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.

---

Oakmen Felled and Outgovaned !!

And so to the Manchester League Division One and the Armitage Centre in Fallowfield for this afternoon's clash between a rechristened Govan & University of Manchester (clearly not from Glasgow - more of which anon...) and Wilmslow Albion, fresh from their injury time win at East Manchester last week.

Govan Athletic was established in 2001 by Jack Norbury, who still manages the team. Apparently Jack was so inspired by Sir Alex Ferguson's autobiography that he set up a football club named after Fergie's birthplace, as you do....

Athletic competed in the Stockport Football League in 2001/02, finishing as runners up, and moved up to the Lancashire & Cheshire Amateur League as a consequence. Division 2 was won in 2007/08, with Govan champions of Division 1 the following season. 

Athletic joined the Manchester League in 2016, were relegated to Division 2 in their first season, but were promoted back to Division One the following year. 6th from 13 and 6th from 12 in the two Covid truncated seasons pointed to mid table consistency.

Last time Govan finished 4th of 11 before partnering in the close season to become Govan & University of Manchester and moving from Platt Fields to the Armitage Centre. It's a transition that's working as Govan lead the league (first of 14) with 34 points from 13 games.

Today's visitors are the Oakmen from Wilmslow Albion - Albion, from Oakwood Farm (in Styal), was established in 1919 and spent the majority of its formative years in the South East Lancashire League, finishing as runners up in 1928/29.

Subsequently Albion joined the Mid Cheshire League where they finished second, behind Linotype (now Cheadle Heath Nomads), in 1961. A move to the Manchester League, combined with a decline in fortunes, led to a merger with local side Lindow and a change of name to Wilmslow Town - plus a switch to the Lancashire and Cheshire League.

But soon after Wilmslow Albion was reborn, merging with Dean Vale in 1976/77. Albion relocated from the Old Carnival Field on Water Lane in Wilmslow to Oakwood Farm and reverted to the Manchester League in 1998.

Promotions to the top tier in 2003 (relegated in 2006) and 2016 - a one season aberration that saw two wins, 26 defeats and a goal difference of -83, leaves the Oakmen back in Division One. Last term Wilmslow kicked off with a 4-0 thumping of Tintwistle Athletic, but finished 11th with only one more victory (at Altrincham Hale) and bottom with 7 points, comfortably adrift and counting themselves lucky there was no relegation. This time Albion again were occupying last place (14th) with 8 points from 15 matches.... but last week's victory took them above Hindley Juniors and out of the (one place) relegation zone !

Past Zen Tiling and Bathrooms, a broken bus, roadworks, Garvey's advertising St Patricks (which year ?) and a couple of outlets still selling Xmas trees. Then off at Essoldo, bypassing Iglesia Ni Cristo, shocking roads in Chorlton, and beyond Vietnamese Potbellied, Zaxxfried, King Bee records, Gita Bhavan Hindu Temple, Whalley Range High School, crossing Princess Road, to Moseley Road, St Kentigerns, Holy Innocents, Ya Souvlaki, Arabian Nites, and the Armitage Centre, Fallowfield complex.

Opposite are terraced houses, the car park, and to the left is the campus, whilst up top is the pavilion and an 8 step terrace outwith the cage. A crowd of 23 gathers in the cold but glorious sunshine 🌞 Today's numberplates are AM1 8EAU and P16 DOC, and a van advertising Paws & Tours.

The Armitage Centre lies on part of the site of the Fallowfield Stadium constructed in 1892 - and which hosted the 1892/93 FA Cup Final, switched from Kennington Oval. Wolves beat Everton 1-0 with a 15,000 stadium capacity but 45,000 apparently in attendance - Everton claiming, in vain, a replay due to overcrowding. The stadium also hosted 2 Rugby League Challenge Cup finals in 1899 and 1900 and a Calcutta Cup Rugby Union international between England and Scotland.

Bought in the early 1960s by Manchester University, demolished and then redeveloped as student housing and the university's sports facility, the Armitage Centre is now a gym, sports hall, with fitness classes and sports pitches (football, plenty of hockey - one player wearing a 113 shirt today, and rugby) and squash courts.

