Apollo Blasts Off - Ful Three Points Secured...

And so not to Volair on Baileys Lane in Halewood for a North West Counties Division One North match between Halewood Apollo FC and Fulwood Amateurs AFC - the match moved to the Auto Safety Centre Stadium, aka Valerie Park, home of Prescot Cables FC, The Pesky Bulls, also the Tigers, referencing  nearby Knowsley Safari Park 🤔 The stadium is imminently to be condemned...more anon... This because Volair, Apollo's 'ground', does not meet NWCFL criteria... and nowhere near - there's a single communal astroturf pitch as part of the leisure complex, necessitating the ground share.

Halewood Apollo was founded in 2014 by Joey Stocks, joining the Warrington & District League. Apollo moved to the Liverpool County Premier League in 2020.

Crowned as champions in 2024, the club placed 5th last time, allowing Halewood to scrape in to the NWCFL 1 North in the close season. Apollo currently stand 6th with 16 points from 9 matches.

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 was enough to see the Ammies elevated to the North West Counties Division One North last season, finishing 12th of 18. This time Fulwood are again 12th, but now of 22, with 13 points from 9 games.

We set off in sunny spells but it becomes increasingly cloudier- fortunately the rain holds off until after the game. Numberplates today are K1NKC and UPL1T. 

We pass the three in one - formerly the George and Dragon, now Alty Hotel, the Whitechapel and soon to be the Grand Holdi. Then La Boheme and The Green Dragon in Lymm and on to Statham Lodge.

There's the pink eye in Warrington, Fiddler's Ferry and The Eight Towers before we briefly visit Volair. Then we hit the M57, off at Prescot and past the Clock Face pub to Valerie Park, hidden in a rabbit warren of cul de sacs.

It's £5 in and a thin crowd of 88. Inside is the Cables Bar and the main stand 'nearing the end of its lifetime' - and unsurprisingly closed....

The near end houses a covered terrace, with the top end comprising a walkway and barrier with 1884 signs, referencing Prescot Cables inception. Across from the stand is a narrow walkway, an out of bounds banking side and terraced houses.

Apollo are in dark blue, sponsored by Apollo Leisure, and Fulwood in change yellow, sponsored by Sante Group. Halewood completely dominate the first period, with captain Jordan Barrow dominant in defence and Steven Irwin pulling all the strings in midfield.

On 9 minutes Charlie Glennon is played through, with a hint of offside, and scores past Jacob Barry. The lead is doubled on 20 as Sean Miller takes advantage of a lucky ricochet to fire in at Barry's near post.

That becomes 3-0 on the stroke of half time: a beautiful curling strike from the edge of the box by William McCarthy. From the Ammies, well nothing....

The second half is more even with Fulwood's Spencer Lucas forcing a good double save from Apollo keeper Denny McGee ten minutes in. At the other end Barry makes a fine low save from Halewood substitute Stephen Doyle.

On 72 minutes Lucas receives the ball and charges through, comfortably outpacing the Apollo defenders. McGee gets fingertips to his shot but the ball squirms beyond him into the net: 3-1.

Any hopes of a full Ammies' fightback are banished on 82 as James Bell's effort clears the bar. And the last action of note is Miller's volleyed screamer which just fails to hit the target for Halewood, who emerge victorious 3-1 😊

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 😊