely there is no access from inside so the gates have to be flung open for you to leave the ground to enjoy that half time pint......

Beyond the Social Club is the Astonfields Industrial Park and the Bake 'n' Butty Cafe. Up top is the Shed End, and it's a Shed End with no roof !! Instead it is festooned in South Shields flags and banners, as the Mariners are roared on by a tremendous support of over half the crowd of 955, notwithstanding the near 400 mile round trip.

Rangers are in black and white, Shields in claret and blue, and black armbands, and for the second week running there is a badger mascot..... Before we start there is an impeccably observed minute's silence in honour of Armistice Day and 10 year old Mariners’ season ticket holder Jak Fada who tragically died in the week. The tenth minute is a minute of applause from all four sides of the ground.

By that time we have had a riproaring start to the game. Gavin Cogdon, Shields’ combative centre forward bursts through and shoots just over, and then two goals. On 6 minutes Shields’ Robert Briggs gets goalside of his man and dinks an exquisite lob into the opposite corner beyond Rangers keeper Brad Caswell. Two minute later an incisive move down the left ends with Josh Craddock's cutback and Massiah McDonald swivels to fire home the equaliser.

Strike partner Dan Westwood goes close for Rangers, and McDonald has another chance he will prefer to forget. But it's the Mariners, attractive on the eye with some wonderful passing and movement, who begin to take hold of the game - all orchestrated by Arca and his sublime left foot.

Rangers survive but have three mighty scares in the five minutes to half time. Michael Richardson tricks the full back by the corner flag, cuts in and shoots. Caswell saves at the near post, the ball goes back to Richardson who lays it off for Barrie Smith and his strike is turned aside at the far post by a recovering Caswell. Briggs' gorgeous volley from Carl Finnigan's wonderfully cushioned pass is just too high and Cogdon is marginally adrift for the Mariners.

The second half picks up where the first left off. McDonald puts a free header wide, and Finnigan picks off a back pass that sold Caswell short, the keeper then slipping, but his chip fails to hit the target. There is then a temporary lull before Rangers build up a head of steam.

Sub Richard Gregory sees his header denied by a magnificent point blank one handed save from the Mariners’ Liam Connell. From the subsequent corner Rangers have two shots kicked off the line. Gregory then has another effort diverted wide, and Alex Fletcher just clears the bar with his twenty yarder.

Eleven minutes to go and McDonald receives the ball near the corner of the penalty area, shielded by two Mariners defenders. Skilfully he moves inside and fires across Connell into the far corner and Rangers lead. Arca responds, ghosting past three men and unleashing a left foot strike destined for the top corner, but Caswell saves well.

Shortly after the Mariners ship another goal. Fine wing play on the left and the ball delivered on a plate for McDonald to stroke home the third and his hat trick. Still time for Finnigan to have two chances cleared off the line but it finishes 3-1 to Rangers, in The Coming of The Massiah !!

Garnett Is Mickleover's Gem As Sports Spoil Celtic's Day

And so to Staly Vegas, the mill town of Stalybridge, the place that held 2 Guinness Book of Records entries - the longest and shortest pub names in the UK ! The Old Thirteenth Cheshire Astley Volunteer Rifleman Corps Inn and The Q Inn still flourish in the town centre, but I'm off to Bower Fold for Stalybridge Celtic against Mickleover Sports in the Evo Stik Northern Premier.

The home side was formed in 1909 by Herber Rhodes, a local businessman and philanthropist, although an amateur club 'Celtic' was established in 1906. Rhodes spent a chunk of his fortune on developing Bower Fold; he also played for the team and designed the strip, basing it on the colours used by his racehorses.

The Celts played for two seasons in the Lancashire & Cheshire Amateur League and turned professional before joining the Lancashire Combination, where they were 2nd Division champions. After a year in the Central League Celtic's ambition of Football League status forced them to join the Southern League (!), travelling by train to every away match.

There followed a pause commonly known as the First World War. In the aftermath 'Bridge rejoined the Central League, becoming founder members of The Football League Third Division (North) at the end of the 1920/21 campaign. The club resigned after 2 seasons, citing the 'fact' that they could not attract sufficient support to justify a League side - despite an average attendance of 5,480 !! Today's crowd is 258......

Celtic reverted to the Cheshire County League, remaining members for 60 years but only winning the title once in 1980. Founder members of the North West Counties Football League in 1982, the Celts were champions in 1984 and 1987 - which took them to the Northern Premier League.

After winning the league title in 1992 Stalybridge spent 6 seasons in the Conference and were promoted back in 2001, but lasted a solitary campaign. The restructure of Step 2 in non league saw Celtic join the Conference North in 2004 where they stayed, after two last day escapes in 2015 and 2016, until relegation last time out.

