Campion Not So Champion - Welfare Fare Well !!!

And so to the FA Vase Second Round Qualifying and two teams given byes in the First Round, Campion AFC based at the Manningham Mills Sports Association on Scotchman Road in Bradford, and Sunderland Ryhope Colliery Welfare.

Campion AFC was established in 1963 by Michael Mahoney, taking players from the St Edmund Campion Youth Club. By 1975 the club had joined Division 4 of the Bradford Sunday League and in the following year entered a team into the Red Triangle League, a Saturday league.

By 1979 Campion had reached the league's Premier Division, before moving up to the West Riding County Amateur League in 1981. The club dropped out of the league for one season for the 1985/86 campaign due to financial difficulties but returned the year after.

As champions of Division 2 in 1990, Division One awaited which was won in 1992/93. The team were also Premier Division Cup winners four times between 2004 and 2008, and West Riding Challenge Cup winners in 2006/07.

Campion applied for promotion to Division One of the Northern Counties East League, and by finishing third, duly went up at the end of the 2015/16 season. Last time they sat 5th at the point of curtailment, but with four straight wins this season they currently sit second, a point behind AFC Emley with a game in hand.

Ryhope Colliery Welfare FC was founded in 1892 by coal miners, playing in local leagues and winning their first league title in 1927/28. The team enjoyed most of its success in the 1960s, being crowned champions of the Wearside League four times and winning the Monkwearmouth Charity Cup twice.

Between 1988 and 1992 the Welfare was known as Vaux Ryhope FC after a merger with Sporting Club Vaux (formerly South Hetton FC). After reverting back to Ryhope CW 2010 saw another Monkwearmouth Charity Cup triumph, but this was just a forerunner to an extraordinary 2010/11 season....

Ryhope won the quadruple - the Wearside League, Monkwearmouth Charity Cup, Sunderland Shipowners Cup and League Cup. 2011/12 produced a repeat quadruple performance resulting in promotion to the Northern League.

In their first campaign Colls finished runners up, gaining promotion to the 1st Division - but due to ground grading issues ended up being demoted back to the Wearside League.

A year later, as runners up and with ground problems resolved, Ryhope were promoted back to the Northern League Division 2. Two seasons later, this time finishing runners up to South Shields, and Welfare ascended to Division One and Step 5, under the tutelage of managerial duo Gary Pearson (still in charge) and Stuey Gooden (now serving a 10 year prison sentence for his part in an organised drug dealing ring).

Steady progress has ensued, although last term's 13th place at the season's abandonment was a disappointment, and they currently languish near the foot of the league this time.

An autumnal, showery morning awaits as I walk to Brooklands - Scissorhands seems to have had its final cut, Mamas Cakeria its final bite and the journey is over for Mayar Travel... A powder blue Bentley GT04 GAL is sat, incongruously, outside four sheltered housing maisonettes and other registration plates today feature F4VE X and L8 NVR (presumably a private hire vehicle).

Then to Metrostink and Manchester, with queues outside Albert Halle Musik and Dirty Martini before I reach the cathedral, Mahatma Gandhi statue, Chethams and the ornate sign outside Victoria, which amongst all other things advertises the wonderful destination of Goole...

A deserted train departs, passing waterlogged fields, before I reach wind turbines at Littleborough, then the leonine sign at Todmorden and its WW1 Railways War display, followed by eclectic Hebden Bridge and the Halifax Flour Society and to Bradford Interchange. It's evident that this is a city of impoverishment, epitomised by unoccupied retail outlets, obese shoppers and a large Poundland...

Past the Alhambra, Bankrupt Sofas and Beds, Dial a Roti, and into depressing terraced streets and then by derelict and dangerous buildings as I reach the Players Cars Stadium on Scotchman Road in Manningham.

£5 in, track and trace (I'm number 15 - the crowd eventually swells to 90) and in the shadow of the iconic Lister's Manningham Mills I'm in, to a ground supporting a cricket pitch next door - flooded but still capable of allowing the Red and Blacks to warm up. Nearside are the changing rooms and clubhouse, with an electronic scoreboard that continues to advise the score is 0-0 (more anon !!). To my left is a raised one step terrace and a small two row seated stand extending from the corner flag to the half way line. A walkway and the dugouts to the right, and up top are leafy residences and out of bounds...as I later find out ☺

Grey skies give way to patchy sunshine with Campion in red and (faded) black stripes, Ryhope in change purple and white, with red and black goalnets and an uneven, sloping pitch. The linesmen are complete opposites - one young, slim and with his arms tattooed to within an inch of his life, the other short, fat and bald.

Sunderland curiously start with players wearing shirt numbers 14,15 and 19 (no 5, 7 or 9) but the home side start the brighter with Aidan Kirby forcing a smart save out of James Winter. Thereafter Colls start to dominate the game and the excellent Robbie Bird draws a splendid stop from Stephen Kerr, then smites the crossbar.

Five minutes before half time a meaty challenge and afters results in a huge, angry and violent confrontation; when matters calm down the referee issues a red card to Campion's Ben Bodie, and, despite plenty of splenetic verbal aggression from the away bench, to Ryhope's Denver Morris too.

The free kick goes Welfare's way, is pumped into the box and recycled back to Bird whose strike flies into the top corner. Half time, a smidgeon of rain, and a word with the Ryhope video man elicits, begrudgingly, that the two red cards were the right decision...

The second period sees Ryhope in charge, adapting much better to going down to ten men. Ten minutes in James Ellis feeds in Kyle Davis who shoots across Kerr and the lead is doubled. Roles are reversed on 66 minutes as Davis lays off to Ellis, in acres of space, and he calmly sidefoots past Kerr for 3-0.

Welfare create a host of opportunities, spurned, and the Red and Blacks look a beaten side; but they rally and captain Aiden Day hits the bar and then his swerve inside results in a shot fingertipped onto the inside of post by Winter, with the ball squirming along the goal line, and then desperately hacked away. Campion then win a spot kick with five to go but Day's penalty is comfortably saved by Winter - just not his, or Campion's, erm, day.....

To add insult to injury in the final minute Ollie Hotchkiss lumps a free kick into the Campion box and Ben Riding, unmarked, heads home. A comfortable 4-0 win for the higher placed Ryhope at the death, despite the scoreboard still proclaiming 0-0, and the teams depart to an obsidian sky.... and that iconic mill.