The Armitage Centre holds three fond Cup memories for me from my banking days:

• Playing for 35 King Street against Altrincham Stamford New Road and scoring the tie's opening goal. Immediately asking to be substituted because of injury, but reluctantly persuaded to stay on, and ending up scoring five in a 6-3 victory,
• The 1994 Subsidiary Cup Final for Manchester Corporate Banking Office which finished all square and went to penalties. We had missed a penalty and were staring defeat in the face when the floodlights went out - car headlights proving insufficient and meaning a replay the week after. That replay saw one goal separate the sides with me breaking from half way to slot home,
• The last ever Subsidiary Cup Final in 1996 again for Manchester CBO, a goal and a comfortable 4-1 win - and guess whose lounge the Cup now resides in ?

And there's an e-programme for today's game:

Govan are in red and black, sponsored by GBR Solutions - strange as the club badge and colours are purple and white and their hashtag is #purpleandproud (even stranger they play in white for the following week's home fixture against Boothstown). Albion are in change blue with black flashes, sponsored by Eastern Revive.

Govan govern the entire game and after hitting the post with a deflected shot, and a header cleared off the line from the resultant corner they eventually score through Matt Turner. Three decent saves from Wilmslow's keeper follow but Athletic are frustrated by a hard working Albion who pose no attacking threat whatsoever - their only effort a late shank by Calum McKenzie deep into the second period. 

1-0 at the break and after a bad miss, hitting the post again and having a goal disallowed, Louis Rhodes eventually twists and turns in the box, stroking home to double the advantage with a quarter of an hour to play.

Then it's sub Colin May's show as he scores a 7 minute hat trick - a 20 yard drive across the keeper on 83 minutes and then two penalties, both for clear trips, on 88 and with the final kick of the match. The league leaders triumph 5-0, having been only a goal in front with 15 minutes left.

Oakmen Fell East - Beating The Blues !!!

And so to 2023 and the Wright Robinson Sports College in Gorton for another Manchester League Division One floodlit affair (3pm) between East Manchester and Wilmslow Albion.

East Manchester FC was formed in 1960 as the works team of the Ferranti engineering factory and initially competed in the local Chorlton League, which they immediately won. A switch to the South East Lancashire League brought about several changes of name from Ferranti to ICT to ICL and finally to East Manchester in 1985.

Success in the South East Lancs prefaced The Blues joining the Manchester League in 1981, and a ground move from Mellands to the GMB club, both in Gorton. Winning the second tier title saw the club promoted to the Premier Division of the Manchester League, and a league and cup double arrived in 1992.

East moved venue again to Kirkmanshulme Lane, then settling at Dave Pace's Butchers Arms in Droylsden until 2006. A short return to the GMB ground and thereafter the Blues took up residence at the Wright Robinson College in 2008. The club was relegated in 2015 but bounced back as champions the following season. 

However another demotion, in bottom place, in 2019 sees East at 11th (of 14) this time with 12 points from 14 games after their victory at Manchester Central in their final fixture last year, in the First Division - moving up from next to bottom above today's visitors.

Wilmslow Albion, from Oakwood Farm (in Styal), was established in 1919 and spent the majority of its formative years in the South East Lancashire League, finishing as runners up in 1928/29.

Subsequently Albion joined the Mid Cheshire League where they were runners up, behind Linotype (now Cheadle Heath Nomads), in 1961. A move to the Manchester League, combined with a decline in fortunes, led to a merger with local side Lindow and a change of name to Wilmslow Town - plus a switch to the Lancashire and Cheshire League.

But soon after Wilmslow Albion was reborn, merging with Dean Vale in 1976/77. Albion relocated from the Old Carnival Field on Water Lane in Wilmslow to Oakwood Farm and reverted to the Manchester League in 1998.

Promotions to the top tier in 2003 (relegated in 2006) and 2016 - a one season aberration that saw two wins, 26 defeats and a goal difference of -83, leaves the Oakmen back in Division One. Last term Wilmslow kicked off with a 4-0 thumping of Tintwistle Athletic, but finished 11th with only one more victory (at Altrincham Hale) and bottom with 7 points, comfortably adrift and counting themselves lucky there was no relegation. This time Albion again currently occupy last place (14th) with 8 points from 15 matches... so that relegation may just have been deferred !

Through Timperley, past Finishing Touch, then Dixons Academy Brooklands, Camperlands and on to the M60. Gratuitous Extinction Rebellion Revolution graffiti, the Crystal Methodist's Pyramid and off at Denton Rock. Numberplates today are AD10S SU and PO0 5TAF (S & C Drain Services) and a van plugging, er, The Party Plug.

