Gate's Open For On Song Linnets ...

And so to the Community Stadium (New Victoria Park) in Burscough for an Easter Monday North West Counties Premier League fixture. Burscough FC, 'The Linnets', take on Squires Gate this afternoon.

The first Burscough AFC was formed in 1880 but folded in 1900. It was re-established as Burscough Rangers in 1905 and moved to Mart Lane in 1908, before also folding in 1935. The present Burscough club was founded in 1946 and worked its way up the Liverpool Leagues, Lancashire Combination and Cheshire County League before becoming founder members and first champions of the North West Counties Football League in 1982.

In 1998 they were promoted to the Northern Premier League, and in 2003 became the smallest ever club to win the FA Trophy against Tamworth under the management of Sean Teale - his reward was to be sacked 6 weeks later......

In 2007 the Linnets won the Northern Premier and spent two seasons in the Conference North, their highest ever position. Thereafter three relegations in 2009, 2012 and 2017 and an abortive half season ground share with Skelmersdale United brought them both home and to their current status, North West Counties Premier - which they are in real danger of being relegated from - seven points adrift with only four games left....

The story continues - Burscough sold the old Victoria Ground which was demolished in 2020, and built the Community Stadium adjacent incorporating an all weather pitch, which immediately flooded, and installed the old main stand from Stormy Corner (Skelmersdale's old ground), which was swiftly condemned and then removed. NWCFL refused permission for the new stadium to be used for matches, resulting in games being switched, until matters were finally resolved.

The club's owner at the time was universally reviled in Skelmersdale. Turns out that he also owned Stormy Corner and gave the Blueboys two hours notice of eviction - I was shown a picture of a 'Wanted Dead or Alive - For Money Making' poster that Skem fans produced at the time.

Squires Gate FC from School Road and The Brian Addison Stadium are the visitors - named after club stalwart Brian Addison, who has progressed from player to linesman to manager to Secretary to Chairman and eventually to groundsman.... 

 

The away side was formed in 1948 as Squires Gate British Legion, having accepted an offer from Blackpool Council to take a lease on a new ground on the site of a former tip. The Gate competed in the Blackpool & District Amateur League, changing their name to Squires Gate FC in 1953, and winning the League's First Division in 1955/56 and 1956/57.

 

Having spent one season in the Fylde District League the Gate moved to the newly reformed West Lancashire League in 1961. This proved a sterner challenge, with the Blues eventually promoted as Division 2 champions in 1980.

 

After much soul searching the club applied for membership of the North West Counties Football League and joined Division 2 for the 1991/92 season. In 2003 the Gate missed the runners up spot on goal difference, but were promoted to the top tier following the demise of champions Stand Athletic FC.

 

There they have remained ever since, reaching the FA Vase quarter final in the 2005/06 campaign. Calls for a merger between the 3 non league clubs situated within a 300 yard radius - Gate, Blackpool Mechanics (now AFC Blackpool) and Blackpool Wren Rovers -  have come to naught. The Blues are currently 19th, of 22, and seemingly safe.

It's a wet, murky Bank Holiday lunchtime as I set out past the Co-op Starship robots, the Vegetarian Society (relocating apparently), and into filthy driving conditions on the M6 across Thelwall Viaduct - teeming rain, spray and mist and, yes, imbeciles with no lights on..... Numberplates today are SU51 SAY, SKH4N and R1LEY and a firm advertising a dog grooming business - Short, Bark & Sides....

Past Enigma Industrial Solutions and Movianto I ignore the attractions of Haydock Park, Martin Mere Wetland Centre and Wigan Pier, and exit at Junction 27 and a sign 'We've Got It All In West Lancashire' - well definitely rain and surface water !! Taking in the striking Christ Church in Parbold with The Stocks pub nearby, and the villages of Newburgh (twinned with Newburgh, Indiana !) and historic Lathom, hosting Tawd Vale Adventure Centre, brings me to the outskirts of Burscough. There's no longer The Blue Mallard at Burscough Wharf but The Hop Vine survives in the town centre, before I turn into Tesco for free parking - there is limited parking at the ground.

New Victoria Park is behind Tesco and the Fitness and Racquets Centre, up Bobby Langton Way, past the vandalised, derelict 'The Barons' club, and with new housing on the old Victoria Park, with the original developer having gone bust. Inside there's a snack bar and on the near side the covered all seater stand - the changing rooms are in a separate building set back alongside.

