GrassHopperator: Prestwich Heys

Showing posts with label Prestwich Heys. Show all posts

Monday 5 August 2019

Not Heys' Day As United Victorious In Inaugural Fixture...

And so to the first Saturday in August and the new football season (we'll ignore the 2 Champions' League, 3 Norwegian and 2 Irish matches). And a new club and a new ground, the WMS Entrance Systems Park on Longfield Avenue, the home of Golcar United who play host to Prestwich Heys in the North West Counties Division One North this afternoon.

Golcar United FC was established in 1904 and joined the West Riding County Amateur League in 1934 finishing as runners up. However, after finishing bottom in the 1937/38 season, United left the league but rejoined later.

Golcar won the West Riding County Challenge Cup in 2000–01, and were Premier Division runners up in 2003–04. The following season saw them win the league title. They were runners up in 2014–15, and champions in 2017–18. United retained the league and cup double last season with twenty wins and one draw from 22 matches in the league, and were promoted to Division One North of the NWCFL. United thereby became the last ever champions of the now defunct West Riding County Amateur League - a league that started last year with the bare minimum of 14 clubs but following the demise of AFC Bingley and DRAM Community finished with 12.

The Heys’ origins can be traced to February 9th 1938 when a meeting was called at the Music Room of the Heys Road Boys School with the idea of forming an Old Boys Association - the football arm becoming Heys Old Boys AFC. The Heys gradually progressed through the Bury Amateur League and South East Lancashire League, changing their name to Prestwich Heys AFC in 1964. The team joined the Lancashire Combination for the 1968/69 season.

Thousands flocked to see the Heys play in the FA Amateur Cup, with the victory over Sutton United in 1969 attracting nationwide coverage, coming a week before their opponents were due to meet Leeds United in the FA Cup. Truly the Heys' heyday !!

The club became a founder member of the North West Counties League in 1982 but were demoted to the Manchester League in 1986 due to ground grading issues. Under manager Adie Moran the Heys were champions for three successive seasons between 2005 and 2007. Tragically Moran was killed in a swimming accident in Sri Lanka at the age of 43 in June 2007 which left the club reeling.

After relegation battles, the club renamed the ground as Adie Moran Park in honour of their late manager and in 2016 won the Manchester League Premier Division - thereby returning to the North West Counties Football League after a 30 year absence. An 8^th place finish on their return was followed by third the season after with play off elimination by Cammell Laird, and 5th last term.

So on a warm summer afternoon it's past Bake My Day, the execrable T & T Pound Plus ELCTRICALS. TOILETORIES. and still shut, and Garvey's offering traditional Irish music every Fri-yay !! Onto the M60 and this season's first number plate M45S RC - possibly a priest ? Past a van advertising Walks'n'All, a dog walking and pet sitting company, and over Barton Bridge.

To the M62 then onwards to Saddleworth Moor, Rakehead Viaduct and Windy Hill - The M62 Summit 'Highest Motorway in England 372 metres (1221 feet)'. Then Sammonden Reservoir, Rainbow Bridge and Stott Hall Farm, bisecting the two carriageways.

Off at junction 23 and into Huddersfield (Land of Milk and Money apparently !!), where I'm invited to join Huddersfield Petanque Club. Onto the ring road where I spot a Muslim Support Food Bank and then, after Easyfireplace, a sharp right onto Scar Lane and Golcar. Then right onto Taylor Avenue where I park as Longfield Avenue is already choked.

The WMS Park is slap bang in the middle of a housing estate, with work undertaken over the summer to erect fencing and railings to ensure it meets NWCFL criteria. It has the feel of a council recreation pitch split into two with the top half used for overflow parking. £4 at the gate and it soon becomes clear United have underestimated interest in their first ever game at Step 6.

Only 50 programmes have been printed, with the bloke in front of me snaffling the last one. The attendance is a truly magnificent 379 (nearly double the previous record and comfortably the best in the entire league today), bolstered by many groundhoppers, several disaffected Bury fans and the fact that Huddersfield Town don't play till Monday. Only one toilet between us all though......