Mickleover Sports FC, from the Don Amott Arena (Don Amott is the current club chairman) was founded in 1948 as Mickleover Old Boys. They played in the Derby & District Senior League for 44 years, making them the longest serving club in the league.

Following development of new facilities, Sports successfully applied to join the Central Midlands Football League in 1993 and two years later they gained promotion to the Supreme Division. They were crowned as CMFL champions in 1998/99, in a season that saw their first venture into the FA Vase. Winning 3-0 at eventual finalists Bedlington Terriers with 14 minutes left, the home side's floodlights suspiciously failed. Sports lost 2-0 in a replay after an FA inquiry.

Mickleover were promoted to the Northern Counties East League, which was won in 2003, and then became Premier Division champions in 2008/09. The step up to the Northern Premier Division 1 South was significant but a run of 16 consecutive wins catapulted Sports to the top of the table and the title.

Their first season in the Premier was all about consolidation despite a tendency to gift points to opposing clubs. This included an incredible 6-6 home draw with Nantwich Town, with Sports 6-3 up with 6 minutes to go. The following term saw Sports relegated for the first time, and a year later they narrowly avoided consecutive demotions after using 53 players during the season. Play off defeat to the Nailers, Belper Town, in 2014 was used as a springboard to winning the division as champions a year on. Sports have survived in the Premier the past two seasons....but only just first time around !!

And so it's past Scissorhand, Skullfades and Tan 'n' Tonic to the now mercifully closed T & T Pound Plus. Presumably sold out of 'HOUSE HOLD. STATIONARY. TOILETORIES. ELCTRICAL' ..... Then onto the M60 where the signs show a speed limit of 20 mph due to 'Oncoming Vehicle' - odd.... Past the Co-op Pyramid and its Crystal Methodist and then off at Denton Rock.

The M67 to the end, then gridlock at a roundabout advertising Big Baps Butty Van, before I turn left into Mottram in Longdendale. Up then down the hill with Bower Fold on the left, next to the Hawthorn Gallery, fine art dealers. The ground is almost entirely surrounded by trees and nestles in the foothills.

Inside the ground has four covered stands. At the Town End is the Joe Jackson Stand - terracing with the Social Club at the rear. To the right is The Lord Tom Pendry Stand, all seated and opened in 2004. At the top end is the Lockwood & Greenwood Stand, again terracing and on the left the main all seater stand, which I will call the Alkie Stand after the advertising hoarding for Alkie Limited at the front…. The club mascot Bower Badger makes a brief appearance in a ground befitting a club higher up the non league pyramid.

Celtic are in blue and white, Sports in all red. Sports, kicking down the slope towards the Town End, start well in the bright sun. On 5 minutes a raking pass inside the full back lets in Andy Dales and he is wiped out by hesitant Celtic keeper Joe Slinn. Player manager John McGrath takes the penalty and sends Slinn the wrong way from the spot.

Rain and a biting wind take over, as do Celtic as they try to break down a resolute and well organised Sports back line. Liam Dickinson's deft sidefoot grazes the post and Matty Wolfenden's header drifts just wide.

Connor Hughes' long range strike is smothered weakly by Sports' keeper Lewis King, and Dickinson's close range rebound is deflected over. King then touches another Hughes shot on to the top of the bar. Sports are content to hold and counter attack, which they do to devastating effect just before the interval. A swift break down the right sees the ball played in to lone frontman Evan Garnett whose shot hits the inside of the post, but Dales mops up. Sports lead 2-0 at the break in a half where Celtic had all the chances.

The second period sees the Lockwood & Greenwood stand housing two spectators - and one steward. Celtic substitute Greg Wilkinson tries an audacious 40 yard lob which is tipped over by a backpedalling King, and Wolfenden's outrageous turn is not matched by a snatched shot wide.

Another Sports counter attack and another goal. Wonderful wing wizardry and pace takes Garnett down the flank and to the by line where he cuts the ball across, and Wilkinson slides in for an own goal. There is more Celtic pressure, more defensive blocks and King saves and an open goal miss from Dickinson.

Twenty minutes from the end Garnett gets in front of his man by the corner flag and dinks the ball to McGrath. He plays in Dales who slots home through Slinn's legs to make it 4-0 for the away side. King makes two more decent stops before a long ball causes confusion between Ross Killock and Slinn. Killock diverts the ball wide of Slinn, and Garnett walks the ball into an empty net for a richly deserved goal.

Oli Roberts hits the Sports' bar in injury time - and leaves the word 'surreal' on the home spectators' lips as they leave the ground. Celtic, having created more than a dozen good chances, beaten 5-0 by a side that had 4 attempts on goal.... ☺