Skem Get The Blues As Lions Roar...

And so to the FA Vase First Round Qualifying at the JMO Sports Park and an all NWCFL clash between Skelmersdale United and Stockport Town.

The home club had its genesis in 1882 with a team of players brought together by the teaching staff of Skelmersdale Wesleyan Day School and was called Skelmersdale Young Rovers, before becoming Skelmersdale Wesleyans and then Skelmersdale United. Skem joined the Liverpool County Combination in 1909, winning ten championships before moving ground, from Sandy Lane to White Moss Park, and league to the Lancashire Combination in 1956.

In 1967 the Blueboys won their way to the FA Amateur Cup Final at Wembley in front of 75,000 spectators, drawing 0-0 with Enfield, before losing 3-0 in the replay at Maine Road. Two seasons later United transferred to the Cheshire County League, and, after two FA Amateur Cup semi final losses, finally won the trophy in 1971 with a 4-1 thrashing of Dagenham at Wembley - the club also moved up to the Northern Premier League.

By 1976 United had dropped into the Lancashire Combination and in 1982, when the Combination was amalgamated with the Cheshire County League to form the North West Counties League (NWCL), the Blueboys became a founder member. The club left their spiritual home of White Moss Park in 2002 for Stormy Corner and a second-place finish brought promotion back to the Northern Premier League in 2006.

Skem finished in a play-off position all but once in the next 5 seasons, with all ending in failure. Finally in the 2012-2013 season they finished top of the league, being promoted to the Northern Premier League Premier Division, after winning the league by a 16 point margin, scoring 110 goals in the league campaign.

Serious financial problems ensued in 2014/15 but the Blueboys battled through until March 2017 when a 6-0 home drubbing by Buxton meant relegation to Division One North. This was coupled with the announcement that the club had been unable to agree a new lease on its Uretek Stadium aka Stormy Corner ground and as a result was at risk of ceasing to exist.

Skem were evicted on 20 October 2017, played two games at the Marine Travel Arena, before commencing a season-long groundshare at Valerie Park, home of Prescot Cables (the 'Pesky Bulls'). 2018/19 saw United playing in the newly titled NPL Division One West, but a miserable season saw only 13 points garnered and relegation back to the NWCFL. Last season United were in 15th at the point of null and voided, but more importantly the Blueboys moved to their new home of the JMO Sports Park and played their first game at the venue on Boxing Day 2019 against local rivals Burscough, coming out on top with a 4-0 win in front of 266 supporters.

Stockport Town, 'The Lions', was formed in February 2014 but their initial request to join the North West Counties in the Premier Division was refused in the summer of 2014. After a year of preparation (or in the wilderness....) they were allowed to join Division One at the start of the 2015/16 season.

Previous tenants Stockport Sports, formerly Woodley Sports, who were playing in the Premier Division, were expelled from the league early in 2015 for postponing games, and, amidst unpaid debts, were liquidated. Conspiracy theories abounded... Last time around Town were in 9th place when the season was abandoned, notwithstanding Robbie Savage stepping out of retirement to make a 10 minute cameo appearance against now defunct FC Oswestry Town.

So against a background of an azure sky, golden sunshine, but a stiff breeze, I set off past Da Noi, the Altrincham stocks 'Police Lock Up 1938', Cordon Vert and the new Little Waitrose en route to the M56. A bizarre set of numberplates occur - A5 EVA teamed with E4EVA, then R1LEY and R1LED, and topped off by WH05 WHO - what are the chances of that occurring ??

Onto the M6, Thelwall behaving itself, beyond the mammoth Movianta warehousing then the M58 and off at Junction 4 to the massive Hope Island. Ignoring the incorrectly signed football club directions (still imploring us to go to Stormy Corner) it's left, bypassing a plethora of business parks, finally I reach Railway Road and the JMO Sports Park aka One Call Taxis Stadium on the left. 

There's a huge free car park next to the complex, which has two full sized pitches, a 9 a side pitch, three 7 a side pitches and five 5 a side pitches. £6 at the gate, completing the track and trace and into a match limited to an attendance of 300 - in the event 169 show up.

Inside there's a covered terrace area to my right and the main all seater stand to my left where apparently 'Face Mask Compulsary' (sic) - unsurprisingly this is universally ignored. Beyond leads to steps and a raised area with the clubhouse and bar looking out over the pitch. Opposite is a walkway leading to the other pitches, and to the right a path with Railway Road behind.

Before kick off I chat to a Skem diehard, who proudly shows off his 50th anniversary 2020-2021 FA Amateur Cup badge. Then we move on to Burscough FC, and their owner, who is universally reviled in Skelmersdale. Turns out that he also owns Stormy Corner and gave the Blueboys two hours notice of eviction - he shows me a picture of a 'Wanted Dead or Alive - For Money Making' poster that Skem fans produced...

The story continues - Burscough have sold their ground, built a new one adjacent incorporating an all weather pitch, which has immediately flooded, and installed the old main stand from Stormy Corner, which has already been condemned and now removed. NWCFL have refused permission for the new stadium to be used for matches, resulting in today's Vase game against Hallam being switched to Sheffield (Hallam ultimately won on penalties !!). All this gleefully imparted..... And was I aware of the 4-0 drubbing of Burscough on Boxing Day for the first match at the JMO ?? Mmm, think we might have covered that earlier...

The Blueboys naturally are in all blue with white trim, the Lions in white and black, with a youthful refereeing team and one of the linesmen wearing spectacles. Strangely the game kicks off at 1456.....

Stockport start the stronger and on 9 minutes a long ball finds Aaron Knight, looking suspiciously offside and definitely socially distanced, who controls the ball awkwardly and slots past Skem keeper, and well known local heroic police officer, Ben Barnes to give the visitors the lead.

Barnes then saves well from Lee Grimshaw and is subsequently booked for a ridiculous altercation which leaves Grimshaw poleaxed. As for Skem, very little until the final few minutes of the half when Morgan Piper produces two wonderful saves to deny Lloyd Ellams and sub Michael Grogan. Half time leads to a wholly unexpected catch up with steward Big John.