Towards Gorton, bypassing Caribbean Cookout, Bundu Khaan, turning at the Lord Nelson and avoiding Pampered Paws and High Bank Bowling Club, we reach the Wright Robinson Sports Village - 'Excellence Is Our Aim'. It's a vast complex with a plethora of astroturf pitches but a crowd of only ten assembles at the furthest tree lined exposed pitch in a knifing wind - in contrast to the well attended East Manchester Junior Football League games alongside. So cold is it that East reluctantly provide the linesman on the opposite side in the teeth of the wind, trundling across the pitch whilst the game is in play - and not bothering at all in the second half....

East naturally are in blue with a mix of Greystones and National Debt Support sponsored shirts, the Oakmen in change orange and black, sponsored by Eastern Revive. Fifteen minutes of utterly forgettable football ensues.

Then Wilmslow see a cross not fully cleared and James Rogers volleys into the top right corner. Cue an East fightback (Eastern Revive ??!) and a sumptuous half volley levels matters on 25, before the Blues take the lead 9 minutes later, their right back hitting the post and the rebound slotted home.

In the second half East are desperately poor, conjuring up a couple of dangerous crosses but little else. Albion equalise six minutes in; Calum McKenzie cutting in from the left touchline, before arrowing in a glorious top corner strike.

A combination of desperate defending and near misses from Albion takes us through rain and then injury time with a draw the likely outcome. However three minutes into stoppage time Wilmslow break and their strike from the right of the penalty area is met with a fabulous save and a collective groan from the away bench... No matter as Rogers sweeps home the loose ball to leave the Oakmen 3-2 victors, their first league win since August - sufficient to take them out of the relegation zone and within a point of East ☺

Outcasts Are Cast Out - East Is East, Blues Is Best........

And so to the Seashell Trust, formerly the Royal Schools For The Deaf, on Stanley Road in Cheadle Hulme for a Manchester League Division One derby between Manchester Central FC and East Manchester FC.

Manchester Central FC was formed in 1928 by Manchester City director John Ayrton and the owner of Belle Vue stadium, John Iles. Ayrton founded Manchester Central because he felt that East Manchester needed a League side - City having moved out of the area in 1923.

The Outcasts played at the Belle Vue Athletics and Speedway Stadium, joining the Lancashire Combination in its first year (1928). With Billy Meredith as coach, the Magpies finished seventh of 20, and applied to join the Football League for the 1929/30 season - which was knocked back.

Central finished runners up the following year, but another attempt to join the League failed. 1930/31 was less successful - 7th and another fruitless League application. However Wigan Borough resigned from the Football League in October 1931 and Central applied to take their place.

This was initially accepted but a formal complaint was lodged jointly by Manchester City and Manchester United, on the grounds that Manchester could not support a third League side. The Football League backed the existing sides, United receiving hugely critical media coverage, and Central were denied, subsequently resigning from the Combination, continuing in the Manchester Amateur League for a few years before becoming defunct.

The club was revived in 2016, joining the Manchester League Division One, and promoted to the Premier as runners up in 2018 - a season culminating in Murray Trophy and Terry Wood cup successes. Despite finishing second in the top tier the Outcasts chose to opt out at the end of the 2018/2019 campaign, before rejoining in Division Two in 2021 and earning promotion to Division One - five wins and a draw from 10 matches leaves the Magpies mid table (8th of 14) this term.

East Manchester FC, from the Wright Robinson College in Gorton was formed in 1960 as the works team of the Ferranti engineering factory and initially competed in the local Chorlton League, which they immediately won. A switch to the South East Lancashire League brought about several changes of name from Ferranti to ICT to ICL and finally to East Manchester in 1985.

Success in the South East Lancs prefaced The Blues joining the Manchester League in 1981, and a ground move from Mellands to the GMB club, both in Gorton. Winning the second tier title saw the club promoted to the Premier Division of the Manchester League, and a league and cup double arrived in 1992.

East moved venue again to Kirkmanshulme Lane, then settling at Dave Pace's Butchers Arms in Droylsden until 2006. A short return to the GMB ground and then the Blues took up residence at the Wright Robinson College in 2008. The club was relegated in 2015 but promoted back as champions the following season. However another demotion, in bottom place, in 2019 sees East playing, next to bottom this time with 9 points from 13 games, in the First Division.

