Panthers Pounce... But See Hope Of Three Points Go South....

And so to Jericho Lane in the Otterspool area of Aigburth in Liverpool for a North West Counties Division One North clash between South Liverpool and Atherton LR. It's one of a handful of NWCFL games going ahead on FA Vase day - South Liverpool receiving a walkover as AFC St Helens Town 'weren't accepted into the competition'....

South Liverpool date back from the 1890s - their first incarnation coming from a club changing its name from African Royal, moving to the Dingle, and eventually relocating to become New Brighton AFC. The Rakers were dissolved in 1983, having been Football League members from 1923 to 1951.

The second coming of The South came about in 1935 with the club playing at Holly Park in Garston, and enjoying trophy joy as Lancashire Combination champions in 1937, 1938 and 1939. The club made 10 applications to join the Football League, all unsuccessful, but won the Welsh Cup in 1939, beating Cardiff City 2-1....

The Cheshire County League followed in 1951 and subsequently the club played the first ever match under 'permanent' floodlights against a Nigeria XI (who were reputedly barefoot !) - a game covered by Kenneth Wolstenholme (until it was all over !) on the BBC, with a crowd of 13,007.

Then in 1967 Ferenc Puskas guested for the club in a fundraising friendly, attracting a crowd of 10,000 before South were invited to join the new Northern Premier League a year later. Jimmy Case and John Aldridge both cut their teeth at Holly Park before moving onto better things..

South struggled against wealthier, better supported clubs but in 1983/84 enjoyed their best post war season as they annexed the NPL League Cup, the Lancashire Challenge Trophy and the Liverpool Senior Cup. South’s success was not built upon and whilst two more Liverpool Senior Cup wins followed along with the NPL Presidents Cup, Holly Park was lost (burnt down) in 1989 and the limited company was liquidated in 1991. Holly Park was later converted to the impressive Liverpool South Parkway station.

South supporters had already formed a committee to take over the football club and in 1992 the phoenix club, a merger with Cheshire Lines FC, joined the Liverpool County Combination, groundsharing with Bootle rent free in exchange for Holly Park's floodlights - the clubs separating two years later. A nomadic existence was then South’s main issue but at the dawn of the Millennium they secured a home at the North Field, Jericho Lane, Otterspool. The County Combination joined forces with the I Zingari League in 2006 to form the Liverpool County Premier League.

South were consistent top half finishers in the Liverpool Combination / Liverpool County Premier League and won the George Mahon Cup at Goodison Park in May 2009. In 2011 South took the decision to switch to the West Cheshire League and immediately won two consecutive divisional titles to move up to the top division in 2014. The First Division was won in 2015, retained in 2016 when two cups were added, making it a triple winning season. Further title success was achieved in 2018.

2019 saw South’s home ground move 200 yards to the Jericho Hub complete with floodlights, cover and stand. After the cancellation of the 2019/20 season South stepped up and took the abbreviated league title in 2021, achieving promotion to the North West Counties League for 2021/22, thirty years after semi pro status had been lost. South currently sit 7th with 14 points from 9 games.

Atherton Laburnum Rovers FC was founded in 1956 as Laburnum Rovers, an Under 14s side to play in the Briarcroft Junior League. 'The Laburnums' were named after the Laburnum Playing Fields where they first played; it is not clear where their other nickname, 'The Panthers', emanates from.

The club expanded to senior level, starting in the Leigh & District League, and after moving to Hagfold Playing Fields, became members of the Bolton Combination in 1961. Ground facilities prevented promotion so a farmer's field was found at Greendale and, despite a footpath criss-crossing and duck ponds on either side, a football pitch was created. The move to the new ground occurred in June 1966, and after winning the Bolton Combination Division Two, the Laburnums were promoted and new changing rooms were erected - a major improvement on the old air raid shelters previously in use !

The Panthers joined the Cheshire County League in 1980, with the league stipulating the team changed its name to include that of the town - and Atherton Laburnum Rovers was born. The ground was renamed Crilly Park in honour of chairman Jack Crilly, who had died suddenly.

LR were also founder members of the North West Counties in 1982 and, as champions in 1993 and 1995, were promoted to the Unibond Northern Premier League, the latter a stay that lasted three seasons culminating in relegation after financial problems. Thereafter there was a flurry of managers - 6 in 2 years at one point - and the intervening years saw two relegations, one promotion and two Bolton Hospital Cup successes.

2015/16 represented the nadir for Rovers, finishing next to bottom in the lower division with only 4 wins and 18 points all season – fortunately there was no relegation. 20^th and 18^th both out of 22 in the last two full campaigns shows progress has been limited….. although 31 points from 29 games in 2019/20 was rather better. Only three fixtures were completed last time, and Rovers currently have 7 points from 8 games.

