A Walk In The Paddock - Valley Out Of Their Depth......

And so not to the Butchers Arms in Droylsden, but to Manchester Enterprise Academy (formerly Parklands High School) in Wythenshawe, for a Cheshire League Division Two fixture between Stretford Paddock - their first home match in this league - and Mersey Valley, ahead of tonight's Rugby League Grand Final at Old Trafford.

Stretford Paddock is an unofficial, unaffiliated Manchester United You Tube channel and news outlet, with its studio in Lever Street in Manchester's Northern Quarter. It was founded in January 2013 as Full Time Devils United fan channel.

In 2018 Full Time Devils changed ownership and on 22 November that year the Stretford Paddock You Tube channel was created to replicate the original Full Time Devils site.

Stretford Paddock FC was accepted to join the Lancashire and Cheshire League on 12 June 2020. Promoted from Division One, after a truncated eight game season that saw five wins and a draw, Paddock finished third in the Premier - and that was sufficient to earn them a Cheshire League Division Two place for 2022/23. Six successive away games has brought three wins, a draw and two defeats - but no league games for four weeks, amidst rumours that Dave Pace, owner of dormant Droylsden FC, is selling their home venue, the Butchers Arms ground, for housing.

Mersey Valley FC from Banky Lane, which lies on the border of Sale and Carrington, was set up in 2014, joining the Cheshire League Division 2. The Ambers gained promotion in 2016, but dropped down in 2018 despite finishing mid table. Valley then resigned mid season 2019/20 with their results expunged.

The club reformed and was readmitted this summer to the Cheshire League, starting with 4 home fixtures but their record shows two draws out of 6 home games and a solitary away win from three contests, and they lie next to bottom with 5 points from 9 games (after a 9-1 drubbing at St Michaels last weekend). Their motto of 'Health and Happiness' rather misplaced currently.....

En route, fittingly as the sun puts in an appearance, today's first numberplate is RAY5, joined later by CA11 PBP (PB Painters) and a van displaying 'How's My Driving ? - 'Call 0800 F*CK YOU'.... Then afterwards URB4N and a lorry advertising Scheidt & Bachman.... That same eclectic bunch of shops brings me via Elijos (formerly Mughal), Wok Inn, Jolly's Kafe, hold ups due to MT Grab Hire, to Timperley Village, and the Frank Sidebottom statue, Little Italy and the 'Bar In The Village' (not much thought put into that one !!)

Then after Dixons Brooklands Academy, passing Southmoor Industrial Estate, Schmitz Cargobull, Beers Timber & Building Supplies, Roundthorn and Martinscroft tram stops as we reach Hollyhedge Road. There follows St John's Catholic Mens Club and Haveley Hey Primary School on the vast council estate encircling Greenwood Road and Newall Green. 

The academy, with its new facility 'The Greenwood', is opposite Foxlair Road and abutting Simonsway. A 3G pitch and, unusually, a 3pm kick off, with a crowd peaking at 35 and no Chicken Hut Blues in this part of Wythenshawe....

Paddock, sponsored by OneFootball, are in United red and white, Mersey, sponsored by Motor Technology, are in amber and black - the home side have a goal disallowed on 5 minutes for offside but continue to press. Eventually the ball is cut back on 26 for Michael Burke to shoot and his effort just squirms over the line. Valley are having more joy hitting the corner flag than testing Stretford's keeper...

Nine minutes on Ronaldo Brown is tripped in the area and Tom Jones unconvincingly converts the penalty - this either side of two awful misses (his dad's words - stood next to me); one after bypassing the keeper and shanking wide, the other from barely four yards. So perhaps it's not unusual that he is hooked at half time.... A second disallowed goal leaves Paddock two up at the break.

The second period provides more of the same and on 54 James Oatt volleys home at the far post for 3-0. Eight minutes after impressive and speedy winger Kieron Molloy fires across the keeper to make it four - which becomes five on 71 as sub David Salome Sharpe drills in from a well worked free kick.

And that is pretty much that, the closest to another goal when Paddock hit the post, as the Ambers leave 5-0 losers, with a late sinbinning and 5 yellow cards - the last, bizarrely, to Mersey's manager for a comment from the crowd ('Ref - you're Stretford's man of the match'). But at least we see Valley have a shot on target....