Belatedly onto Park Road, delayed by roadworks, past a pony being led in a pink coat then De Luxe Chicken (still no sign of opening !) and Beauty by Peaches & Cream. Thereafter the Moss Trooper, Hare and Hounds, Al Khans, Cheshire Dog Spa and Bowdon Rugby Club on Clay Lane. All these intertwined with numberplates 123 ANY and JU51 BOX (a greengrocer) and a van emblazoned with 'The Rutland Fox'... and another with Willow Goat Crafts....

To Roaring Gate Lane, Hale Top Farm, Etrop Grange and the Manchester Airport Relief Road - thankfully not flooded today.... Off at the Handforth turn and Little Acorns Nursery - Fun Frogs in the opposite direction - and then right at the Waggon and Horses into Stanley Road.

The vast complex is on the left, tree lined, bounded by the Relief Road, construction works aplenty and a mix of residential housing (Sir Norman Stoller Way) and the Academy. Problems with the electric gates, both in and out, lead, eventually, via a pot holed access road to the car park, changing rooms and astroturf pitch. Confusion regarding kick off time but it's finally clarified as 3pm under the floodlights.

Central are in white and black with single back and red hoops, sponsored by iMap, East in all blue and a mix of Greystones and National Debt Support sponsored shirts. The referee is wearing gloves before a crowd of 12, with light rain turning to blustery winds and a leaf strewn (but not leaf logged !!) pitch.
 
The Magpies are sluggish in the first period, incohesive and lacking any real threat. No real surprise that the Blues take the lead just after the quarter hour - a clumsy challenge in the box, and the penalty comfortably converted. 90 seconds later it's 2-0 as a left wing cross is adeptly flicked into the far corner.
 
Finally the Outlaws get going and their best chance sees Gabriel Wiwoloku turn and fire, but it is deflected just wide. But it could be worse - East's right full back shoots from 25 yards, a minute before half time, and his sweet strike smacks the foot of the post before coming out.
 
A quadruple substitution for Central at half time sees no change as East hit the side netting - but then the substitutions start to make a difference... On 49 minutes sub Ruben Abreu receives the ball, beats his man, pulls back and scores to halve the deficit. Seven minutes later Abreu shows sublime skill to square to Kaine Martin who taps in, virtually on the goal line, and it's 2-2.
 
Just beyond the hour Abreu finds Junior Silva and his shot is blocked, desperately, on the line - East immediately counterattack for a two on one, which ends in a disappointing finish wide. Half an hour of end to end entertaining football follows, the crowd enthralled as to which (if any) side will poach the winner...

Then in the 90th minute the Blues break and, at the third attempt, their left back shoots into the roof of the net despite shotstopper Dan Whiting's vain attempts to save. East take the points from their 3-2 win, moving up to 11th, whilst the Outcasts reflect on 10 weeks without a home league win.....

Badgers Cull & Top Totty In Twelve Goal Thriller !!!!

And so to The Wythenshawe Club on Longley Lane in Northenden and a Manchester League Division Two fixture between Baguley Athletic and Tottington United. The end of the cricket season has seen Athletic revert from Dixons Brooklands Academy in Baguley, where I saw them beat Eccles United in the Cup, and that Man & Technic sculpture, to their usual 'home' at the cricket club.

Baguley Athletic FC was established in April 2004 as a breakaway from parent club Woodhouse Park United. The Badgers achieved back to back local league promotions in 2006 and 2007 but thereafter immediately folded.

The club was reincarnated in 2013, joining the Manchester Saturday Morning League. Promoted in 2016, folding again in 2019, but reforming in 2020, and entering the Lancashire and Cheshire Amateur Football League for 2021/22, Baguley finished fourth (of 11) in Division Two.

The Badgers were then accepted into the Manchester League Division Two this past close season, and have started with eight wins, including an astonishing 15-1 slaughter of Cavaliers three weeks ago and a 6-3 drubbing of Eccles last weekend, and one defeat (to Chadderton Cott). Baguley sit second with games in hand....

Tottington United FC was formed by Norman Entwistle and his father in the early 1970s, playing in the Bury Sunday School League. Norman's father worked as a park keeper for Tottington Urban District Council before it became part of Bury Council in 1974.