Inside only two sides are operative; one behind the near goal where there is a refreshment bar and the changing rooms. The popular side supports the clubhouse and a small covered standing area - there are no seats or floodlights yet. The other two sides are cordoned off due to their proximity to housing. Indeed that's all you can see except for trees and, to the left, views of Scapegoat Hill and Slaithwaite rising above the roofs.

Golcar are in their famous green and black stripes, Heys in red shirts and white shorts - although their keeper also wears green. There is a slight hold up whilst one of the goal nets is fixed, and I spot a large 'Up The Heys' banner in the corner next to a rather smaller Golcar flag bearing the club badge.

The first ten minutes are fairly turgid, with the main topic of conversation being the length and thickness of the grass which prevents smooth passing. Indeed the only areas without long grass are a couple of heavily sanded strips covering those parts that were waterlogged until yesterday.

And then suddenly we have a goal. The ball is played in from Golcar's left and Ben Burnett scores in the corner with a wonderful cushioned left footed volley for United's first ever goal at Step 6.

Little has been seen of Prestwich until their equaliser on 24 minutes. Jacob Wood overlaps on the right wing and delivers a peach of a cross which is met with a gorgeous header by Will Shawcross to tie things up. That seems to wake Heys up - Rio Wilson-Heyes draws a flying save from Golcar's Harry Stead and then Shelton Payne scuffs a one on one wide.

But it is Golcar who go into the break leading. Some rather shambolic Heys defending allows Jordan Townend to play in a totally unmarked Alex Hallam and he calmly sidefoots home.

The second period is distinctly underwhelming as Heys don't do enough pressing or testing Stead. Payne shoots across goal following a Stead error, and Wilson-Heyes fires into the side netting.

Hallam shoots across goal for the home side, but the game descends into a flurry of substitutions and bookings - you will not be surprised to learn that Payne is booked for simulation !! The referee chooses not to use the sin bin today however.

Then with ten minutes to go we have a bit of a melee, more handbags than anything else. This is also the trigger for the menacing black clouds, which have replaced the sun, to send out thick and heavy raindrops amidst rumbling thunder.

The groundhopper from Nottingham next to me really has had a nightmare today. He missed his train connection at Wakefield and had to shell out £26 for a taxi to get to the game (more than his return train ticket), and now finds that he hasn't brought a coat.... At least his neighbour from Sunbury on Thames has a cap....

Some pinball ricochet in the Golcar area in injury time but the ball is cleared and United take the spoils 2-1.

Wednesday 12 September 2018

Grimmy's Heyday Makes Celtic Cross

And so to deepest darkest West Cumbria and JBV Park on Birks Road in Cleator Moor for the North West Counties Division One North fixture between Cleator Moor Celtic and Prestwich Heys.

Cleator Moor Celtic FC was established in 1909, starting out in the Egremont Divisional League, although a forerunner, Cleator Moor United, won the Cumberland County Cup in the 1903/04 season. The village itself was substantially populated by immigrants from the North Eastern counties of Ireland in the latter half of the nineteenth century, leading to the colloquial title of Little Ireland. In the 1871 census 36% of the local population were recorded as being Irish, which no doubt had a bearing on the origins of the club’s name and emblem.

Celtic reached the First Round of the FA Cup in the 1950/51 season, where they lost 5-0 to Tranmere Rovers in a game played at Workington. The club have also played in the West Cumbria Football League and the Cumberland County League.

In recent years the team have had two spells in the Wearside League – seven seasons from 1988 and rejoining for the 2004/05 campaign. Their best finish turned out to be runners up last season and was followed by a successful application to join the North West Counties League – a journey that will see Celtic travel 4,465 miles for their 19 away games…..in fact it will be more than this after the abortive attempt to play St Helens with the match postponed after the team coach broke down.

After relegation battles, the club renamed the ground to Adie Moran Park in honour of their late manager and in 2016 won the Manchester League Premier Division - thereby returning to the North West Counties Football League after a 30 year absence. An 8^th place finish on their return was followed by third last season and play off elimination by Cammell Laird.