 

Badgers Sett For Second Round - Eccles? A Piece Of Cake.... !!

And so what was to be Longley Lane and Wythenshawe Cricket & Sports Club for a Manchester FA Amateur Cup First Round tie between Manchester League Division Two rivals Baguley Athletic and Eccles United - a late switch seeing the match moved to Dixons Brooklands Academy.

Baguley Athletic FC was established in April 2004 as a breakaway from parent club Woodhouse Park United. The Badgers achieved back to back promotions in 2006 and 2007 but thereafter immediately folded.

The club was reincarnated in 2013, joining the Manchester Saturday Morning League. Promoted in 2016, folding again in 2019, but reforming in 2020, and entering the Lancashire and Cheshire Amateur Football League for 2021/22, Baguley finished fourth (of 11) in Division Two.

The Badgers were then accepted into the Manchester League Division Two this past close season, and have started with three wins and a defeat prior to last weekend's away league fixture with today's visitors, Eccles United, which was called off due to HM Queen Elizabeth II's death.

Eccles United began life as Eccles Borough in 1907/08, playing in the Lancashire Combination Division Two in Bradburn Street, Patricroft, and promoted in 1911 before becoming Division One champions in 1913 and 1915. The Eccles changed name to Eccles United during World War I, and after finishing runners up in the Lancashire Combination One in the 1920/21 season moved across to the Cheshire League in 1925.

It wasn't a happy move - two last place finishes in 1926 and 1928 prefaced oblivion for United. Or should that be a long lived hibernation and then resurrection as United, like a phoenix from the flames, reformed, over 90 years later, as Grapes FC in 2020, playing Sunday League football before having the club name ratified back to Eccles United in May 2021. (There was also a short lived Eccles Town, playing in the Manchester League for four seasons from 1983 to 1987).

The Eccles finished third in Division 2 of the Lancashire and Cheshire League in 2021/22, and joined Manchester League Division Two for this campaign. United, playing at Salford City Roosters, have started with a win, a draw and a loss.... and that postponed league fixture against the Badgers last weekend.

En route Deluxe Fried Chicken (opening soon !), that eclectic parade of shops featuring House of Boba (bubble tea), Barberian, Timperley Aesthetics, Cheshire Clocks and Marvel Guitars brings me to Moss Park Community Gardens and number plates GRO6GEY and D3 BOY. Thereafter Timperley Stove & Fuel Centre, the Grange estate and a pedestrian cut through via Threshfield Drive.

Briefly into Brooklands then Baguley and left onto Moor Lane, next to the tram line and Dixons Brooklands Academy, formerly Manchester Health Academy, and prior to that Brookway High School. Inside a work of art from sculpsist Mitzi Cunliffe, 'Man & Technic'...

The academy boasts a 3G pitch, 2 grass fields and, at the top end and perpendicular, tree lined at both ends, housing opposite, and with a business park in the corner, the 'Firsts' pitch hosting today's game. Badgers, obviously, are in black and white but more grey than white and sponsored by Northedge Architecture, Eccles in yellow and black, sponsored by Taxis Transfers. A crowd of just under 25 watches, only just surpassing the number of red bins spread across the fields.....

A capricious wind and bobbly pitch make for a turgid affair - Badgers dominating but guilty of poor shooting. Indeed Eccles have the best two chances - one wastefully spurned wide, the other a wonderful half volley tipped onto the top of the crossbar by Athletic's Dan Green.

Then with two minutes to the break a ball is whipped in, headed on and struck across the goalkeeper into the far corner.... and the Badgers lead.

Two minutes into the second period a decent cross produces a fine header, well saved, but the rebound is gobbled up to double Athletic's advantage. Seven minutes on and Baguley bag a three goal lead; Mike Taylor's free kick badly fumbled and a dink over the keeper makes it 3-0.

Thereafter more torpidity, the Badgers striking the bar, and in injury time Eccles' sub Adam Peck glances a header beyond Green for a consolation and the cup tie finishes ten seconds later - 3-1 to Baguley.

A quick shimmy round Lidl, then the Ericstan for the second half of Wythenshawe Town and Winsford United (attendance 211 plus a half time interloper...) It's a half bookended by goals in the 46th and 89th minutes, and, with 5 goals before half time, Wythy triumph 7-0.