In 1992 the club entered into a 20 year lease to play on the pitch formerly used by Tottington St Anne's FC. A Sports Council grant renovated the pitch and installed new changing rooms at St Anne's Field.

United joined the Manchester Football League Division One in 1996, gaining immediate promotion to the Premier as runners up. Despite a third place finish the following season Totty withdrew mid term in 1998/99.

The club then appeared in the West Lancashire League Division Two in 2001/02, but only for one season - resigning due to vandalism of the changing rooms. Tottington resurfaced in the Lancashire Amateur League Division One and were crowned champions in 2012/13.

Thereafter top half finishes followed but Totty were relegated in bottom place in 2017/18, however a promotion rebound as runners up came in the following year. United stood top in the curtailed 2019/20 campaign and that was sufficient to ascend to the Premier League.

Four wins and a defeat before the season was null and voided - and then the club came close to oblivion, due to a lack of players and the effects of the pandemic. Only a Covid loan from Bury Council kept the club alive, but the team did not compete in 2021/22.

Accepted into Manchester League Division Two for the 2022/23 campaign, Tottington currently sit above the pointless Breightmet and Cavaliers with 4 points from 10 games - after a three point deduction.

Up towards Timperley village and the Grange estate, the Old Garden, then across Beech Fields onto Maple Road and into Wendover - the scene recently of a drugs related kidnapping and assault and a murder. Numberplates en route are F1LTH and KF16HTS before I reach Wythenshawe Road and Hologic, Sky Farm Shop and then Wythenshawe Park and its newly reopened, after an arson attack in 2016, Hall - £6.7m of refurbishments over six years, whilst the arsonist was jailed for four and a half years.... Opposite is a house with an unusual carport and petrol pump in the front garden, massive mounds of leaves and a dead squirrel... 

Past the Ministry of St Bonaventure, briefly touching on Northern Moor and then it's under Princess Parkway to Face & Eye and the Jehovah's Witnesses Assembly Hall. Right into Longley Lane and beyond the Farmers Arms, Just Sew Perfect and Bread & Butties brings me to The Wythenshawe Club.

A narrow drive leads to the car park and clubhouse, the cricket pitch - the square fenced off - and sightscreens and scoreboard up top, mothballed for winter. The football pitch is also roped off and access is limited to one side only.

Opposite are the dugouts and behind the conifers lies an airport car parking facility, whilst at the top end and on the other side of more trees and another fence is the Vita Liquid Polymers plant. The other two sides are flanked by residential housing.

Baguley are in silver and black, United in change yellow with a blue and red diagonal stripe, in a match refereed by Titus Tresidder. The crowd accumulates to 23 and 3 dogs in the sun - but none of us predicts a dozen goal bonanza.....

Within 90 seconds a Baguley cross is cleared dreadfully and Lee Hendley sidefoots home. The Badgers then hit the bar twice before Totty break through via their speedy winger, home custodian Dan Green charging out, missing both man and ball and Ryan Lockett equalises.

Parity doesn't last long - 4 minutes in fact ! Lee Gaskell's suicidal back pass from beyond half way is nowhere near and Hendley calmly tucks away. Eight minutes later Victor Abadaki converts a near post header from a corner and it's 3-1.

On the half hour Green flaps at a Lockett shot and Jack Cabrelli scores from the rebound. Six minutes on The Badgers concede a needless penalty and Gaskell makes it 3-3. A breathless first half finishes with Hendley poking home from the six yard line for his hat trick and 4-3 to Baguley at the interval.

Hendley misses three one on ones in the second period as Athletic hit the bar again, but Kain Deegan shows him the way and makes it 5-3 on 61 minutes. Seven minutes on his stunning volley brings the score up to 6-3. Five minutes later some gorgeous penalty area interplay leaves sub Curtis Campbell to stroke home and we're at 7-3.....

United hit the post and then in the final five minutes a Totty break sees a cross that Green gets nowhere near, leaving sub Arran Ashall to tap in at the far post (7-4). Two minutes after Tom Hendley heads home for the Badgers, virtually on the goal line from a corner, to conclude matters at 8-4.

Breathtaking stuff !!  ☺

Badgers Sett For Second Round - Eccles? A Piece Of Cake.... !!

And so what was to be Longley Lane and Wythenshawe Cricket & Sports Club for a Manchester FA Amateur Cup First Round tie between Manchester League Division Two rivals Baguley Athletic and Eccles United - a late switch seeing the match moved to Dixons Brooklands Academy.

