Vase Is More Than Half Ful - Just !! Mechanics Broken Down....

And so to Lightfoot Green, 'The Green', on Lightfoot Lane - a football ground previously masquerading as a golf course, well maybe a driving range, - and next to Preston Grasshoppers RUFC. Today's Isuzu FA Vase clash is between Fulwood Amateurs AFC and AFC Blackpool.

Fulwood Amateurs AFC was established in 1924, originally playing on a field by the Black Bull pub, then relocating to Watling Street. Beginning with local football the club joined the Lancashire Amateur League in 1928, moving to a ground rented off Dick Kerrs and winning the double in 1937/38. The Ammies purchased land in Grimsargh in 1955 but this was earmarked for compulsory purchase in 1974, and eventually Fulwood settled at Lightfoot Lane in 1979 and won the LAL in 1987.

They moved to the West Lancashire League Division 2 in 1993 and immediately saw promotion as runners up. Amateurs were champions the following year and again in the rechristened Premier League in 1999.

Relegated in 2014 Fulwood bounced back, winning Division One the following season and were crowned as Premier League champions in 2019. Three consecutive 4th place finishes has been enough to see the Ammies elevated to the North West Counties Division One North this season. 

After a goalless draw at Steeton and a 4-1 home defeat to Holker Old Boys, Fulwood have turned the corner with away victories at Colne (5-2) and 7-1 at Garstang, which featured a double hat trick, one in each half, from Spencer Lucas - but he's on holiday today....The Ammies are currently 5th of 18.

 

AFC Blackpool, The Mechanics, from Jepson Way, 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 further joined forces 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, Mechanics Ground, 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. A lateral move to the new Division One North followed in 2018, with a failed play off campaign in 2021/22; The Mechs finished half way last time - 9th of 18, but are bottom this time after three straight defeats.

On a warm, cloudy, humid afternoon it's another motorway bonanza - the M60, M61, M6 and M55. Today's numberplates are H1 ODS, NUG6S and S4LTY with a BJS van 'One Good Deed Leeds To Another'. 

Past the Hands of Buddha and The Vintage Wireless Company takes me to IFly and the Salford Community Stadium, today hosting Scotland v Wales in the Women's Rugby World Cup. Then the M61 and Saturn Commercial Lighting....again 🙄

I'm beyond signs for the Last Drop Village and Martin Mere and then Botany Bay, Euxton Heights and Brockholes. I emerge off the M55 at the Phantom Winger pub and arrive at Lightfoot Lane, adjacent to Preston Grasshoppers RUFC and Hulton House 'Luxury Care Home'....

It's £5 in and a crowd of 87. Inside is a fenced off uncovered seated stand and clubhouse. At the bottom end is the warm up area and then on the far side an open walkway and dugouts. The near end has a covered standing area and the ground is entirely tree lined.... and no longer golfers and distance markers....

We have a very small tubby lineswoman and a heavily tattooed older, slightly taller linesman, but still tubby. In contrast the referee is fit, young and competent.

Fulwood are in all blue, sponsored by Sante Group and AFC Blackpool are in tangerine ('very orange' apparently....) and sponsored by Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone Lancashire. 

The Ammies start the better with Cameron Kilbride shooting straight at Mechs' keeper James Whittingham. But the best chance falls in the first half to AFC Blackpool: Mamadu Touray Touray rounding Fulwood custodian Jacob Barry but seeing his effort blocked.

The Mechanics' centre forward, David Lang, is forced to leave the field with a serious shoulder injury. This is after a stunning save by Whittingham from Kilbride - Sam Higham wastefully shoots over from the resultant corner.

Fulwood are well marshalled by Osawemwengie Imadiyiosatohanmwen (wow 🥺), aka Owen. However a Touray Touray lob is just over as we reach half time goalless.

The second period sees Blackpool's Aaron Smith have a fierce strike slightly off target. 

Then on the hour the deadlock is broken; a wretched back pass from the Mechanics' Samuel Ogundare 

goes out for a needless corner.

That produces a goalmouth scramble and, eventually, James Bell tucks the ball away and the Ammies 

lead 1-0. Fulwood then proceed to pass up several opportunities to put the game to bed.

With nine minutes left Ammies' sub Oliver Rickerby produces an extraordinary solo run, but his shot is 

deflected wide. Two minutes later Fulwood's Barry makes a flying save from Mechs' Anthony Pearson.

The Ams continue to waste chances, with Theo Ball particularly profligate. 

Inevitably Blackpool procure an equaliser in the fourth and final minute of injury time.

A wild challenge by Ammies' Layton Kirnan in the box produces a trip and penalty kick. 

James Hughes scores from the spot and it's 1-1, and seconds later the referee blows for full time.

So to penalties which are much in keeping with the game i.e. underwhelming 😞 

10 spot kicks, 5 scored, 3 saved (one by Barry, two by Whittingham) and 2 missed. 

The final penalty from Mechanics' Shaun Sailor, erm, sails over the bar and the Ammies triumph 3-2 😊

Daisies Cut Back To Size - Tega Earns His Stripes !!!