Villa Thriller - But Chaddy The Alpha Males... !!!!

And so to Bank Holiday Monday and a trip to another Villa Park, aka the Jim Fowler Memorial Ground, named after the founder of today's hosts, Euxton Villa FC, who play Chadderton FC in the North West Counties Division One North.

Formed in 1907 as Euxton FC, the club joined the West Lancashire League, renaming to Euxton Villa FC in 1963. Successive promotions, both as runners up, in 2003 and 2004 saw Villa ascend to the West Lancashire Premier League. Third place last term meant the club's application to move up to Step 6 was approved.

Four straight wins, including a 3-1 defeat of Runcorn Town at Villa Park in their first ever NWCFL home match was tarnished by a 2-2 home draw with Darwen on Saturday leaving the home side second.

Chadderton FC, 'Chaddy', was formed in 1947 as Millbrow FC, then became North Chadderton Amateurs and finally Chadderton FC in 1957. Initially competing in the Oldham Amateur League, the club then progressed through the Manchester Amateur League and on to the Manchester League in 1963.

 

A step up to the Lancashire Combination followed and, after finishing runners up in 1982, they became a founder member of the North West Counties, created by the merger of the Lancashire Combination and Cheshire County League.

Promotion in 1990 was swiftly met with relegation the season after, but the club lasted longer at the higher level after gaining promotion in 1993 - until being forcibly demoted in 1999 due to ground grading issues.

 

In 2007 Chaddy was taken over by Craig Halliwell and Tony Bhatti of HB Property Group, but within two years ties had been severed; the club becoming a members' club run by the people for the people. The play offs were reached in 2015, following which lower than mid table finishes have been the norm. 

The team remains best known for two of its ex-players - England international David Platt and Mark Owen from Take That.

 

This time four victories to start the league season was spoilt by a 2-0 home loss at the Falcon Fire Stadium to current leaders Pilkington, with Chaddy currently placing 5th, and out of the Isuzu Vase last Saturday at the hands of Frickley Athletic.

Past Lots of Walks, the faux Hairstylist Drive takes me through Sale, the old Sale Post & Telegraph Office, and Soul Star Holistics, with Garveys advertising events in March... Registration plates today are HAV1T and H4LF K as I drive beyond Beyond (Chill Factore) to reach the M61 and its motorway graffiti 'Sabotage Dissent Do Not Consent'.

 

Past the Macron and off at Junction 8 Botany Bay where I am held up by a tractor pulling a trailer with a badly (fatally) mangled tyre. Through Euxton and into the back of beyond, never ending country lanes and finally, opposite Runshaw Hall, the Jim Fowler Memorial Ground.

 

Just sufficient parking for a bumper crowd of 224, which includes Paul Scholes (his son making a substitute appearance for Chaddy in the second half) and £5 in - but £3 for 'Conncessions'....

 

Inside is the clubhouse, to the left a warm up pitch and the Blind Tiger Inns Stand - 54 seats which host 3 noisy Chaddy fans and their flag. It's cordoned off beyond this and the far end is also out of bounds so the popular side, including a small covered area, is busy - the rural ground surrounded by foliage and trees. 

Euxton are in orange and black, Chadderton in change fluorescent lime and black - their home strip is all red... Twenty five minutes of nothingness ensues...

 

Then, out of nothing, a 25 yard left foot screamer top bins in the right hand corner from Villa's Josh Briggs and puts Euxton ahead. Matters are reversed in the last five minutes of the half; first an expertly threaded through ball is converted, with aplomb, by Cory Knight. Then two minutes before the break Adam Dale heads home from a corner, and the visitors lead 2-1.

 

The second period starts slowly too, until Ethan Darr heads home, again from a corner, for Villa to restore parity on 59 minutes. It's a turning point that doesn't turn however - 60 seconds later Euxton concede a penalty for a trip in the box and Jordan Schofield tucks away the spot kick.

 

With a quarter of an hour to play a dreadful Chaddy corner is matched by an equally awful headed clearance and James Purfield smashes home for 4-2. Cue all out Villa pressure, leaving themselves bare at the back, but despite striking the frame of the goal and Matty Davies' cute chip which drifts and hits the post, the game finishes 4-2 to Chaddy after six minutes of added time.