Baguley Athletic FC was established in April 2004 as a breakaway from parent club Woodhouse Park United. The Badgers achieved back to back promotions in 2006 and 2007 but thereafter immediately folded.

The club was reincarnated in 2013, joining the Manchester Saturday Morning League. Promoted in 2016, folding again in 2019, but reforming in 2020, and entering the Lancashire and Cheshire Amateur Football League for 2021/22, Baguley finished fourth (of 11) in Division Two.

The Badgers were then accepted into the Manchester League Division Two this past close season, and have started with three wins and a defeat prior to last weekend's away league fixture with today's visitors, Eccles United, which was called off due to HM Queen Elizabeth II's death.

Eccles United began life as Eccles Borough in 1907/08, playing in the Lancashire Combination Division Two in Bradburn Street, Patricroft, and promoted in 1911 before becoming Division One champions in 1913 and 1915. The Eccles changed name to Eccles United during World War I, and after finishing runners up in the Lancashire Combination One in the 1920/21 season moved across to the Cheshire League in 1925.

It wasn't a happy move - two last place finishes in 1926 and 1928 prefaced oblivion for United. Or should that be a long lived hibernation and then resurrection as United, like a phoenix from the flames, reformed, over 90 years later, as Grapes FC in 2020, playing Sunday League football before having the club name ratified back to Eccles United in May 2021. (There was also a short lived Eccles Town, playing in the Manchester League for four seasons from 1983 to 1987).

The Eccles finished third in Division 2 of the Lancashire and Cheshire League in 2021/22, and joined Manchester League Division Two for this campaign. United, playing at Salford City Roosters, have started with a win, a draw and a loss.... and that postponed league fixture against the Badgers last weekend.

En route Deluxe Fried Chicken (opening soon !), that eclectic parade of shops featuring House of Boba (bubble tea), Barberian, Timperley Aesthetics, Cheshire Clocks and Marvel Guitars brings me to Moss Park Community Gardens and number plates GRO6GEY and D3 BOY. Thereafter Timperley Stove & Fuel Centre, the Grange estate and a pedestrian cut through via Threshfield Drive.

Briefly into Brooklands then Baguley and left onto Moor Lane, next to the tram line and Dixons Brooklands Academy, formerly Manchester Health Academy, and prior to that Brookway High School. Inside a work of art from sculpsist Mitzi Cunliffe, 'Man & Technic'...

The academy boasts a 3G pitch, 2 grass fields and, at the top end and perpendicular, tree lined at both ends, housing opposite, and with a business park in the corner, the 'Firsts' pitch hosting today's game. Badgers, obviously, are in black and white but more grey than white and sponsored by Northedge Architecture, Eccles in yellow and black, sponsored by Taxis Transfers. A crowd of just under 25 watches, only just surpassing the number of red bins spread across the fields.....

A capricious wind and bobbly pitch make for a turgid affair - Badgers dominating but guilty of poor shooting. Indeed Eccles have the best two chances - one wastefully spurned wide, the other a wonderful half volley tipped onto the top of the crossbar by Athletic's Dan Green.

Then with two minutes to the break a ball is whipped in, headed on and struck across the goalkeeper into the far corner.... and the Badgers lead.

Two minutes into the second period a decent cross produces a fine header, well saved, but the rebound is gobbled up to double Athletic's advantage. Seven minutes on and Baguley bag a three goal lead; Mike Taylor's free kick badly fumbled and a dink over the keeper makes it 3-0.

Thereafter more torpidity, the Badgers striking the bar, and in injury time Eccles' sub Adam Peck glances a header beyond Green for a consolation and the cup tie finishes ten seconds later - 3-1 to Baguley.

A quick shimmy round Lidl, then the Ericstan for the second half of Wythenshawe Town and Winsford United (attendance 211 plus a half time interloper...) It's a half bookended by goals in the 46th and 89th minutes, and, with 5 goals before half time, Wythy triumph 7-0.

Eight Is Great - Breight Dead And Boroughed.... !

And so to Moss Park, Back Bury Road and the outskirts of Bolton for a clash, a derby of sorts, between Breightmet United and UoB Bolton Borough.

