Blues' Seventh Heaven, Seven Yellows and Cavalier Defending.....

And so to the Rylands Recreation Club on Gorsey Lane in Orford, Warrington for a Manchester League Division Two game between Warrington Rylands 1906 Reserves and Cavaliers FC on Non League Day.

Rylands FC was formed in 1906 as a local wire manufacturer works team. In its early days the club played in the Liverpool County Combination, before joining the Warrington & District League, where they won successive Premier Division Championships from 1955 to 1959.

Steady progress prompted the club to look to higher levels and Rylands moved to the Mid Cheshire (now Cheshire) League in 1969. Championships followed in 1981 and 1984, but thereafter the club suffered barren times.

In 2008 the club amalgamated with Crosfields to form a new club, Crosfields/ Rylands FC. Prior to the start of the 2012/13 season the club reverted back to Rylands FC, with the backing of a new sponsor, Triple S Sports & Entertainment Group – led by former Rylands player Paul Stretford.

Stretford, Wayne Rooney’s agent, now owns the club. It was his investment in ground improvements that saw the club promoted in 2018 to the North West Counties Division One South, notwithstanding an 11^th place finish, out of 15, in the Cheshire League. However the club adapted well and won the league, despite having three points deducted, scoring 111 goals with 28 victories from 38 games to move up to the North West Counties Premier.

The club changed name to Warrington Rylands 1906 FC in 2020 to publicise their location and attract additional support. FA Vase winners in 2021, beating Binfield 3-2 at Wembley, The Blues joined the Northern Premier League for the 2021/22 season and won the Division One West title that term.

Tenth in their inaugural campaign in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, Rylands have mounted a sustained promotion bid this time round. However the loss of star forward Adama Sidibeh to St Johnstone in the January transfer window and the defection of manager Michael Clegg to promotion rivals Macclesfield, shortly after penning a new two year deal at Rylands, has seen the club's form stutter - however they still sit second, unbeaten away all season, but twelve points adrift of leaders Radcliffe.

The Reserves joined the Mid Cheshire League Division Two in 1975, for one season, and then two seasons between 1981 and 1983. Another one season sojourn in 1987/88 was followed by a lengthier stay from 1989 to 2003, before they moved to the League's Reserve Division.

Rylands Reserves reappeared in the Cheshire League Division Two in 2018 before becoming Warrington Rylands 1906 Reserves in 2020. The Blues' Reserves disappeared in 2021, and have now resurfaced in 2023/24 in the Manchester League Division Two and currently lie 7th of 15.

Cavaliers FC, a new club from the Athletics Track at William Scholes Park in Gatley, had their first season in Division Two of the Manchester League in 2021/22 - and it was a turbulent journey. One win at home against Breightmet United (2-1; I was there !!), one draw against AFC Burnley and 24 defeats and a goal difference of -217 left them bottom. This included a 26-0 defeat at home to Avenue FC, where the club fielded a side lacking a goalkeeper (clearly !!) and only one defender (also obviously !!) which attracted national press coverage and prompted a plea for new players. It also produced sponsorship from SpecSavers and an offer of coaching from Jimmy Bullard...

Season two produced one victory, 3-2 away at Breightmet, which was later expunged with United resigning from the league. Goal difference was -148 and Cavaliers finished 12th of 12. 

This season more of the same - bottom, no points, 16 straight league defeats, a goal difference of -101, including 17-0 and 17-1 annihilations and most recently 14-0 and 15-0 shellackings at Baguley and Leigh Genesis. That said, last Saturday's home match against Macclesfield Reserves saw Cavaliers lead three times but heartbreakingly, and controversially (their goalkeeper, allegedly, virtually unconscious in the six yard area), lose 4-3 to what proved to be the last kick of the game.

Past a brothel masquerading as The Railway public house - licence revoked this week - then Altrincham Town Hall, Built Anno Dom 1900, Extended Anno Dom 1930, the Altrincham Charter paving slabs 1290-1990, the Altrincham Market Trader bust and the water colour artist Helen M.E. Allingham's blue plaque, sees me encounter numberplates HE10 WAG, O ER1C and E10 ELO. Beyond signs for the Lymm May Queen, Watch Hill Castle then the M56, the North Cheshire Motorway, and onwards to Thelwall Viaduct and Juniper Farm into Woolston, Paddington (yes really !!), a Warrington Male Voice Choir billboard and then finally Orford.

The Blues, naturally, are in blue, and Cavaliers are in change maroon, now sponsored by Kwik Fit. Just beyond the French Polishers, Rylands Recreation Club is adjacent to the first team's ground, The Hive Arena, with another football pitch and train lines to one side and a tatty, closed pavilion at the end of Arnold Clark Park, also home to Rylands Sharks ARLFC. A crowd of 19 assembles in a biting wind with spiteful rain and the match is underway at 1.58pm.