United start the second period sloppily, and 7 minutes through Knight plays in Grimshaw who places the ball beyond Barnes and it's 2-0 to Stockport. Shortly after the same combination brings a brave save from Barnes.

The Blueboys are disappointing, huffing and puffing in the strong breeze, creating little from their humping the long ball tactics. Finally a chance arises, fashioned by a strong header from Richard Brodie, but fellow sub Emini Agegbenro gets it all wrong and hooks horribly wide.

To the final four minutes (closer to ten with stoppages) and suddenly the match erupts. Ellams with a vicious, swerving and dipping free kick scores off the underside of the bar to halve the deficit, and two minutes later hits the bar with a longer range dead ball kick.

Brodie is shown a straight red for violent conduct, which again leaves Grimshaw poleaxed. With the changing rooms out of action, bizarrely he has to slink to the corner flag and 'hide'... 'He's bringing himself on in a minute' is the chirp next to me. Just time for Clayton Gorman to miss a sitter for the Lions with Barnes patrolling the half way line and hopelessly out of position for a Town counter attack - hurriedly and helplessly rushing back as the shot is both high and wide. Nonetheless lower league Stockport win the tie 2-1 and go to Bacup Borough in the next round.

Hebburn Is A Place On Earth - And In The Last 16 !!

And so to the Syncreon Arena, aka Rivacre Park, for an FA Vase 4th round, last 32, clash between Vauxhall Motors and Hebburn Town.

Vauxhall Motors FC was founded in 1963, shortly after the opening of the Vauxhall car plant in Ellesmere Port. Initially playing, and then outgrowing, the Ellesmere Port League and the Wirral Combination, the Motormen moved to the West Cheshire League, winning the title in 1986.

The club relocated from the company owned Hooton Park to Rivacre Park in 1987 and that coincided with a successful application to join the North West Counties Football League - Division Two won in their first season. Despite finishing fifth in Division One the year after the club's board decided to take Motors back to the West Cheshire League.

Rejoining the NWCFL in 1994, the Motormen again immediately won the Division Two title, and in 2000 were Division One champions to move up to the Northern Premier League Division One.

As runners up in their inaugural season Vauxhall climbed to the Northern Premier League Premier, and, after beating QPR 1-0 in the FA Cup, took their place in the Conference North in 2004.

Despite finishing 21st in 2008, the liquidation of Nuneaton Borough and expulsion of Boston United provided a reprieve, and that was repeated in 2010 when a 20th place finish was obviated by Farsley Celtic's resignation and Northwich Victoria's forced relegation due to financial reasons.

However in March 2014 the club announced its intention to withdraw from the Conference North due to 'ever increasing costs' - I recall watching a game that season, the rain hosing down, the Motormen thrashing an on the way down Histon 4-0, and a crowd of 140....at Step Two.

And so to a third stint in the West Cheshire League, where the club finished runners up in 2018 and met the criteria to join the expanded NWCFL Division One South, where they finished runners up to Rylands last term - this time they are perched atop the division.

Hebburn Town FC was founded in 1912 as a works team for the Reyrolles engineering company. Playing under the company name, they joined Division Two of the Jarrow and District Junior League. After World War I they joined the South Shields Combination League, before switching to the Tyneside Combination in 1923. They then moved to the Tyneside League in 1927, and were league champions in 1938–39. During World War II they enlisted in the Northern Combination in 1941, and after winning the Durham Challenge Cup in 1943, they won the league title the following season. The Hornets then moved to the North Eastern League for the 1944–45 season, before returning to the Northern Combination in 1945. The club remained in the Combination until rejoining a relaunched North Eastern League in 1959.

In 1960 Reyrolles transferred to the Wearside League and were league champions in 1967. In 1986 the club was renamed Hebburn Reyrolles, before changing their name to Hebburn in 1988. In 1989 they climbed up to Division Two of the Northern League, and after finishing fourth in 1992, they were promoted to Division One. Hebburn were relegated back to Division Two in 1995 due to ground grading issues. Subsequently promoted in 2000, The Hornets then adopted their current name.

Relegation the year after, promotion in 2012, another relegation in 2014 and promotion back to the top tier in 2018 and then finishing runners up in Division One last time. The visitors from the Energy Check Sports Ground currently sit second this time, albeit having played 25, and hence considerably more than their challengers, of their 38 league games.

Past queuing traffic on the opposite carriageway, spectators trying to reach Old Trafford for the relegation six pointer between Manchester United and Norwich City, I spot numberplates SHA40W (sadly not on a Rolls Royce !) and PA55 RAP (driving school) and a liveried van 'Posh n Barks' (dog grooming). Thereafter the M56, Stanlow flaring, belching fumes and the wind turbines in overdrive.

Onto the M53, beyond Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet and off at Junction 7 Netherpool and then right into Rivacre Road and the stadium is on the left amidst a new housing estate. There's a new fitness centre alongside with plenty of parking - although I avoid grass and mud....

£5 in, a good crowd of 175 including 2 coachfuls of Hornets' supporters, with the near end supporting the changing rooms, an Everton Football College static trailer and the vast modern Vauxhall Sports Club. To my right is the 350 all seater main grandstand, behind which are several all weather pitches, and the source of many two balls on the pitch this afternoon !!

Also on this side is the club shop, reopened after storm damage to the roof, and offices, whilst at the top end is a walkway, backed by trees and the golf course. On the left is a covered terrace, split in two to allow access to a rugby pitch and beyond which is the M53 and the Vauxhall plant. The terrace is dedicated in honour of Mark Pearson, who collapsed and died on 21.9.99 aged 34, whilst playing against Northwich Victoria.

The Motormen are in white and navy, with keeper Ryan Crump in orange and his shirt sponsored by Lookers, whilst his team mates all sport Syncreon on their shirts. The Hornets, naturally, are in yellow and black, with NE31 stitched into the back of their shirts; the stadium announcer gives up, at the second attempt, at pronouncing Hebburn substitute Angelos Eleftheriadis.... who fortunately doesn't play any further part in this afternoon's proceedings !