Breightmet United was founded in 1880, plying its trade in the Bolton & District Amateur League, West Lancashire League and then the Bolton Combination. Indeed United contributed a leather bound West Lancashire League membership book for the 1888/89 season to the National Football Museum.

In 1911 Breightmet reached the first round of the FA Cup, one game away from playing the mighty Arsenal. A narrow 1-0 reverse to Darwen, but the Salmoners were annihilated 10-1 at Highbury - so a lucky escape for United ??

1935 saw United buy their Bury Road ground for £453 with the club later joining the Manchester League Division One for the 1990/91 season. Champions in 2003, but relegated in 2009, Breightmet were placed in Division Two for the 2017/18 campaign.

2018/19 was the club's nadir: one draw in 24 games, -2 points following a 3 point deduction and a goal difference of -147. 2019/20 produced 5 points from 14 games, and in the last aborted season, only commenced following receipt of a Sport England grant which saved the club from extinction, 8th place out of 11 with seven points from seven games was a welcome improvement. 

However the 2021/22 campaign can only be described as disastrous - a 5-5 draw against Daisy Hill Development the only point gained prior to the back to back fixtures against the pointless Cavaliers. The home tie produced an extraordinary 9-5 victory, fighting back from a 3-1 half time deficit, but on the following Saturday Cavaliers exacted revenge in an atrocious 2-1 win featuring 4 red cards. Cavaliers have subsequently attracted nationwide attention and are now sponsored by SpecSavers and coached by Jimmy Bullard.

UoB Bolton Borough are a new team this season, the result of a joint venture between Bolton Wanderers and the University of Bolton. Their home ground is the artificial pitch at Wanderers' Eddie Davies Academy in Lostock.

Borough, in their inaugural campaign, currently sit 4th, with games in hand, on 35 points from 16 matches (eleven victories, two draws and three defeats) - compared to Breightmet's 4 points from 21 games... and a goal difference of -88......

On a gorgeous sunny spring day it's past a plethora of tanning salons - Solace, Sunsation, Sol and, later, Tantastic then Midnight Delivery in Sale before I hit the M60. Beyond Beyond (formerly known as Chill Factore) with numberplates today featuring F3MUR (costing an arm or a leg ?), 42K (costing considerably more...) and SOU5A.

Off at Junction 15 to the Devil's Road, A666, with bridge graffiti 'Your Fear Is Their Power' then the A570 leading to the A58 Bury Road and Complete Koi & Aquatics. Through Tonge Fold, Oaken Bottom and into Breightmet, where I'm greeted by Daisy Chains Nursery, Bloomers Balloons, Dogs Body's, Keith Hinsley Affordable Builder and The Wet Room.

Moss Park is opposite the retail estate, down a flooded back alley beset with flytipping and a partially stripped Transit van. A mini astroturf pitch is up top opposite the clubhouse, bar and changing rooms - the ground down below, encircled by trees, housing and Bury Road.

Breightmet are in black and white stripes, a mix and match of kits featuring sponsors B2B and Bid Group - Borough in white and blue with yellow trim. The crowd is 3, my neighbour ('thought I'd turn up to increase the crowd by 100%') being joined later by a young lady - although half a dozen are congregated in the beer garden watching on by the end.

The first half is one sided - UoB take the lead on 2 minutes with a penalty conceded from a silly handball. That is doubled on 10 minutes, a charged down clearance and the centre forward rounds the keeper for 2-0. Three minutes later Borough's right back speeds forward, plays a one two with the winger and slots in via the near post. United's final substitute belatedly arrives a quarter of an hour after kick off.....

The goals keep coming for the visitors; 21 minutes sees a cushioned volley and two minutes later a 25 yard screamer into the top corner makes it five. Breightmet's only opportunity is a volley from a corner - superbly saved.

Then bang on half time UoB's number 9 completes his hat trick with a messy toe poke, amidst much confusion in the six yard box. The interval sees three substitutions for the away team, including their hat trick hero, and they are nowhere near as cohesive in the second period.

Despite United's goalkeeper comedically, and painfully, colliding with a goalpost - a suicidal pass and a Borough open goal header steered wide - UoB only score twice more. On 67 an assured finish from the edge of the box and 9 minutes later a Panenka penalty, following a trip in the box.

The diminutive elderly referee has had enough and blows for time a full five minutes early - Breightmet United 0 UoB Bolton Borough 8 finalizado ☺