After the embarrassment and triple sending off at Longridge last month, Heys lost at home to Radcliffe Borough in a live BBC streamed FA Cup tie and this is the third of a ridiculous schedule of away matches – Holker Old Boys last Saturday, Carlisle City on Wednesday and Cleator Moor today.

So on a filthy September Saturday morning it's past Cheshire Retreat and onto the M56 and M6 for just under 100 miles of motorway driving. The weather and road conditions are vile with incessant heavy rain, spray and the car trying to aquaplane - but that still doesn't stop some morons from driving without lights.

En route I pass a Bonney Pigeon Transfer Specialist van, several motorway bridges and a lorry trailer skirting with 'CANED' graffiti near Preston and a Land Rover towing a pop up Co-op. This week's car numberplate is W111 SHE - will she, won't she indeed but with no lights and erratic driving 'nuff said I think !!

The weather is at its bleakest at Shap and I'm glad to come off the motorway at Penrith. Signs for Ullswater Steamers and an Alpaca Centre, then beyond Flusco Landfill and hoardings advertising 'Woodlands for Sale'. I bypass Keswick, travelling next to the vast Bassenthwaite lake and, as the rain starts to ease, begin to appreciate the Cumbrian landscape.

I take the Egremont road, through Deanscales and its Old Posting House and then to the Lamplugh Tip - an aptly named disused pub that has been flytipped on..... Then to Rowrah, home of The Stork Hotel, Ennerdale Craft Brewery and, infamously, Cumbrian taxi driver Derrick Bird who went on the rampage killing 12 people and injuring 11 others in one day in July 2010.

Straight through to Arlecdon and The Hound Inn and to Frizington with its pretty coloured houses, Frizington White Star FC on the main street and then Eskett Quarry.

By this time I am following a driver with Manchester plates who is clearly unsure about the roads. When he turns left down a country lane to Cleator Moor I am certain he and his 'navigator' are Prestwich Heys fans - which they are !! The ground is on the right again the Health Centre down a heavily rutted, muddy and puddle strewn track - the Heys team coach, which arrives shortly after, sets down in the altogether much better surfaced and out of bounds NHS car park.

There isn't much to Cleator Moor and most of what there is seems to be closed - both pubs in the village centre are boarded up, and the only signs of activity are at Greggs.

£3 on the gate and inside all the action is on the popular side. There is a 4 step covered terrace which goes all of 10 yards, named Britain's Energy Coast Stand. Next to it, with McGrath Park over the entrance, is the clubhouse and a very noisy bar. Three large windows look out onto the playing surface and these are fully occupied throughout the match – not surprising when you see the view (pictured below).

Behind the stand is housing, chickens squawking in their coops, and across are glorious views of the Cumbrian fells. There is a walkway around the pitch which comes abruptly to an end at each dugout, the end to my left ending in woods, and more housing to the right. The netting and fencing behind the goal to the left is a little optimistic - a club official spends the entire first half retrieving balls from the overgrown wasteland and rough, and not always with success !!

Celtic are naturally in green and white hoops and green shorts, Heys in red shirts and white shorts. The rain has given way to patchy sunshine but the pitch remains greasy underfoot, as the linesman across the way finds out to his cost with a full length dive. The referee books him for simulation .... no I made that last bit up :-)

Celtic look the sharper team to begin with, their young centre forward Callum Birdsall providing a real physical presence and charging down Prestwich keeper Callum Jakovlevs' clearance as the home side go close. Closer still when Brad Tatton's swerving shot just dips too late and clears Jakovlevs' bar.

So it's something of a surprise when Heys take the lead on 26 minutes. A pinpoint cross from Max White is met with a crashing header from Lee Bruce and finds the net through Celtic stopper Craig Rule's legs. Birdsall's header swirling past the post is the best that Cleator Moor can conjure up, and the half ends in niggly fashion.