With just over a minute on the clock, the Hornets' Michael McKeown plays in ex Darlington striker Graeme Armstrong, who is clearly being tugged back. Despite this he manages to lay the ball off to Olli Martin on the left flank, and he finishes gloriously, curling it into the bottom right corner. The referee then comes over to the Hebburn bench to tell them he would have brought play back and issued a red card if there had been no advantage. In the aftermath Vauxhall's Tom Mitchell is booked for his ineffectual attempt at a professional foul.

Thereafter the strong cross wind (but not the forecast heavy rain) takes centre stage and the tie becomes a war of attrition. For the Motormen, Joe Heath shoots, but it's easy for glovesman Mark Foden, who later drops a Glenn Rule free kick, causing consternation.

Indeed the only other piece of entertainment comes when the ball, not for the first time, goes into touch and is headed by a Hornets' fan. The ball goes sideways but the fan still feels pretty pleased with himself, and his pint is unspilt !! Then, strangely, the half time draw is announced five minutes before half time.....

The second half is marginally better with Hebburn having the first opportunity; Thomas Potter's glorious cross sees an unmarked Martin head down and well wide - anything but glorious this time.... Rule puts a free kick over the bar for Vauxhall.

Then the Hornets try to sting the Motormen by scoring the all important second goal. McKeown has a long range effort well turned aside by Crump, Armstrong can't quite get his foot round another effort that trickles through, and finally Crump excels himself, diving to keep out Potter's 20 yard drive.

Mitchell has a free header for the Motormen, disappointingly wide, and then substitute Ben Holmes has his free kick tipped over by Foden. There is a late scare as a Vauxhall cross zips over, but with no final touch, to end a match where I was, in the end, hoping that extra time wouldn't happen..... Hebburn go into the last 16 and an away tie at the last surviving NWCFL team, Longridge Town.

Avrocious - Villagers Bombed Out of Vase

 And so to the Vestacare Stadium, the former Whitebank Stadium, in Limeside Village, Oldham for an FA Vase tie between Avro and Barnton. History in the making today as Avro enter the FA Vase for the first time ever as North West Counties Division One North meets North West Counties Division One South.

The origins of Avro FC go back to the years just before the start of World War II. A V Roe established an aircraft factory at Chadderton, which became the home of the famous ‘Dambusters’ aircraft – the Avro Lancaster, as well as the Cold War ‘V’ bomber – the Avro Vulcan.

A V Roe had previously purchased a smaller factory in Failsworth, where the Failsworth Lodge was also located. 1936 saw the Lodge purchased by the Avro works manager and the birth of works team Avro FC.

In 1950 the Lodge was opened up to all personnel of Avro and took on the Lancaster Club name. The Grade II listed Lancaster Club then became the club’s headquarters for the next 67 years.

Avro joined the Manchester League in the 1954/55 season but only had two brief stints of 3 seasons apiece in the Premier Division. They returned permanently for the 2008/09 campaign, winning the Premier League in 2009/10 and retaining it the following year, although the latter title was stripped after a points deduction.

Oldham Council had bought the Lancaster Club land in 2012 and announced plans to build houses on the site. This led to the move to the Vestacare Stadium, also home to Oldham Roughyeds RLFC and previously to the now defunct Oldham Borough FC (formerly Oldham Dew and Oldham Town), at the start of last season.

The club won the double of Manchester League Premier Division and Manchester FA County Cup in their first season at the new ground, and applied to join the North West Counties League, gaining a place in Division One North.

The visitors, Barnton FC, from Townfield, was established in 1946 and became founder members of the Mid Cheshire League two years later. The Villagers won the league 11 times in total, including seven in a row from 1997 to 2003.

The league was renamed the Cheshire League in 2007 and Barnton were relegated to Division Two in 2009. Having been promoted as champions in 2013, the Villagers then finished 5th in the top tier in 2014 which was sufficient to gain election to the North West Counties Football League - their first ever season at Step 6; they had however previously represented England in the UEFA Regions League in 2004 playing Slovenian and Bosnian opposition.

In 2015/16 the club finished third and won the play off final 2-0 against Bacup Borough after extra time in front of a record crowd of 554 (yup I was there !). 17th in their first season at the higher level but four wins, 19 points and 171 goals conceded in the 23 team league made relegation inevitable last time.

And so with the sun trying to break through thick grey cloud it's on to Manchester Road and immediate number plate spotting. 5 AVR and MW66 AVR might not be significant but are they portents of things to come ? But this week's winner is YE11 OWN belonging to a yellow Nissan Micra, which suggests a certain lack of imagination and a need to get out a bit more (the same could be levelled at the writer !!)

All this before Cinders Fireplaces and the shutters that are ELCTRICAL. TOILETORIES..... The M60, mayhem and gridlock at the A34 junction, the Co op pyramid and its crystal Methodist, then Red Rock which this week won the 'award' for the UK's worst new building.

More traffic chaos at Denton Rock due to an accident, a car smashed into the barrier with a sheared off tyre. Taking the Hollinwood turning and, with an odd Bug Hotel piece of street furniture in the middle of a roundabout, this brings me to Hollins Lane.

Past The Hideout, a barber's shop extolling 'Do It For The Love, Not For The Likes' and then Inspect A Gadget, it's right onto Oak Road, beyond Limeside Park and the Vestacare Stadium is in sight. Not much parking at the ground so I park on a side street in the housing estate, a curious mix of older, slightly down at heel terraceds and semis, and new builds on Stag Pasture Road.

A fiver at the turnstile takes me into a three and a half sided ground this week. To the right a short covered area in the corner, the roof barely six feet above the ground. A walkway takes me to the top end and this extends to behind the goal before it comes to an abrupt halt - the inaccessible half side. More substantial netting this week compared to Cleator Moor, but there again this is a rugby league stadium....

A strange press box level with the pitch is behind the near goal and then steps lead to the main stand on the far side. Three rows of seats, originally taken from Wilderspool (Warrington RLFC), and several already 'Reserved For Bradford Bulls Director' ahead of tomorrow's Roughyeds encounter with the Bulls. One suspects that today's crowd of 74 will be eclipsed at least tenfold by tomorrow's !

Avro are in blue and black stripes, Barnton in change orange with sky blue trim. The announcer insists on calling the visitors Barton and informs us this is, in fact, an FA Cup match - get a grip man !!!