And so to the North Field on Jericho Lane in Otterspool, in the Liverpudlian district of Aigburth. Today's North West Counties Division One North match is between MSB Woolton FC, their first ever NWCFL home fixture, and Daisy Hill F.C.

MSB Woolton FC traces its roots back to 1930 as Woolton Boys' Club, with the modern formation in 1994. The club is based at Camp Hill and The Simpson Ground in Woolton, South Liverpool. 

The Woo joined the Liverpool County Premier League in 2014 and back to back promotions took them to the Premier Division in 2016. A change of name to MSB Woolton followed through sponsorship by MSB Solicitors at the same time; and that remains to this day 😀

The club was crowned as Premier Division champions in 2023 and 2025. However a groundshare with South Liverpool FC at the North Field on Jericho Lane in Otterspool was required to achieve promotion to the North West Counties, after previous failed attempts due to ground grading issues. The club have started with away defeats 2-1 at Darwen and a 5-0 drubbing at Maine Road which sees Woolton bottom.

 The Daisies, or The Cutters, were established in 1894 playing in the Wigan & District League. By the time of World War 1 the club had moved to the Leigh & District Senior Sunday School League and then the Westhoughton League, playing at New Sirs - now the Ginge Power Stadium. The club folded before World War 2, reforming in 1951 playing again in the Westhoughton League but now based at (the adjacent) St James Street & Cricket Ground - they moved back to New Sirs in 1957.

The Daisies then joined the Bolton Combination, which they won four times, before moving to the Lancashire Combination for 4 seasons and then becoming founder members of the North West Counties Football League in 1982.

The club was renamed Westhoughton Town during the period 1989-94, thereafter reverting back to Daisy Hill FC - they have never been promoted or relegated from the North West Counties, but only escaped demotion in 2014 because Leek CSOB and Formby resigned from the league, and again in 2018 because of a league restructuring, having finished bottom of the pile.

Two abandoned Covid campaigns then an 8th place finish in 2022 preceded three lower season finishes. However last term saw social influencer Aaron Hunt take over as chairman and a monster crowd of 857 (normal gates are about 50) against Atherton Laburnum Rovers for the first home game under his watch, also attended by Angry Ginge and TikToker Steve Bracknall. This time a 1-0 loss at home to Ashton Athletic, a 2-2 home draw with Garstang and a 2-1 away defeat at Ashton Town leaves the Daisies 15th of 18.

The afternoon begins in bizarre circumstances with a woman lighting a cigarette on a petrol station forecourt..... Past the Armenian Grill House and glorious floral colour at Denzell Gardens in 26C heat it's another motorway bonanza - the M56, M6 and the M62. Beyond Orange Spa Massage, the Pink Eye, Fiddler's Ferry, Griffin Wood and the Dream sculpture at St Helens, with curious motorway bridge graffiti of End Speciesism....

Then we come to Tarbock Island and Symmetry Park. The M62 finishes at junction 4, in a failed attempt to reach Liverpool city centre; after that it's left at The Rocket with Brazilian Jujitsu at Aspire Combat and the Tiffin Indian restaurant. Numberplates today are PH16BOG (Phil Higgins Plumbing) and CHE35Y - a black Porsche, plus a BJS removal van 'Coals To Newcastle'.

But, via Childwall Fiveways and Mossley Hill, I reach the outskirts of Aigburth, before hitting Jericho Lane and the Community Football & Fitness Hub. This is now home to South Liverpool FC, Liverpool Feds Women FC and, from today, MSB Woolton FC.

Opposite is the glorious vista of Otterspool Promenade, looking onto the River Mersey - at the hub there is plenty of parking, and £6 admission; the crowd is 122 with good away support and an Ultras banner 'No Pies Are Safe' 👏

The ground has two small seated stands, one behind the goal and the other on the popular side, with only three sides open. There is a walkway and a covered area opposite the dugouts, and the astroturf surface is surrounded by small sized pitches. After a fourth heatwave cloud and warm sunshine greets the game.

Woolton, 'Fire In The Belly, Ice In The Veins', are in all white, with pale blue pinstripes on their sleeves, sponsored by Vesey, and the Cutters in all blue, sponsored by Star401.

It's a scrappy start to the match - not helped by the artificial surface and the heat. However on 17 minutes MSB's goalkeeper captain Dan Jennings spills a Kaiden Barlow free kick and Lee Grimshaw follows up to sidefoot home and put the Daisies 1-0 up.

Needless handbags just before the half hour result in two yellow cards. But five minutes on the Cutters' Joao Soares impressively volleys home a cross and the visitors lead 2-0.

That remains for only four minutes as Woolton's number nine, Tega Okeregha, comfortably outpaces Hill captain Nathan Bartram-Conway and slots in across Morgan Newns on 37. Newns makes a super reaction save on half time to preserve the Daisies' 2-1 lead.

The second period is all Whites as Newns produces a fine save from a corner and Joe Harvey's long range curler just drifts over. All the Cutters can deliver is hitting the post on 65, from a Jennings fumble.