In the second period the sun disappears and so do Celtic who seem devoid of ideas and, with Birdsall drifting onto the wing, lack a focal attacking point. Lee Grimshaw heads White’s corner high into the net at the near post to double Heys' lead on the hour.

Two minutes later he is played in by Bruce and shoots from an acute angle. Rule saves but the ball spins up and away and trickles in at the far post, part of the net being demolished in the process.

Jakovlevs makes a good save from Stuart Shaw's free kick, diving full length to tip the ball past the post and that is that as far as Celtic pressure is concerned. Grimshaw has the chance for his hat trick in injury time but, to the astonishment of the away contingent in the 103 crowd, slices horribly wide when unmarked from six yards out. But Heys still run out comfortable and worthy 3-0 winners.

Monday 20 August 2018

Not Heys' Heyday In Ridge of High Pressure

And so to the Mike Riding Ground on Inglewhite Road in Longridge for the North West Counties Division One North fixture between Longridge Town and Prestwich Heys.

Longridge Town FC was formed in 1996 when the two main clubs in the town, Longridge United and Longridge St Wilfred’s, amalgamated. Both clubs had histories dating back to the 19^th century when Longridge St Wilfred’s and Longridge St Lawrence were established.

Both clubs were based on sectarian grounds and played in their respective religious leagues. That situation existed to 1929 when Longridge St Lawrence became a non-sectarian club and changed name to Longridge United.

The new club started in the Preston & District League and subsequent promotions saw The Ridge elevated to the West Lancashire League Division Two in 2008. A runners up spot in their first season took them to Division One, where they were crowned champions in 2012.

The 2016/17 Premier Division title was clinched with a last day 1-0 win at closest rivals Blackpool Wren Rovers. Last season Town finished third and successfully applied to join the North West Counties Football League Division One North.

So on a grey warm afternoon I am passed by a pale blue VW Beetle with a plastic cow on its roof and a red cylinder marked 'Methane' on the boot (very odd), then it's signs for a lost parrot, Cowtown Grill and The Flamin' Chicken before that shuttered ELCTRICAL. TOILETORIES pound plus shop. Garvey's invite me to celebrate St Patrick's Day with them (17 March) - that's some advance warning...

The M60, Barton Bridge and a flurry of ambulances, the M61 (Incontinence Supplies at Internet Prices), a Highways Agency vehicle fitted with Acklea Scorpion and Botany Bay leads me to the M6 and struggling caravans.

Off at Junction 31a into massive industrial estates, a car dealership seemingly at every corner and a collection of stone buddhas outside the HA Fox Jaguar franchise. Then into Grimsargh and its Smile Clinic, past Alston Dairy and to Longridge 'The Gateway to the Ribble Valley'. Bypassing the town centre and choosing to eschew Quilters Quarters and Pristine Pooches I reach the Mike Riding Ground, named after the current club president, on Inglewhite Road at the northern tip of the town.

A very muddy and bepuddled car park awaits me and I fear the Abbey Hulton parking pandemonium is about to strike again - but I get the last encumbered spot to ensure a speedy getaway.

£5 at the turnstile includes a free programme and wonderful views of the Ribble Valley countryside. Only two sides of the ground are open - the popular side with a brand new 100 seater grandstand and its shiny red seats, next to the dressing rooms, clubhouse and then the Frank Jamieson Stand, a small four step covered terrace in the corner.

The other side open is behind the goal to my right, a path with warm up pitch beyond. The two closed sides are fenced off but more of that anon. The scale of new build housing developments – prices from a fiver less than £386,000 ‘Help Available To Buy’ and at those prices the help is sorely needed !! - at various stages of completion is immediately evident but the Alston Arms next to the ground and the unspoilt country views opposite both survive - for now.

The Ridge have won one, drawn one and lost one of their three league games thus far, with ten goals for and nine against. Strongly fancied Heys have won both league games and upset Abbey Hey from the league above in the FA Cup last week.