Other than that it's just a walkway round the other three sides with banking and signs, ignored, stating 'Do Not Stand On The Mound'. The surprisingly busy (for a Bank Holiday) train line is at the top end but the other two sides lead onto mud and fields. Sadly the advertising hoarding offering exotic mushrooms is no more, and disappointingly the 'Burscough FC We Are L40' banner is also absent.

£6 in to a cold, exposed, windswept Community Stadium but thankfully the rain has abated, although the temperature is only 8C, feeling like 5C because of the icy wind. The Linnets are in all green, the Blues, strangely, in change red and white, and a solitary cry of 'You're just a bus stop in Ormskirk' greets a crowd of 75. 

As expected Gate start the better and take the lead on 10 minutes. Winger Alex Ralph cuts in from the right and hits a left yard screamer into the top corner.

 

But on 17 minutes a wind assisted cross sails into the far corner from Harry Middlehurst and the Linnets are level. Then eight minutes later a sloppy pass across the box is seized on and Laurence Cant is played in and he comfortably strokes home - Burscough lead 2-1 at the break.

 

Five minutes after half time good work by the corner flag sees the ball laid back to left back Morgan Kinsella and he finishes top bins for 3-1 ☺ On 54 minutes the ball is caught on the wind, drifting over the centre back and Christopher Sang takes advantage with an accomplished strike low into the corner - 4-1.

 

Ten minutes on Xenon Bahula is barged over in the box and Kinsella obliges with the spot kick to leave the Linnets 5-1 up - to some disbelief....

 

Burscough continue to create chances but Gate, belatedly, close the gate and there is no more scoring. However still incident as on 79 minutes Blues' sub Theo Ball is shown a straight red for a late, unnecessary lunge on home keeper Charles Monks.

 

Then on 87 James Boyd is released by Ralph, and he is cleaned out just outside box by Monks, who surprisingly only receives a yellow card. To add insult to injury Monks then makes a fine save from Ralph's free kick - Gate's only effort worthy of mention in the second period, and it finishes 5-1 to the Linnets.

 

However results have gone against Burscough and they are still 7 points adrift, but now with only three games left....

Stags Party - Goats Cheesed Off...... !!!

And so to April the First and the Marley Stadium in Keighley for this afternoon’s clash between Steeton and Holker Old Boys in the North West Counties Division One North.

Steeton AFC was founded in 1905 as Steeton Church Lads Brigade, although some believe it could have been formed in the 1890s, playing at The Oaks in the Keighley & District League – a league they won three times. After the Second World War the team moved to the Craven & District League where they were famous for their ‘Bits of Mint’ side which tasted silverware. The club also won a solitary league championship in 1960. 

In 1969 the side relocated to the Doris Wells Memorial Field in Summerhill Lane following the construction of Airedale Hospital, and in 1985 entered the West Riding County Amateur League with a highest placing of runners up in the 2012/13 season.

Third in 2018 their application to join the North West Counties Football League proved to be successful. However the Doris Wells Memorial Field was not up to league ground grading requirements – it was still used for reserve and youth team games – so a groundshare with Keighley Cougars RLFC was agreed. Nearby neighbours the Cobbydalers of Silsden AFC came to a similar arrangement when they joined the North West Counties in 2004.

Evicted from Cougar Park in 2020, with Keighley using the stadium for ladies' rugby league matches on Saturdays (which didn't happen due to Covid...), over the summer Bradford Council redeveloped the Marley complex, with a 3G surface, just further down Aire Valley Road on Marland Road. Steeton have been consistently lower to mid table since joining the NWCFL but currently sit 6th of 18 this time around with 4 games to play - after Tuesday's 3-2 home victory over Garstang, overcoming a 2-0 half time deficit and the visitors having an injury time penalty saved......

Steeton AFC’s nickname is ‘The Chevrons’, from the French word for goat (chevre) and the club emblem features a goat’s head, with the nearby Goat’s Head pub on Skipton Road claiming to be the ‘Home of Steeton AFC’.

Holker Old Boys AFC was established in 1936 as Holker Central Old Boys, initially as an under 16 side from Old Boys of the then Holker Central Secondary School in Holker Street, Barrow-in-Furness. The school has long since closed, replaced by a Kwik Save supermarket which has also shut its doors.