A perfect 4G AstroTurf pitch, so much better than the 3G one at Lower Breck, and the match is underway as the sun comes out after a brief rain shower. Two bookings in the first three minutes and then on 7 minutes the Villagers' Steve Warburton is played through and tugged back. As last man a straight red card follows for Daniel Grimshaw and Avro will have to play 83 minutes a man down.

However they do take the lead on the quarter hour. Barnton stopper Aaron Lyons fumbles a corner and Sam Rathbone scores easily; the announcer gets his name wrong and has to issue a correction at half time.

The Villagers fail to come to terms with the surface or the man advantage, fashioning only one real chance in the first period with Josh Crofts' effort tipped over. Indeed Avro look the more likely, particularly from corners which Barnton seem unable to defend.

Within two minutes of the restart Barnton concede a wretched goal. Playing out from the back, Louis Potts intercepts a sloppy ball and instinctively shoots from 35 yards. A daydreaming Lyons is hopelessly out of position and scrambles embarrassingly; the ball hits the back of the net despite his flailing dive.

The tone is set for the rest of the game: Avro hungrier, a magnificent rearguard action, lovely pass and movement and bombing forward in numbers. Barnton cannot cope and their best chance is a deflected cross cleared off the line by Mike Norton.

Michael Stockdale wastes two clear chances for the home side, Joe Bevan has a goal chalked off slightly harshly for a tug, and The Villagers' Callum Richards is lucky to stay in the pitch, pulling back sub Phil Armstrong when through on goal.

Armstrong has the last laugh though, teed up beautifully by Norton for a sumptuous volley with twelve minutes to play to put Avro three up. It is a lead they comfortably protect to the end, despite the man disadvantage.

BU in Business - Rangers' Side Merely Fowl

And so to Shropshire’s ‘Lake District’ and the historic market town of Ellesmere, nestling in the North West corner of the county. Today’s action is an FA Vase First Qualifying Round tie between Ellesmere Rangers and Birstall United.

The home club in its present form was established in 1969 following a meeting in The Railway pub and was initially known as Railway Rangers; there have been football teams in the town since the early 1900s.

Railway Rangers played in the Oswestry & District League but, after moving headquarters to the Market Hotel, changed name to Ellesmere Rangers FC in 1974. In the first season under their new name promotion to the Shrewsbury & West Shropshire League was achieved.

Rangers moved up to the Shropshire County League in the 1980s and, through winning the league in the 2003/04 season, earnt promotion to Division Two of the West Midlands (Regional) League. Promotions in consecutive seasons saw the club into the Premier Division and as champions in 2009/10 they secured promotion to the Midland Alliance.

Three years later Ellesmere were relegated back to the West Midlands where they remained until being transferred laterally to the North West Counties League Division One South at the end of last season.

Their club nickname is ‘The Meresiders’ referring to The Mere in the centre of Ellesmere, and the club badge depicts a swan to represent an affinity with the large number of these birds and the waterfowl that inhabit the local waterways.

Birstall United FC was established in 1961, playing Sunday League football in the Leicester & District League. After winning three championships Birstall switched to Saturday football and Division Five of the Leicester Mutual League.

BU rose quickly to the top tier and following a third Division One title in 1975/76 took their place in the Leicestershire Senior League Division Two. United won the title in their first season and stayed in Division One, latterly the Premier Division, for 39 years before being crowned champions in 2016.

This saw the club promoted to the East Midlands Counties League where they resided for two campaigns, with BU transferred to Division One of the United Counties League in the close season.

So on a glorious September Saturday afternoon it's past Totty Towers, a hand written sign pointing to Katy and George's Wedding in Bowdon and down to the M56. The motorway is clogged with caravans and police cars dealing with a smash on the opposite side, the car pointing in the wrong direction.

Wind turbines and Stanlow oil refinery softly belching out fumes, then the M53 and into Wales, and an old red London bus displaying 138 Streatham. This week's weird car registration plate, spotted on a Range Rover, is SO05 AGE......

Then Cinders Fancy Chicks and The Cross Foxes, both in Erbistock, and another hand written sign '25th Party' in Knolton. Back into England and Shropshire at The Trotting Mare before I reach Ellesmere and a detour to see The Mere on a perfect day for boating.

Through the pretty market town and Beech Grove is on the road out to Oswestry; fortunately there are two signs directing me to Ellesmere Rangers FC, but I still miss it on the first drive through. That's because the ground is smack bang in the middle of a housing estate via a ginnel barely wide enough for a car, and far too narrow for the Birstall team coach which is parked on a side street.

A fiver in, straight to a smart clubhouse, deck chairs outside for drinkers to lap up the sun. Three sides of the ground are surrounded by hedges and housing, the other playing fields and then farmland.
The near side supports a 93 seat covered stand, a real sun trap today. The rest of the stadium has a single railing and walkway around the pitch. There are several shipping containers dotted around the periphery of the pitch, a roller and, in the corner, two abandoned dugouts....

The Meresiders are in sky blue shirts and navy shorts and socks, BU in red with white flashing and grey trim. The first half is scrappy and littered with free kicks and lost balls, and ends up being the tale of two volleys. Rangers' Anwar Olugbon sends in a great cross and the cushioned volley that meets it skims the bar. Shortly after a headed clearance at the other end leads to BU's James Pearce volleying the falling ball into the bottom left corner to give United the lead on the half hour.

The second half can only be an improvement and so it proves. Birstall sub Josh Clarke drifts in from the right touch line, beats four men and shoots with his left foot low past the keeper for BU to double their lead on 50 minutes.

Eight minutes later Ethan Bibby launches one from 25 yards and it sails into the top corner for a wonder goal, and the tie is over. Ellesmere are wretched, epitomized by Olugbon's shot from the corner of the six yard box that is so wildly shanked it runs out of play closer to the half way line than the goal !! His team mate Patrick Udoh loses the plot and threatens to start shooting the opposition, and not in a footballing sense.....

Ryan Rowley wraps things up with six minutes to go from a fabulous team move, latching onto a series of one twos and steering the ball home. The underemployed BU stopper, Brad Jones, finally makes a save in injury time clawing away an Olugbon shot, after dropping the ball at a corner.

4-0 at the finish to Birstall, and much joy amongst the travelling support in a crowd of 63 - that four hour round trip was worth it !!

