And so to January 2022 and a Cheshire League Premier Division fixture between GPSO (Greenalls Padgate St Oswalds) and Congleton Town Reserves at Walkers, now known as The Tetleys Club, on Long Lane in Warrington - last week's game against Broadheath Central, celebrating their centenary this year, having fallen foul of the weather.
Greenalls FC was established in 1963 and
was formerly the local Greenalls Brewery works team. Greenalls played in the
Warrington and District Football League for many years with the highlight being
winning the Guardian Cup and the Division One title in the same year, 1988.
During the 2002/03 season Greenalls were
approached by Padgate St Oswalds who played in the Mid Cheshire League Division
2 about the possibility of merging teams. The merger was then agreed and in
place for the 2003/04 campaign, where they emerged as champions - they have
remained in the top flight ever since and won the Cheshire League in
2010/11.
Congleton Town FC 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 was finally relegated back to the top tier of the NWCFL in
2001 - and continue to play their football there, currently just above half way
this term in the top division.
The reserve side was formed from a three way
merger of Town, Congleton Vale Rovers and Congleton Rovers in June 2020.
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....
Congleton's Reserves currently sit sixth (of 18) with 32 points from 19 games whilst the home side are averaging a point per match after 15 games, and lie 13th.
Straight into roadworks 'Narrow Lanes - Do Not Overtake Oyclists' (seriously !), then past Pure Fades and to the M56, with en route numberplates R4CYS, MOO1E, WE11DER (can't guess his profession !!) and then a truck emblazoned with Stage Freight... Over Thelwall and off at Juniper Park into Woolston to the centre of Warrington.
Then via Beamont Community Primary School with its strange sign for Wasps Out of School Care, and opposite Woolston Detachment - the local Army Cadet base. Passing the Blackburne Arms, The Furry Dogmother and So & Sew brings me to Long Lane and the A50 and the Tetleys Club, hosting an engagement party this afternoon. The sign highlighting that this is the home of Fearnhead FC and Greenalls FC is obsolete - Fearnhead and another previous tenant, Tetley Walkers FC, long since consigned to oblivion.
The floodlights are for the two bowling greens, with the football pitch behind, surrounded by conifers at both ends and residential properties and brambles (where a ball gets lost in the first half !!) on the away side in the glorious sunshine. A small covered four step cosy breeze block corrugated iron stand is next to the changing rooms and the clubhouse on the home, shaded side. The attendance today is 19 plus a baby - although more have congregated by the end.
Greenalls are naturally in green and black, The Bears in change all purple, and one of the linesmen is in glasses, gloves and tights....
An early Bears chance produces a one on one but the number 9 doesn't shoot, overcomplicates matters and loses the ball and his footing. Then on 21 minutes GPSO take the lead with a sumptuous drive from the edge of the penalty box into the bottom left corner.
The Bears hit the bar with a header twelve minutes later, but Greenalls have the best opportunity for another goal four minutes before the break. A one two results in a clear trip and a penalty is awarded, resulting in an abject miss into the conifers...
No matter as within seconds of the restart a horror mistake from Congleton's centre back gifts possession in the penalty area to the home side. The first effort is saved and the rebound doesn't happen because of a tug - a second penalty kick is given with a different taker and outcome leaving GPSO 2-0 up - their goalscorers being Ben McWilliams and Przemek Staniszewski
Thereafter Greenalls really should put the game to bed, missing several good chances and hitting the post - meanwhile the Bears' cupboard is bare...
Then with nine minutes to go the ball bobbles over Greenalls' centre half's boot, a feat subsequently matched by both goalkeepers - but both save themselves embarrassment by scrambling back. That leaves an easy task for the Bears to sweep home and halve the deficit.
Shortly after a dreadful dive in the box by a Congleton sub results in a yellow card for simulation - matched by three bookings for the home team, including their manager, in a fractious final twenty minutes. The Bears' final effort is a header from their makeshift centre forward deep into injury time which is comfortably saved to leave Greenalls 2-1 winners and give GPSO their first league win since September.
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