The first half sees Rylands miss numerous chances - a drive just past the post, a header over and a hideous one on one miss amongst others. Cavaliers have one opportunity, a free kick tipped over the bar before the Blues 'score' on 42 minutes, incorrectly ruled out for offside and we reach half time scoreless but with four bookings - one after a disgraceful gesture from Cavaliers' manager Ben Gage, brandishing an imaginary card; the referee, who has a poor game, indulges him and yellow cards the Rylands 'assailant'.

The second period is a different affair - the Blues have the wind and Cavaliers defend abjectly. Four minutes in Rylands lead with a low drive from the edge of the penalty box from Joel Eccleston.

That lead is doubled on 52 minutes as Ste Hughes takes advantage of a blocked shot to pot home. 43 seconds later Cavaliers lose possession from the kick off and Adam Lawton scores from distance to make it 3-0. It becomes 4 on 58 minutes as a blocked clearance leads to a break and Ethan Mercer takes advantage.

Cavaliers create two efforts, one a routine stop, the other a decent block after some atrocious home defending. The seventh yellow card of the game is shown soon after for simulation and the Blues go down to 10 from the resultant sin binning for dissent.

No matter as Rylands are awarded a penalty on 67 minutes. It's turned aside and there is an even better save from the follow up, but Mercer tucks away the second rebound, as Cavaliers stand and watch.

Hughes gets his second on 74 minutes with a scuffed finish and in the final moments Kyle Pendlebury makes it 7-0 from a rebound, the initial shot having been stopped.

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Hit For Six - A Cavalier Approach To Defending...!

And so to the William Scholes Playing Fields, otherwise known as Scholes Park (named after a former Gatley resident and estate agent), for a Manchester League Division Two fixture between Cavaliers FC and Hindley Juniors FC.

Cavaliers, based in Gatley, are in their first season in Division Two of the Manchester League - and, as mentioned last week, it's been a torrid campaign. Defeats of 14-1 (Bolton United), 15-0 (Bolton Borough), 16-0 (AFC Monton) and 26-0 (Avenue FC) attracted press coverage and prompted a plea for new players. A largely new squad put up a valiant fight last Saturday at Hollinwood, losing 2-1 at the death - but it's still 11 games, 11 defeats, 8 goals for, 116 against.

The home venue is at the Athletics Track on Scholes Park.

Hindley has been the home of short lived clubs Hindley FC, 1891-92, Hindley Central, 1910-14, and Hindley Green Athletic, 1925-28, all in the Lancashire Combination.

Hindley Juniors FC, from the Harrison Playing Fields in Hindley, was established in 1991 and achieved Charter Standard Community Club status in 2003, joining the Manchester League Division Two in 2019. Two Covid stricken seasons saw 11 points from 12 games, 8th of 11, in 2020 and 5 points from 8 games, 9th of 11, in 2021. However this time seven wins and six defeats sees them sitting 7th of 15.

Storm Arwen has wreaked havoc with the street furniture, creating broken fences, uprooted and naked trees and a plethora of leaves and surface water. But still beyond Cheshire Clocks, Marvel Guitars, Barberian and House of Boba I reach Timperley village centre and the iconic Frank Sidebottom statue.

Thereafter it's Baguley, home of Wythenshawe Town, then Sharston, home of Wythenshawe Amateurs, before I arrive at Gatley - numberplates en route are PC13ANS (Pro Clean) and G14NT K (?). Honeybear Nursery, the Horse and Farrier and the old Tatton cinema - now a Co-op - precede a right turn, by the railway station, into Oakwood Avenue and then Beech Avenue, at the end of which is Scholes Park.

Scholes Park hosts four football pitches, a strange children's slide and a grassed over athletics track plus a sports club building with changing rooms. The top end is bounded by the Airport railway line - a steady stream of passenger services and one freight today - above is the flight path and with plenty of parking it really is Planes, Trains and Automobiles !!

On a surface resembling hospital porridge Cavaliers are in all dark navy, so dark it clashes with the referee's black ('Ref can you put a bib on ?') - and, seven minutes in, after the first goal, he is persuaded to don a black tracksuit top with fluorescent lime patches to aid identification. Hindley are in all blue, with two players wearing a number 8 shirt - the referee finally notices after a quarter of an hour, forcing a shirt change.

A knifing wind, despite the bright sun, and freezing grass leads to an attendance of one (we know who you are !!), although a group of 4 subsequently congregate, huddling on the path outside the changing rooms. A raucous trio appear to be singing from inside the building, but anybody with any sense is watching the match from their car.... with the engine running - as I find out at the final whistle !!

The first period is totally dominated by Juniors, taking the lead on 7 minutes when a cross 'evades' an absent back line and is slotted home. An astonishing miss and some wayward shooting means the second only arrives on 34 minutes - a point blank header at the far post. The third Hindley goal comes a minute from half time, a messy corner scruffily converted and it's 3-0 at the interval - disjointed Cavaliers barely having charged forward.