Town are all in red, Heys in light blue shirts and navy shorts. The first half is a wretched experience as a record bumper crowd of 211, the highest at this level in the whole country this weekend, have to endure a plague of blackfly, midges and wasps. The football is little better; not so much craft and guile, more graft and bile, a litany of free kicks and injuries, three yellow cards and much moaning and groaning.

The deadlock is scruffily broken midway through the half. Jay Hart, infamously sacked by Clitheroe FC for some after match hanky panky in the home dugout at Mossley, flicks on a Longridge corner, a deflected shot, appeals for a penalty, goal line scramble and Paul Turner scuffs in from a yard. Four minutes into stoppage time provides the only moment of quality in the first period. Tom Ince's perfectly flighted ball drops over Heys' Jacob Holt and Turner gorgeously lobs Mike Smith to make it 2-0 for the home team.

For the second half I seek solace on the opposite, fenced off, out of bounds, side. If nothing else I can watch the cricket match taking place in the valley below at Longridge CC....

There are no bugs, the sun breaks out briefly and the second 45 minutes proves rather incident packed. Within a minute Ridge lose the ball, Rio Wilson-Heyes is allowed to run and run before laying off to the burly Jamie Baguley whose left footer from 20 yards finds the corner of the net.

Heys hit the bar soon after and then come three incidents that enrage the away side. Theo Kidd is pushed in the penalty area, and with the linesman furiously flagging away, the referee waves play on. Then Town captain George Melling's dangerous tackle on Kidd receives a yellow card when it could, and maybe should, have been red.

Finally a woefully underhit back pass, indicative of some very nervy home defending is intercepted by Kidd. The ensuing melee sees the ball cleared off the line twice, twice apparently with the illegal use of a hand. Nothing is given and this prompts a torrent of abuse from the away bench. Both Heys' joint managers, Jon Lyons and Ryan Hutchinson, are banished to the stands in the aftermath.

Inevitably Ridge's next foray sees Alex Murphy upended in the box and the referee this time awards a penalty, which Richie Allen converts. Two minutes later Wilson-Heyes hits the crossbar for Prestwich, who must know by now it's not going to be their (hey)day.

A splendid piece of trickery sees Allen make space and curl a left footed effort which hits the underside of bar and inside of post and trickle along the line where fellow sub Joe Melling scrambles the ball home at the near post for 4-1.

And it's 5-1 with five minutes to go as an unmarked Dan Wilkinson heads in a free kick as Heys implode. To rub salt into their wounds Heys receive their third red card of the day at the death - Holt for a second yellow.

One final footnote - the referee today, the villain of the piece in Prestwich eyes, is called Mr Hay.......

Monday 19 September 2016

Heys Gunned Down As Bullets Finally Fire

And so to Adie Moran Park, the home of Prestwich Heys, for the visit of the only unbeaten team in the league, Alsager Town, in a North West Counties Division One fixture.

The home club's origins can be traced to February 9th 1938 when a meeting was called at the Music Room of the Heys Road Boys School with the idea of forming an Old Boys Association - the football arm becoming Heys Old Boys AFC. The Heys gradually progressed through the Bury Amateur League and South East Lancashire League, changing their name to Prestwich Heys AFC in 1964. The team joined the Lancashire Combination for the 1968/69 season.

After relegation battles, the club renamed the ground in honour of Moran and last season won the Manchester League Premier Division - thereby returning to the North West Counties Football League this summer after a 30 year absence.

Alsager Town are known as The Bullets, after the former Royal Ordnance Factory (now BAE Systems) in the nearby hamlet of Radway Green which produced small arms ammunition for the British armed forces. The club was formed in 1965 as Alsager FC from the merger of Alsager Institute and Alsager United, with the current Wood Park ground acquired in 1967.

The Bullets' 51 year journey has incorporated four name changes - 1973 Alsager Town, 1986 Alsager United, back to Alsager FC in 1988 and then to Town again in 2001. Initially starting in the Crewe League, the club joined the Mid Cheshire League for the start of the 1971/2 season and stayed there until being forced out of business in 1988 due to a lack of funds and poor support.