Past the Armenian Grill House ( est 2020 - but still to open: 'Coming Soon' ), Buff Nail & Beauty, with Ronaldo's second coming queues in the opposite direction, and glorious floral colour at Denzell Gardens sees pockets of drizzle. This in direct contrast to the previous two days when the weather has not been so much foul as utterly deranged, the sky gushing like a burst water pipe, with roads becoming swirling eddies and fields turning into lakes.

Another motorway bonanza - the M56, M6 (still struggling from the fatal crash at The PIES bridge) and the M62 - now fully reopened after 19 pigs escaped onto the carriageway this morning. Beyond the Dream sculpture and Sutton Manor Woods at St Helens, with curious bridge graffiti of 'End Speciesism' and 'Free Julian Assange'. En route are numberplates 4PPY, 111 OB (an ill old boy ?) and a very odd 380 EBO .....

The M62 finishes at junction 4, in a  failed attempt to reach Liverpool city centre; left at The Rocket and a circuitous (calamitous ??) route takes me via Sefton Park and Penny Lane... But I reach the outskirts of Aigburth, passing Hair We Are, Grilla - Meat On A Spit and Pose and Pout, before hitting Jericho Lane and the Community Football & Fitness Hub.

Opposite is the glorious vista of Otterspool Promenade, looking onto the River Mersey - at the hub plenty of parking, the requirement to obtain a QR code and £5 admission for a match that is tweeted with a crowd of 126, but curiously downgraded to 125 later. Who is that missing man ??

Inside a small seated stand behind the goal, only three sides open, a walkway and a covered area opposite the dugouts, and surrounded by small sized pitches. Another sullen sky spasmodically allowing sunshine greets the game, with South in white shirts, black shorts and red socks and the Laburnums in yellow and blue.

South Liverpool have 'not got out of bed' as Rovers conjure up 4 chances in the first five minutes - Justeace Holness going close twice. The home side rouse and Alex Woodcock forces a smart save from away custodian Josep Genestar aka 'Pepe'. Thereafter it's a half (and match) dominated by bewildering officiating, seemingly based on guesswork...

Keiron Dale, for the visitors, is injured and leaves the pitch to avoid playing South onside, then walks back on and collapses and is booked. Thereafter South's keeper, Oli Farebrother, strays outside his box, cleans out the onrushing forward and handles the ball - and also, mystifyingly, gets a yellow - the whole ground expecting a red.

'Ref, get a grip' and 'Book the linesman' are two of the more printable comments, as (particularly the away) supporters laugh at some of the decisions made. But with just over five minutes to go before the break Luke Nicholls scuffs home a volley that loops lazily into the far corner and Rovers lead. Woodcock immediately forces a fine save from Pepe, and Stephen Doyle's free kick is marginally wide - but Atherton lead 1-0 at the interval. 

The second period is all South, as Paul Bathgate slashes one over the bar (and into the drink !) and then a wayward back pass allows in Owen Hough but his shot is too close to Pepe, who pulls off a brilliant save from the follow up. No matter as on 54 minutes Louis Gorman is impeded at a free kick and a rather debatable penalty is given, which Stephen Doyle smashes into the roof of the net for parity.

The Laburnums, far from wilting, play themselves back into the game and the final half hour is end to end, as both sides look to nick the three points. South are defied by some quality defending and keeping, and a poor final ball too often, whilst Rovers, more on the break, come closer though Travis Boyles - Farebrother pulling off some fine saves. But ultimately it finishes as a 1-1 draw, but an entertaining one at that - complete with comedy officials ☺

Panthers Fail To Pounce - Then A Second Half To Makerfield Ill..

 And so to Edge Green Street in Ashton-in-Makerfield, the home of Ashton Town AFC. On a cold, grey afternoon the Town play host to near neighbours, Atherton Laburnum Rovers, in the North West Counties Football League Division One.

The original Ashton Town joined the Lancashire Combination in 1903, but withdrew towards the end of the 1910/11 season and their fixtures were taken over by Tyldesley Albion. The current club was established in 1953 by employee Derek 'Mick' Mycock as Makerfield Mill FC - a works football team for Makerfield Mill, one of Lancashire's leading textile mills in the 1950s, and known locally as the 'Weaving Shed'. The first two seasons in the Wigan Sunday School League can only be described as disastrous, with the club winning just two games, and earning the unenviable name of 'The Chopping Blocks'.....

Mick decided to move the club to a higher standard of football, the St Helens Combination, for 1955/56 and successfully gained permission from the Mill's management to play four non-employees. After a season of consolidation, the restriction on the use of outside players was totally lifted and Division 2 was won in 1958.