The second half at least sees Cavaliers test Hindley's custodian, and captain, twice, but normal service is resumed on 64 with a stumbling, almost apologetic, finish for 4-0. Six minutes from time a driven cross results in an unfortunate own goal and then, with virtually the last kick, Juniors comfortably break through Cavaliers' shambolic back one for an easy finish to leave it 6-0 to the visitors at the death.

Wood You Believe It - Cavaliers Not Laughing... :-(

And so this afternoon to the Oasis Academy, Hollins Lane in Hollinwood for a Manchester League Division Two clash between Hollinwood and Cavaliers. The reverse fixture, earlier this season, saw Hollinwood triumph 8-0.

Hollinwood Football Club's history dates back to 1877, but the forebearer of the present football team started in the 1950s playing as a Sunday League side. However the club as it is known today moved to a Saturday team in 1962 in the Rochdale Alliance League.

In the mid 1960s the club transferred to the now defunct South East Lancashire League where Wood remained until it took a step up to the Manchester League in the early 1970s. The 2005/06 season saw Hollinwood gain promotion to the Manchester League Premier Division, and this was followed by winning the Manchester County FA Challenge Trophy the season after.

Relegated in 2011 after conceding 131 goals in 30 games, Wood were further demoted to Division Two in 2018, with a two point deduction seeing them one point short of safety. They have languished, largely at the bottom end, ever since but this time boast a mid table record of six wins and four losses.

The club's home originally was on School Road, but moved to Lime Lane in 1914, before decamping to Chapel Road Playing Fields on Grammar School Road nearly a century later. The club now play at Hollins Lane on the 3G surface at the Oasis Academy.

Cavaliers, from the Athletics Track at Scholes Park in Gatley, are a new club in their first season in Division Two of the Manchester League - and it's been a turbulent journey. Ten games, ten defeats, goals for 7, goals against 114 - including 14-1, 15-0, 16-0 and 26-0 defeats, the latter against Avenue FC, where the club fielded a side lacking a goalkeeper (clearly !!) and only one defender (also obviously !!) which attracted press coverage and prompted a plea for new players.

Past the now seemingly shuttered Zymologists Sourdough Bakery and then The Vintage Wireless Company takes me to the M60, with numberplates W8A UP (bagged !), BTO4STY - presumably a heating engineer - and, for your blocked drains, T22 URD..... The motorway bridges provide Extinction Rebellion Revolution graffiti, and then that Crystal Methodist pyramid, RedRock, the Ark chimney and Denton Rock.

Off at Junction 22 onto Hollins Road, beyond The Edge, Flabelos and Fluffy Pups Dog Grooming. The Oasis Academy secondary school is on the left, betwixt the old Devon and Heron mills, with the astroturf pitch for a (strange) 1430 kick off - and plenty of parking.

There's a separate entrance for the sports side, with a basketball court, and this leads to the changing rooms and at the top end a 'stand' with several assembly rows where 6 kids (out of a total attendance of 8 - the others a home player's mum and yours truly) congregate. However the youngsters prefer to play their own game on the adjoining tarmacked area and disappear as the wind and swirling rain arrive in the second half. The academic complex building is adjacent and opposite a splendid (1897) Victorian building occupied by Smart Kids.

At 2pm Cavaliers, in change maroon and white, are warming up, but the 2.30 kick off comes and goes with no sign of the home team and questions of 'have you got the kits ?' Eventually one Hollinwood player, in all blue, arrives, briefly, to limber up. The match finally gets underway at 1458.

In the first minute Cavaliers' Kevell Blake bursts through but fires wide - perhaps a sign that the away side's mostly new squad will put up more of a fight this time. However on 10 minutes a through ball leaves the Wood captain in space and he calmly lifts the ball over the onrushing keeper for a composed finish to put the home side one up.

But for the rest of the half Hollinwood are disappointing - disjointed and sloppy, mustering only long range efforts which are comfortably fielded. Cavaliers start to pose a threat and really should have equalised from a header at a corner.

So perhaps not surprising that on 40 minutes they win a clear penalty which Blake converts for parity. Bizarrely the referee blows for half time a minute later - a half time that lasts just over 3 minutes...

Nine minutes into the second period Cavaliers have a second goal controversially ruled out and then go close twice. Wood also have opportunities with the lone warmer up slicing wide and an open goal from a header at a corner directed hopelessly wide - the Cavaliers' defence seemingly playing a game of musical statues for which nobody has brought a boombox.

Increasingly desperate, Hollinwood force three great saves from the Cavaliers' stopper but it all changes in the 36th minute of the half. Wood's left winger, who is now playing as a centre forward, hopefully shoots from outside the area and the ball skids off the surface, through the keeper's hands, into the corner of the net.

Desperate defending at the other end, a breakaway that sees the winning goalscorer have a shot deflected onto the outside of the post, and the referee blows up on 41 minutes again at 1623 for a 2-1 home win. A strange afternoon...... maybe the floodlights were only paid for till half past four ??