Eli Makes Hey As Blues Are Undermined By Collieries

 And so to the St Luke's Barton Stadium and the FA Vase Second Qualifying Round. The imaginatively nicknamed 'Blues' of Winsford United are at home. Perhaps using 'Sal Terrae' (Salt of the Earth) which is emblazoned on the club badge might be a more exciting alternative ? The visitors are Pontefract Collieries FC from the Harratt Nissan Stadium.

The home club was founded in 1883 as Over Wanderers and played in the Welsh Combination Football League before changing its name and moving to their current ground, then called the Bean Latham Playing Field, a few years later. After excessive spending the club folded.

It was reformed just before the outbreak of World War 1, and regrouped after peace had broken out under a committee led by Mr RG Barton. The Blues became a founder member of the Cheshire League and the stadium, by now called the Great Western Playing Field (and incorporating a greyhound track), was renamed the Barton Stadium in the chairman's honour.

Membership of the Cheshire League was unbroken until it and other regional leagues merged into the North West Counties Football League in 1982. A move up to the Northern Premier League in 1987 and promotion to the Premier in 1992, finishing runners up in 1992/3, was as good as it got; subsequently three relegations in four seasons saw Winsford playing North West Counties Division Two football in 2003, although the club were promoted back to Division One (now Premier Division) in 2007 where they remain.

Pontefract is known to have had a football club as far back as the 1890s when a side competed in the West Yorkshire League as Pontefract Garrison. Then there was Pontefract Borough who reached the Yorkshire League in the late 1920s but folded during the 1929/30 season.

 

By 1935 a club called Tanshelf Gems managed to acquire a ground on Ackworth Road, and became Pontefract United. United ruled the roost in local football, but the appearance of a Pontefract Collieries side saw the latter gain slight bragging rights, with both playing in the West Yorkshire League.

 

In 1960 the old Collieries club became extinct, only for the name to return a couple of years later when United merged with a local youth side and adopted the 'Colls' name. The club gained in stature and achieved success in the West Yorkshire League, joining the Yorkshire League in 1979.

 

Colls were founder members of the Northern Counties East League in 1982 and successive promotions took them into the top flight. Progress on the field was matched by improvements to the ground at Skinner Lane, sometimes known as Beechnut Lane which is the access road near the Prince of Wales pit, with much of the work undertaken during the Miners' Strike.

 

Relegation in 1995 after a decade in the top tier was the prelude to several off field crises. Fires destroyed seats, parts of the stand and the tea bar, the closure of the adjacent Prince of Wales Colliery and the loss of the electricity supply were matched by a significant downturn in the team's performances.

 

Ponte only avoided relegation out of the NCEL first by seeking and gaining re-election and then being saved by the constant restructuring of the Pyramid non league system. Eventually a corner was turned, and after 15 seasons absence Colls finished Division 1 runners up in 2015 to return to the Premier League.

 

However the club was relegated the following year, only to finish runners up last term and yo yo back to the top division. This time they proudly lead the way, with 8 wins and one defeat in 9 league matches, and the last six games producing victory margins of 5-0, 5-1, 5-2, 5-2, 5-1 and 5-0. I predict a goalless draw......

And so, with the sun trying to penetrate a thick cloud base, it's past The Old Cheshire Cheese, now Heatcraft, and then Code to Exit - some kind of Escape Room, and nothing to do with Dignitas !! That leads me out of Altrincham beyond The Vegetarian Society and its Cordon Vert Cookery School to the new A556.

 

Several signs warn me of the forthcoming Cheshire Ploughing Match (this Wednesday if you're interested !) before I come to Tabley, and the Cuckooland Museum. Then it's The Smoker, all scaffolding and new thatched roof in progress, and a turn on to the A533.

 

Right at the pretty floral Road One roundabout and then into Wharton, with the ground on the hill right next to The Top House. After last week's parking shenanigans, a large free car park with marked bays is a pleasant surprise - although a crowd of 103 was always unlikely to produce gridlock.....

Outside, the handwritten sign informs us the visitors are Pontefract Colleries (sic).  Inside it's easy to see the ground once hosted a greyhound track; an oval with two curving ends, a finishing straight on the popular side and a pitch like a bowl, banked at the ends and down one side. The popular side has covered, very low terracing and several warnings to 'MIND YOUR HEAD'. Opposite is the main 200 seater stand incorporating a cafe, supporters shop and bar. There's plenty of faded paint, abandoned furniture and general debris, including tyres around the pitch, giving the ground a slightly ramshackle air.

The Blues, sponsored by Winsford Town Council, are, surprisingly, in all blue with minuscule shirt numbers and Colls, sponsored by Monkhill Sandwiches, are in change yellow and black. Early chances for both sides, the best of which sees Ponte's pony tailed striker Eli Hey miss an open goal. Colls look a side full of confidence, playing at quick tempo and propelled forward by enormous long throws by their right back, Jack Greenhough.

 

Surprisingly it takes twenty minutes for the first goal to arrive - Colls captain Mark Whitehouse, unmarked at a corner, bulleting in a header via the underside of the bar. Callum Gardner is given the opportunity for a Winsford equaliser but finishes weakly against the onrushing Ryan Musselwhite. Home goalkeeper Michael Langley's dreadful clearance is straight at Kane Reece, but his hideous finish is high, wide and definitely not handsome. That said he atones in first half injury time, sidefooting home Mikey Dunn's cutback for a 2-0 lead at the break.

 

The second period is end to end, Dunn shooting just over and Musselwhite producing two excellent saves, one in particular to turn aside Robbie Hatton's goalbound shot. Dunn then does all the hard work but loses control at the last moment, the ball ending at Hey's feet and he makes it 3-0.

 

With twelve minutes to go another Ponte break sees Dunn cross to Hey, who calmly chests the ball down, swivels and smites the ball low into the corner for 4-0. All too much excitement for one Colls fan, whose nearly full pint goes flying and celebration turns to desolation at all that wasted beer...

 

The Blues score a consolation with 3 minutes to go, Musselwhite saving and sub Brandon Moores dinking home the rebound. Then in injury time Hey bustles through and, with only Langley to beat, shoots high to the keeper's left. The ball hits the frame of the goal and bounces out; the final whistle is blown shortly afterwards. 4-1 to Ponte, but several grumblings from disaffected away fans that there wasn't another 5 goal haul (yes really !!) and that Eli's Heyday didn't end with a hat trick. J

Colliers Put Miners Welfare First...