Makerfield Mill FC joined the Warrington & District Amateur League the following season, and were champions five times in their first six seasons. This was also a period which saw the club renamed Ashton Town in 1962 and they acquired their Edge Green Street ground, which was previously used by Stubshaw Cross Rovers, in 1964.

After a sixth title in 1970, the Town joined the Lancashire Combination and then the Cheshire County League in 1978. Thereafter the club became founder members of the North West Counties Football League in 1982 where they have remained ever since, aside from one season in the Manchester League - slightly at odds with their motto 'Onwards & Upwards'.

Atherton Laburnum Rovers FC was founded in 1956 as Laburnum Rovers, an U-14s side to play in the Briarcroft Junior League. 'The Laburnums' were named after the Laburnum Playing Fields where they first played; it is not clear where their other nickname, 'The Panthers', emanates from.

The club expanded to senior level, starting in the Leigh & District League, and after moving to Hagfold Playing Fields, became members of the Bolton Combination in 1961. Ground facilities prevented promotion so a farmer's field was found at Greendale and, despite a footpath criss-crossing and duck ponds on either side, a football pitch was created. The move to the new ground occurred in June 1966, and after winning the Bolton Combination Division Two, the Laburnums were promoted and new changing rooms were erected - a major improvement on the old air raid shelters previously in use !

The Panthers joined the Cheshire County League in 1980, with the league stipulating the team changed its name to include that of the town - and Atherton Laburnum Rovers was born. The ground was renamed Crilly Park in honour of chairman Jack Crilly, who died suddenly.

LR were also founder members of the North West Counties in 1982 and, as champions in 1993 and 1995, were promoted to the Unibond Northern Premier League, the latter a stay that lasted three seasons culminating in relegation after financial problems. Thereafter there was a flurry of managers - 6 in 2 years at one point - and the intervening years saw two relegations, one promotion and two Bolton Hospital Cup successes.

In one direction Altrincham Retail Park, with its newly laid turf and bedding plants and on the opposite side the continued disembowelment of the old Halfords store. And then roadworks and gridlock so the more circuitous, but quicker, route is via Scissorhand barbers, Red Hot Nails and the Ducati showroom - but no Patelvis !! - to the M60.

Then onto the M56 and underneath consecutive motorway bridges featuring a rag and bone man, a flock of sheep being herded across and a Portaloo, before joining the M6. Thelwall is suspiciously quiet but still the scene of some moronic driving, before the exit at Haydock Park. This takes me into Ashton-in-Makerfield, past The Fat Bull pub and Inkjections tattooists and then onto the Golborne Road, with Edge Green Street a residential cul de sac on the right.

The ground is fairly basic - school playing fields and car parking at one end, the other three sides surrounded by housing developments. Red and white railings, wooden fencing and two small seated stands on the far side - populated by two spectators in the first half, both of whom disappear at half time.....it proves to be a wise move !! The clubhouse in the corner is the main focus of activity.

Ashton sport a red and white chequered number, whilst the Laburnums are in yellow with a swirl of blue and an illegible sponsor. The visitors kick down the prodigious slope to the end 'packed' with five ALR diehards and three flags.

Despite their lowly standing - next to bottom - the Panthers start better, and Danny Kerr is denied by the keeper's legs, whilst Danny Davies's half volley just clears the crossbar. But the visitors fail to take advantage, and Ashton come into the game, exposing the sort of brittle defending that led to a 10-1 defeat at Cheadle last month and a 6-0 home reverse to Barnton five days before. In the period leading up to half time the Town manage to strike the post twice, have another shot cleared off the line, are denied a penalty and are guilty of some wild shooting.

The second half is a frustrating, nay dreadful, spectacle exemplified by the terrible air shot from 25 yards out by the Panthers. It also features the antics of the Atherton management team, Craig and Adam Jones, who spent much of the first period exhorting their players to 'Relax'. The second half sees a change of tack to plentiful industrial language, constant dissent and goading the Ashton players. Eventually the referee walks over to the dugout and tells them to, er,....'Relax'...... There is no discernible change to their behaviour.

It becomes evident that the chance of seeing a goal is about as likely as a fun day at a funeral directors, but in the last few minutes the Laburnums start to wilt. 86 minutes are on the clock when Town's Marcus Cusani crosses and Sam Wilkie's point blank header is turned aside. Then in injury time Ashton's Phil Williams, in a one on one, shoots and the ball is just diverted wide - typically a goal kick is awarded and that's it as the match finishes goalless.

After the match Adam Jones gets embroiled in a farcical war of words regarding a Facebook post on the match....