 

The Cobs (Central Old Boys), also known as The Stags, joined the adult North Western League in 1939 and then entered the West Lancashire League in 1967. The club moved in 1971 to a new ground at Rakesmoor, formerly an isolation hospital and then allotments.

 

Holker won the West Lancashire League in 1987 ahead of local rivals Vickers Sports Club (now Hawcoat Park FC), and then moved to the North West Counties in 1991. The Cobs finished 3rd in 1994 behind Haslingden (now defunct) and North Trafford (now Trafford FC) but Haslingden failed the ground criteria so Holker were promoted to the top tier.

 

The Stags were relegated in 1999, after losing all 20 away games and scoring only 5 goals on their travels. They have remained at step 6 ever since, with, until recently, only a single losing play off appearance at the end of the 2014/15 season, defeated by Hanley Town. However they finished runners up last season, losing the play off final 2-1 after extra time to Golcar United, and are currently 7th, two places outside the play offs and level with the Chevrons, goal difference one less, but with two games in hand.

So a raw, grey, drizzly day peaking at 8C brings me onto Manchester Road and I come across numberplates UR 10VE X and M4RRY and Va Va Voom, plus a van advertising Pawsome Pets ☺

Beyond Style Junky and Soul Star Holistics to the M60, and Beyond (the latest incarnation of Chill Factore !) and then the M66, into Hyndburn, 'Home of Accrington Pals', and onto the M65 and signs for Shuttlewoof Hall. The end of the motorway brings me to Vivary Way and Colne. As ever the traffic is a nightmare.....

Having finally negotiated my way through I come across the Morris Dancers pub, Hedge Hogg, the Hartley Homes, Wycoller Country Park and The Atom Panopticon. Then the sprawling village of Cowling, past the football club (reserves at home to Colne United today), before arriving at the sign for Glusburn & Cross Hills (coming t'other way the sign has the names reversed), home of Funky Monkey and dominated by the Cirteq factory. There follows an interminable wait at Kildwick Level Crossing....

Past Zolsha and right at The Trawlerman onto the A629, Silsden to the left and Steeton to the right, The Doris Wells Memorial Field visible from the road. Then left into the outskirts of Keighley with Cougar Park behind the Texaco garage immediately on the left and the Marley Stadium further down. I park next to a scrap metal merchants on a rundown, litter strewn side street and wend my way into Keighley, taking in the impressive Markazi Jamia Masjid mosque, Blue Ginger, Ace of Fadezz and the Boltmakers Arms. My final destination is the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway on its first day back - 75078 on duty and £14 return for the 25 minute journey to Oxenhope.

Finally to the Marley Activities & Coaching Centre where Steeton are in very smart green and green and white pinstripe quarters, Holker in change yellow - £5 in and a crowd of 104 (862 at Keighley Cougars against Crusaders in the Challenge Cup just up the road !) and today's referee is Thomas De Prez. Inside at the top end are two shelters - the Varley Boilers covered stand, the other one unsponsored, and nearside the Keighley Kia & Mazda seating in front of the clubhouse.

The ground is sited on an industrial estate, the A650 at one end, picturesque views of the countryside, Riddlesden rising into the hills on my left and surrounded by council football pitches - 2 local games already in progress.

On 6 minutes a deep corner is headed back by Stags' Josh Woodend and a sumptuous half volley from Tom Dawson puts the visitors one up. Holker continue to dominate from set pieces, aided by a complete absence of Chevron defending, and veteran Jason Walker should have done better with a free header.

Gradually Steeton grow into the game and on 28 Andrew Briggs is played in, forcing a good save from Jay Barker. Arale Mohamed shoots wide but the closest the Chevrons come is six minutes before half time when a cross is chested onto the post by a Cobs' defender. Jake Townsend heads over just before the break, when it was easier to score, and Holker lead 1-0 at the interval.

Early in the second period Jamie Catlow, the home custodian, gets in a faff with a back pass, and the Stags nearly double their advantage. A minute later Mohamed is played through, outsprinting full back Hakan McCracken, and scores at the near post to equalise.

It doesn't last long as a soft free kick is flagged by the nearside linesman - an official I am providing Middlesbrough score updates with during the second half..... The ball is whipped in by Will McGladdery, static home defending, and Dawson claims the final touch to put the Cobs 2-1 up.

Thereafter it's all about game management as, apart from Raeece Ellington's free kick with twelve minutes to play which whistles just past the post, Holker comfortably hold on to win 2-1. The Chevrons' play off hopes surely now over....