The club reformed after a season's absence in 1989 and started again in the Crewe League, then the Mid Cheshire, before spending one season in the Springbank Vending Midland League and then achieving promotion to the North West Counties Football League in 1999. Further success took the club to the Northern Premier Division 1 in 2006 and then Division 1 South for a season, until the Bullets were forcibly relegated for failing FA ground grading requirements.

The last six seasons all involved relegation dogfights, with the 2011/12 season preceded by a catastrophic fire at the ground which meant that the club were forced to play all games away until November. Last season started in similar vein - 5 points from 17 games, bottom of the table and a change of manager. An almost Lazarus like recovery ultimately ended in relegation on the final day.

Onto Washway Road, past Sunsation Tanning Centre I notice the 12 foot giraffe (and baby) have gone walkabout and Elvis is still threatening a comeback... Then an empty M60 with a sign proudly proclaiming '17 miles of roadworks'.

Normal service is resumed on Barton Bridge - gridlock caused by rubbernecking. An accident on the opposite carriageway necessitating 3 ambulances, 3 police vehicles and 3 recovery trucks, with the tailback stretching to four junctions.

Then it's off at junction 17 and into Besses O' Th' Barn, down Thatch Leach Lane where the local youths are doing kamikaze wheelies and onto Sandgate Road to the old Grimshaw, now Adie Moran, Park. Ample parking and £4 in reveals a small covered area to my right in the shade, and a treatment room, office, changing rooms and club bar to my left. Two sides of the ground are backed by housing, another by the M60 and electricity pylons and the final one by trees - apparently with security patrols !

A single railing and walkway surrounds the pitch, and the only seating is for those in the know - 16 elderly patio chairs !! Oh and a sign 'If you are the last one out, please lock the main car park gates'.....

Heys are in red shirts and white shorts, the Bullets in black and white stripes. The home keeper sports a strange navy and sky blue concoction, whilst his opposite number is wearing a rather dreadful yellow and black ensemble.

There is a minute's silence in memory of Daniel Wilkinson, the 24 year old Shaw Lane Aquaforce/Association player who died during the match at Brighouse last Monday. Then we are underway in glorious sunshine, the cloudless blue sky only punctuated by several aeroplane vapour trails.

The first half settles into one of Heys dominance, content to keep possession and make the Bullets work whilst waiting for the chances to come. And they do as Alsager frequently find themselves a man adrift at the back - Danny White's chip just over the bar and captain Jake Wood's header just wide from a corner representing their best opportunities.

Then just past the quarter hour a deflected shot loops up and Heys' Paul Tierney reacts fastest to get there first and head past that dreadful yellow and black number. Shortly after the mercurial Erike Sousa shoots wildly wide for the home side in a two on one.

With the Bullets misfiring, the half degenerates from one of craft and guile to more of graft and bile. Tetchiness, four bookings, some agricultural challenges and a referee who can't play advantage, ably abetted by two linesmen, one tubby and the other just plain old, hard of understanding regarding the offside rule.

At half time Heys lead and the Bullets look spent. To my left a 45 minute telephone conversation about 'her mother's health', to my right a discussion about japonicas - different......

The second period continues in similar vein despite a double substitution from the visitors - Heys enjoying the possession and the Bullets firing blanks. However the home side struggle to chisel out opportunities and their only real chance sees Tierney put through but his shot lacks placement and draws a routine save.

Then Heys have a real let off as substitute Mark Grice, all alone on the penalty spot, blazes well over the bar when it seemed easier to score. Straight down the other end Prestwich almost double their lead as a fine swivel and volley whistles just past the post.

This seems to be the trigger as the Bullets come out all guns blazing for the final twenty minutes. A double barrelled salvo from the visitors' captain and centre half, Paul Taylor, steals the points. First he heads powerfully into the top of the net from a corner, then a throw in is flicked on for him to head home the winner at the far post. The Bullets nearly rifle home a third at the death but their unbeaten start is preserved with the 2-1 victory.