And so to The Bowl (The 'Bernabowl') in Douglas on the Isle of Man for an 1800 kick off between FC Isle of Man (Club Sockyr Ellan Vannin) and Longridge Town in the North West Counties Premier Division. The evening start, as with all Isle of Man home games on a Saturday, was devised to avoid any competition with the local Saturday league.
The Ravens set up in 2019 -
their badge made up of a black raven (a populous native bird on the island) and
red and white colours, representing the island's sunsets and Manannan's cloak -
Manannan, a Manx warrior, being the 'son of the sea'. The four water lines
reflect the four sides of the isle and the motto 'Bee ny Share' is Manx for 'Be
Better'. The triskelion (the three legged national flag) is stitched into the
back of the shirt.
Isle of Man was accepted into
the North West Counties for the 2020/2021 season and played their inaugural
match in July 2020 against Guernsey in the Skipton Cup at The Bowl, winning
1-0. A reverse fixture in September produced a 1-1 draw with Guernsey winning
on penalties.
Sadly the Covid-19 pandemic
and local quarantine requirements meant the club could not start their league
adventure - the club was temporarily suspended by the NWCFL in December 2020
for its failure to fulfil fixtures by the season end date. In any event the
league season was abandoned in February 2021.
Nonetheless the Ravens kicked
off 2021/2022 at Maine Road, playing 16 consecutive away fixtures, before
hosting Brocton FC on 30 October. A hugely impressive first season left the
Manxmen finish second, and then home play off victories against Wythenshawe
Amateurs (3-0) and New Mills (4-2) saw the club promoted to the Premier
Division.
Unfortunately this season has
proved to be a step (almost) too far - a real struggle, seeing manager Chris
Bass sacked in November 2022 and Paul Jones, Director of Football, taking over
as interim manager to the end of the season. The Ravens lie 20th, one place
above the relegation zone, but 10 points clear of Burscough who occupy the last
relegation spot.
Longridge Town FC, from The Recycling Lives (formerly the Mike Riding) Ground on Inglewhite Road in the town, was formed in 1996 when the two main clubs in the town, Longridge United and Longridge St Wilfred’s, amalgamated. Both clubs had histories dating back to the 19th century when Longridge St Wilfred’s and Longridge St Lawrence were established.
The clubs were based on
sectarian grounds and played in their respective religious leagues. That
situation existed to 1929 when Longridge St Lawrence became a non-sectarian
club and changed name to Longridge United.
The new club started in the
Preston & District League and subsequent promotions saw The Ridge elevated
to the West Lancashire League Division Two in 2008. A runners up spot in their
first season took them to Division One, where they were crowned champions in
2012.
The 2016/17 Premier Division
title was clinched with a last day 1-0 win at closest rivals Blackpool Wren
Rovers. The season after Town finished third and successfully applied to join
the North West Counties Football League Division One North. Immediate success
followed as champions with 144 goals scored taking Longridge up to the Premier
- followed by 2 Covid ravaged seasons and mid table in 12th last time.
Currently the Ridge start one place above the Ravens, on goal difference, in
19th, of 22, but with three games in hand and also ten points clear of
relegation.
En route to
the airport numberplates BT04STY (heating engineer) and RUM3N, plus a van
advertising Pawfection on the island....
A 27 minute flight, soaring over Calf of Man, then a packed bus, Ballasalla Steam Railway station, Mann Cat Sanctuary and Ballavartyn Equestrian Centre. Past the Home of Rest for Old Horses, the National Sports Centre and the Bowl into Douglas, home of the Thirsty Pigeon (a very welcome post match pint of Okells ☺), the Blind Pig, Wine Down, Bored Room and Mad Jack's Axe Throwing. The return journey is via Onchan and features the pub The Cat With No Tail and, fittingly outside, a Manx cat !
Into town there's the Tynwald (House of Keys), the Bee Gees statue, Tower of Refuge, Douglas War Memorial, Gaiety Theatre, the Horse Tramway (since 1876 !) leading onto the Manx Electric Railway at Derby Castle and its museum - sadly closed. On the way back is the Manx Museum from 1922, with a free centenary Museum 100 exhibition, the Manx Steam Railway and then up to the Bowl off Circular Road, turning left at Exit Strategy, an 'escape room'. Then Pulrose Power Station, the Isle of Cider on the Riverside Industrial Estate next to the River Glass, and to the 3,500 capacity Bowl.
Tonight's attendance is 627, with a healthy away following despite the misty, drizzly weather - the stadium is all seater, with one side and two corners covered, trees on every side and the ground in the midst of an industrial estate featuring fast food chains and local businesses. £10 in, card only, which is rather steep for this level but the Ravens are strictly amateur and have to pay for the visitors' travel and accommodation...
Mascot Raymond P Raven puts
in an appearance with the Manxmen in red and black, Ridge in change lime
and grey - and a pulsating first half ensues...
Within 3 minutes Ridge's marauding full back Mitch Mitchell crosses low and hard and the ball is diverted into his own net by Ryan Burns to put Town 1-0 up. No matter as five minutes later Ste Whitley's cross finds captain Sean Doyle whose header sails home, but Ridge's keeper James Aspinall should have done better...
Six minutes on a ball is played in by Charlie Higgins and Doyle rolls his man and then hammers home. Doyle's 13 minute perfect hat trick is completed on 21 minutes, diverting home with his left foot after a fabulous Ravens' team move.
For the visitors Dean Ing plants a header wide but, fair warning, then shoots low under Dean Kearns to make it 3-2 on 33 minutes. We then see a goal line clearance from the Ravens and Higgins denied by Aspinall in a one on one as half time finds the Manxmen 3-2 up.
The second half is all about Ridge, as the Ravens fail to take flight, and eventually on 63 minutes Ing beats the offside trap and equalises for 3-3. Four minutes on Cian McDermott's effort is well saved but Ing powers home the rebound for his hat trick and puts Town 4-3 ahead.
But his game
isn't over, as with five minutes left, he wins the ball and plays an exquisite
pass to sub Ben Finley who scores with aplomb to make it 3-5; Finley then bends
one round the post but Longridge end up deserved 5-3 winners in a compelling
match ☺