Newns again excels, denying Harvey and Shea Currey. But with 12 minutes to go there is a clear shove by Okeregha and both sides stop. However nothing is given by the referee and Tega feeds the ball down the wing, and the resulting cross is deftly headed in by Daniel Ventre for 2-2.

Woolton hit the bar in the closing stages and apply significant pressure, but ultimately cannot find a winner. The spoils are shared leaving the Woo 16th and Daisy Hill one place higher in 15th.

Josh's Ams Dram Puts Ramblers On The Wrong Trail....!

And so to the DRM Aggregate Arena in Oakengates in Telford for a North West Counties Division One South fixture between Telford Town FC and Sandbach United FC.

The home team was established in 1950 as Old Wellingtonians by former pupils of Wellington Grammar School. However it changed name to Wellington Amateurs FC when the Head Master discovered that the club had started accepting players who were not former pupils....

After 31 years in the Wellington League the Ams joined the Shropshire County League Division One in 1981, which they won in their first season. The Premier Division was championed in 1983 and 1989 and Wellington moved up to the West Midlands (Regional) League Division Two in 2007, which they bested in their first campaign.

Division One champions three times in four years Welly was eventually admitted to the Premier Division in 2012 after undertaking ground improvements. Relegated in bottom place in 2018 to Division One, the division was renamed the Premier Division for the 2024/25 season.

In February 2024 the team was taken over by former Hednesford Town owner Hayden Dando and rebranded as Telford Town FC. Town won the Premier League last season with 23 wins, 4 draws and 1 defeat, scoring 94 goals and conceding only 15 - and this brought about promotion to the North West Counties Division One South. The Ams have started with a 2-2 draw at Foley Meir, a 3-0 home win against Haughmond and an Alsager away victory - 1-0 - to lie third.

Sandbach Albion, formerly known as Hays Junior FC, was founded in 1994. Sandbach Ramblers Youth Football Club was reformed in 1995 to provide access for schoolboy football for the youth of Sandbach and the surrounding area.

Sandbach United was established in 2004 when Sandbach Ramblers and Sandbach Albion joined forces in their quest to improve football facilities in Sandbach. The club badge reflects the union, featuring R and A in its design.

 

United originally competed in the Staffordshire County Senior League, before moving to the Cheshire League in 2011 where they were promoted to the Premier Division in 2014. The Ramblers were accepted into the North West Counties in 2016 and have consistently placed upper half, with three consecutive failed play off attempts - last season culminating in a 5-4 defeat at Stafford Town. This time a 1-0 home defeat to New Mills before beating Shawbury United 2-1, again at home, they sit 11th of 19.

Numberplates today are BE10VED and K11ODD and a BJS Removal Van 'Setting The Canterbury Pace'.... 

It's a sunny, breezy afternoon as I set off past the soon to be closed George and Dragon. Then the M6 at Juniper Farm followed by Jenga motorway bridge graffiti.

Overtaking Han's Hands and plenty of trailer advertising, including BadRhino, we are held up by a 'stranded vehicle'. We turn off to the A5, Watling Street, and bypass Gailey Pottery and White Pump Farm. The return journey is via Eccleshall and Buttercup and Daisies With Love.

Then it's beyond Weston-under-Lizard, Crackleybank and into Telford and Wrekin, with its hedgehog friendly new builds. That brings us to Oakengates, the Coalport Tavern and the DRM Aggregate Arena on School Grove - although the advertising hoarding inside is for DRM Aggreate 🙄

£6 in and there is a crowd of 135, including several Ramblers' fans. We sit in the Wednesday Crew Stand, opposite the Army & Spud covered terrace and the Dave Gregory Clubhouse.

The ground is bordered on three sides by residential housing and minimal parking. The near end bookends a small industrial estate, including Torton Bodies: the far end is cordoned off.

The Ams are in all red, the Ramblers in change yellow with blue lines.

A bone dry pitch and a capricious wind make for an inauspicious spectacle. However, in the first five minutes, Ams' centre forward Josh Hesson, with a super turn, creates a chance smartly held by United's keeper Craig Ellison.

Then an even better opportunity sees Hesson shoot just wide. For Sandbach Joe Bevan has a shot saved by Jack Boswell on 17 minutes.

Finally the deadlock is broken on 32 from a Kyle Jordan long throw. Town's Jack Howse nips in to head over a floundering Ellison and Telford lead 1-0.

It stays that way until the break, but not before Hesson is sinbinned for dissent a minute from the interval....

As expected the Ramblers, with a man advantage, and prompted by Stanley Tatters, launch an all out assault on the Ams' goal at the start of the second period. However a tremendous rearguard action means United create only one meaningful chance - Bevan denied superbly by Boswell.

Restored to 11 men Telford turn the screws. On the hour there is a fine double save from Ellison, but he is beaten on 69 by a magical individual goal from Hesson, beating three defenders in the penalty area and then slotting home.

After a double miss the Ams wrap up the points 3-0 with nine minutes to go; a messy corner arrives at Harry Dear's feet and he stabs home. Telford stay third but Sandbach drop to 14th, albeit with a game in hand.