And so to Ruskin Drive Sports Ground and the Buildbase FA Vase, with St Helens Town AFC taking on Hemsworth Miners Welfare FC in the First Qualifying Round.

The original St Helens Town club was formed in 1901, playing at Park Road, behind the Primrose Vaults pub, although the players changed further down the road at the Black Horse. Playing in the Lancashire League and Lancashire Combination, the team initially prospered but struggled after World War 1 and folded midway during the 1928/29 season.

The Saints were reformed by George Fryer and a group of local businessmen in 1946, playing at the former cricket ground at Hoghton Road, Sutton. They took over local team Derbyshire Hill Rovers in April 1947 and entered the Liverpool County Combination.

Former German prisoner of war Bert Trautmann joined the club in the summer of 1948 and the following season Town entered the Lancashire Combination. Despite losing Trautmann to Manchester City in October 1949, the Second Division title was secured.

However after two relegations it was a return to the Lancashire Combination in 1956, a league they won in 1972, 9 points clear of Accrington Stanley (who are they ?!). A move across to the Cheshire League in 1975 was the forerunner to becoming a founder member of the North West Counties in 1982.

The Saints won the FA Vase in 1987, beating near neighbours Warrington Town 3-2 at Wembley, in a match more in keeping with the Rugby League Challenge Cup Final. Then, in 2000, the club left Hoghton Road, with the facilities quickly falling into disrepair and the site was sold for housing two years later. The Saints groundshared with St Helens RLFC at Knowsley Road for ten years but the intended relocation to Langtree Park never materialised. Subsequently they lodged with Ashton Town and then at Brocstedes Park, home of Ashton Athletic.

The club did hold the proud record of being the only team to play in the North West Counties top flight in every season until April 2015 when, on the last day, a Silsden injury time equaliser condemned them to relegation. Hopes for the 2015/16 season were to bounce back at the first attempt, and to move into a Council owned multi sports facility at Ruskin Drive in the town for 2016/17. Neither came to fruition.... and a disappointing 2016/17 followed, with 'home' games predominantly played at Valerie Park, home of Prescot Cables.

The long awaited move to Ruskin Drive finally happened at the start of this campaign. The first home game against Abbey Hulton ended controversially - with the game goalless going into injury time the visitors were awarded a penalty, the floodlights expired, suspiciously, and the match was abandoned with a League hearing this Wednesday. Five league defeats out of five completed league matches leaves the Saints next to bottom, without a point.

The visitors, Hemsworth Miners Welfare FC from the Yorkshire NuBuilds Stadium in Fitzwilliam, began life in 1981 following the demise of Hemsworth Colliery FC the year before. The club joined the Doncaster & District Senior League Division 3, and three successive promotions took the Wells to the Premier Division in 1988.

Hemsworth won the Premier Division Cup in 1995 and then moved to the West Riding County League. Division 1 was won in the 1996/97 season, and in 2007/08 a fourth place finish in the Premier Division was enough to earn promotion to Division 1 of the Northern Counties East League. The Wells were crowned champions in 2015/16 to rise to the NCEL Premier Division. After an early FA Cup exit at the hands of Runcorn Linnets this season, Wells sit second in the league.

Last night's heavy rain caused several postponements but the Saints' 3G pitch means this afternoon's tie definitely goes ahead. So it's past Arnies Sarnies, Cowtown Grill and the execrable T & T Pound Plus with its awful banner : 'HOUSE HOLD. STATIONARY. TOILETORIES. ELCTRICAL'.

Onto the M60 and Smart Motorway, now extended by a further 6 months (not by popular demand), and this time featuring live workmen - a first !! Over Barton Bridge and then joining the M62 I pass a Nice-Pak lorry, 'The World's Most Innovative Wet Wipe Manufacturer', before turning on to the M6, where I leave at Haydock Park which is hosting the final day of the 32Red Sprint Cup Festival.

Finally down the East Lancs Road, turning at Windle, past a glorious flowerbed display at St Helens Crematorium. Beyond Heirs and Graces Day Nursery and the one way Denton's Green Lane which doubles back on itself; Ruskin Drive is a cul de sac on the left.

There's plenty of parking at Ruskin Drive Sports Ground, a 30 acre sports complex originally built in 1902 by Pilkington plc for use by its employees, and now run by St Helens Borough Council. There's also plenty going on - I walk past a rugby union match in progress, Ruskin Park RFC v Sefton (which finishes 70-0 to the home team), down some steps to a bowling green and this brings me to the cricket ground. Most spectators are in or around the Sticky Wicket Bar & Grub - and indeed it looks a sticky wicket in the middle as St Helens Town CC take on Prescot & Odyssey, which ends in a tie with both sides scoring 118 all out.

It's a dual entrance to get in - one side for the football (£5) and the other for the rugby league (£2) where Pilkington Recs are doing battle with Wath Brow Hornets, with Recs winning that one 36-24. The sports complex also features tennis courts and rounders pitches.

Inside it's a three sided ground with housing behind the goal at the top end, and, tied to the fencing, those two Hemsworth flags. One proclaims 'Poey is Innocent', a reference to an 'innocent' miner jailed during the Miners' Strike after an incident in Fitzwilliam, the birthplace of Geoff Boycott.

The left side is inaccessible with fencing and densely populated trees behind the dugouts, and the rugby union match going on behind them. The near end holds the changing rooms and bar, six St Helens Blue Army flags, and the cricket match beyond.

The popular side has a 200 seater covered At Cost stand and the rugby league match in the background. A fan is admonished for stopping in the 'No Standing in Front of the Seated Area' - I'm told a picture of a spectator stood in that area found its way to the League, who fined the club £50 !! In the stand is a slightly odd gentleman wearing sunglasses, shorts, sandals and...... gloves.

Saints are in all blue, Wells in change all yellow. In front of a crowd of 77 ('71 paying' ?). The weather is bright and breezy, and the football isn't. After a soporific half an hour, in which the only highlight is play being stopped whilst a stray rugby ball is retrieved from the pitch, Wells' skipper Luke Danville is allowed a free header at a corner and the visitors lead. Thereafter Saints pose no threat, with lone front man Joel Douglas increasingly isolated, and Hemsworth start to play with the confidence of a team second in the league.

Saints' keeper Adam Fairchild makes a smart stop from a deflected shot, but Rich Collier scores direct from the resulting corner for 2-0. Fairchild then makes two excellent saves, the second from point blank range, to keep Saints alive at the interval.

The Saints make a better fist of things in the second half, with early substitute Neil Weaver and half time introduction Shaun Brady catching the eye. That said Wells' custodian Jacob Collier is not unduly troubled. Indeed Wells continue to pose the greater threat and spurn several opportunities.

Nash Connolly volleys wide, Danville plants another header over the bar, Rich Collier goes close, some kamikaze defending sees the ball poked beyond the post and Wells waste a four on two, leaving manager Wayne Benn indignant that the game hasn't been put to bed.

Seven minutes from the end Weaver's, err, weaving run and shot is blocked by Jacob Collier and Douglas snaffles the rebound. Fairchild is sent forward for two corners in a last gasp attempt to take the tie into extra time but to no avail.

But there is one final chance for the Saints as, with virtually the last kick of the match, Brady is played in one on one. Surely he must score, but Jacob Collier somehow touches his shot onto the post and the ball is smuggled clear. The referee blows the final whistle and Wells are through.

Fish and Chipps Twice !!!

 And so, on a weekend of other insignificant derbies, to the one that really matters - The Fish Derby at, appropriately enough, the Anchor Ground. The Salmoners of AFC Darwen host the Pikes of Pickering Town in the Buildbase FA Vase First Qualifying Round.

Darwen FC was formed in 1870 and was a member of the Football League between 1891 and 1899. In their first season they were relegated from the First Division, finishing 14th of 14, and becoming founder members of the new Second Division. In 1893, after finishing 3rd, they were promoted via the test matches (the Victorian version of the play offs !!), but relegated the following season.

 

In their final season as a league club they set two unwanted Football League records that still stand - the most number of consecutive League defeats (18) and the most number of goals conceded by a club in a Football League season (141). The club nickname, 'The Salmoners', is a throwback to the salmon and pink shirts they wore at this time.

 

After leaving the Football League the club moved from Barley Bank to the Anchor Ground, and joined the Lancashire League, which they won in 1902. They then entered the Lancashire Combination, playing there for the next 70 years (apart from a World War 1 break) and winning it four times.

 

After their last championship in 1976 the Salmoners joined the Cheshire County League before becoming inaugural members of the North West Counties Football League in 1982. In 2003 Carlsberg Tetley tried to wind up the football club but liquidation was avoided.

 

However in April 2008 another winding up petition from Bee radio station was joined by Thwaites Brewery and ING, and in May 2009 Darwen FC was liquidated. That same month AFC Darwen was formed, playing in the West Lancashire League for one season, before being re-elected to the North West Counties for the 2010/11 season, and winning promotion to the top division two seasons ago.

Pickering Town FC, the visitors from Mill Lane with an ‘unusual’ badge, was formed in 1888, the same year the Football League was founded. The Pikes for many years competed in the local Scarborough and York Leagues, before stepping up to the Yorkshire League in 1972.

 

The club became founder members of the Northern Counties East League in 1982 when the Yorkshire and Midlands Central Leagues merged. The Pikes' best finish was as runners up in the Premier Division in 1992/93, losing out to Spennymoor United on goal difference.

 

1998/99 was a terrible season as, following a 1-11 walloping by Bedlington Terriers in the FA Cup, the Pikes were relegated. Promoted back in 2001 Pickering reached the FA Vase quarter finals in the 2005/06 season, losing out to eventual winners, the Dabbers of Nantwich Town.

So passing the 12 foot giraffe and baby sculpture, part of Sale Art Zoo, then Heart for Art (coming soon !) it appears Elvis is making a comeback..... at Garveys... To the M60, smart motorway and only 14 vehicles ran out of fuel in August, before I join the M61 - where I resist the urge to pull over for 'Incontinence Supplies at Internet Prices'......

 

Just beyond Botany Bay and then the M65 leading to the Devil's Road, the A666, which takes me into Darwen. Onto the Anchor Estate where the Anchor Ground is situated, surrounded by housing on two sides and the Crown Paints facility on the other two.

 

Inside the dressing rooms are in one corner, whilst the clubhouse and snack bar is again the smart Howarth Timber & Building Supplies Stand. The other three sides are uncovered terracing (No Standing On The Grass !) with only a railing protecting the pitch. There is the ubiquitous shipping container behind the goal at the Darwen End, which is overlooked by Darwen Hill and the impressive octagonal Jubilee Tower, from where you can view five counties and the Isle of Man on a clear day.

Before kick off we're treated to firecrackers and fighter jets flying past in formation. Darwen are in all red and the Pikes in change lime green. Within ten seconds the Salmoners are on the attack, and Nick Hepple's low shot to the corner forces a good save. Three minutes in the Pikes net, with Robert Chipps scuffing his shot past home keeper Danny Jackson, after some awful defending.

 

The game is stretched but chances are few and far between, and starts to become niggly as both sides have penalty claims turned down. Pikes' captain Nial Tilsley is forced into a change of footwear and spends the rest of the half wearing one blue and one black boot - wonder whether that will catch on ??

 

The second half sees Tilsley wearing two blue boots and a fairly mundane start until, after great work from Ged Dalton, Chipps scores with a wondrous finish into the top corner. The Salmoners take the game to the Pikes and almost immediately pull one back as Hepple, clearly offside, bursts through and scores at the second time of asking. This one of a series of baffling decisions from the referee and his assistants ('It's embarrassing').....

 

The comeback is almost complete when Hepple's acrobatic and thunderous volley hits the underside of the bar with twenty minutes to go. Sixty seconds later he is dismissed for a second yellow card for dissent.

 

The Pikes weigh Anchor and comfortably repel the Salmoners in the final twenty minutes. Ryan Blott has the opportunity to seal the victory with a couple of minutes remaining but, having rounded Jackson, hits the post and sees his follow up smuggled off the line. It is immaterial and the Pikes avoid extra time and go through as 2-1 winners.