Josh's Ams Dram Puts Ramblers On The Wrong Trail....!

And so to the DRM Aggregate Arena in Oakengates in Telford for a North West Counties Division One South fixture between Telford Town FC and Sandbach United FC.

The home team was established in 1950 as Old Wellingtonians by former pupils of Wellington Grammar School. However it changed name to Wellington Amateurs FC when the Head Master discovered that the club had started accepting players who were not former pupils....

After 31 years in the Wellington League the Ams joined the Shropshire County League Division One in 1981, which they won in their first season. The Premier Division was championed in 1983 and 1989 and Wellington moved up to the West Midlands (Regional) League Division Two in 2007, which they bested in their first campaign.

Division One champions three times in four years Welly was eventually admitted to the Premier Division in 2012 after undertaking ground improvements. Relegated in bottom place in 2018 to Division One, the division was renamed the Premier Division for the 2024/25 season.

In February 2024 the team was taken over by former Hednesford Town owner Hayden Dando and rebranded as Telford Town FC. Town won the Premier League last season with 23 wins, 4 draws and 1 defeat, scoring 94 goals and conceding only 15 - and this brought about promotion to the North West Counties Division One South. The Ams have started with a 2-2 draw at Foley Meir, a 3-0 home win against Haughmond and an Alsager away victory - 1-0 - to lie third.

Sandbach Albion, formerly known as Hays Junior FC, was founded in 1994. Sandbach Ramblers Youth Football Club was reformed in 1995 to provide access for schoolboy football for the youth of Sandbach and the surrounding area.

Sandbach United was established in 2004 when Sandbach Ramblers and Sandbach Albion joined forces in their quest to improve football facilities in Sandbach. The club badge reflects the union, featuring R and A in its design.

 

United originally competed in the Staffordshire County Senior League, before moving to the Cheshire League in 2011 where they were promoted to the Premier Division in 2014. The Ramblers were accepted into the North West Counties in 2016 and have consistently placed upper half, with three consecutive failed play off attempts - last season culminating in a 5-4 defeat at Stafford Town. This time a 1-0 home defeat to New Mills before beating Shawbury United 2-1, again at home, they sit 11th of 19.

Numberplates today are BE10VED and K11ODD and a BJS Removal Van 'Setting The Canterbury Pace'.... 

It's a sunny, breezy afternoon as I set off past the soon to be closed George and Dragon. Then the M6 at Juniper Farm followed by Jenga motorway bridge graffiti.

Overtaking Han's Hands and plenty of trailer advertising, including BadRhino, we are held up by a 'stranded vehicle'. We turn off to the A5, Watling Street, and bypass Gailey Pottery and White Pump Farm. The return journey is via Eccleshall and Buttercup and Daisies With Love.

Then it's beyond Weston-under-Lizard, Crackleybank and into Telford and Wrekin, with its hedgehog friendly new builds. That brings us to Oakengates, the Coalport Tavern and the DRM Aggregate Arena on School Grove - although the advertising hoarding inside is for DRM Aggreate 🙄

£6 in and there is a crowd of 135, including several Ramblers' fans. We sit in the Wednesday Crew Stand, opposite the Army & Spud covered terrace and the Dave Gregory Clubhouse.

The ground is bordered on three sides by residential housing and minimal parking. The near end bookends a small industrial estate, including Torton Bodies: the far end is cordoned off.

The Ams are in all red, the Ramblers in change yellow with blue lines.

A bone dry pitch and a capricious wind make for an inauspicious spectacle. However, in the first five minutes, Ams' centre forward Josh Hesson, with a super turn, creates a chance smartly held by United's keeper Craig Ellison.

Then an even better opportunity sees Hesson shoot just wide. For Sandbach Joe Bevan has a shot saved by Jack Boswell on 17 minutes.

Finally the deadlock is broken on 32 from a Kyle Jordan long throw. Town's Jack Howse nips in to head over a floundering Ellison and Telford lead 1-0.

It stays that way until the break, but not before Hesson is sinbinned for dissent a minute from the interval....

As expected the Ramblers, with a man advantage, and prompted by Stanley Tatters, launch an all out assault on the Ams' goal at the start of the second period. However a tremendous rearguard action means United create only one meaningful chance - Bevan denied superbly by Boswell.

Restored to 11 men Telford turn the screws. On the hour there is a fine double save from Ellison, but he is beaten on 69 by a magical individual goal from Hesson, beating three defenders in the penalty area and then slotting home.

After a double miss the Ams wrap up the points 3-0 with nine minutes to go; a messy corner arrives at Harry Dear's feet and he stabs home. Telford stay third but Sandbach drop to 14th, albeit with a game in hand.

Doubles All Round - Community United As Spoils Are Shared....

And so to Bank Holiday Monday and Pride Park in Great Wyrley for a North West Counties Division One South encounter between Wolverhampton Sporting Community FC, Wolves Sporting, and Sandbach United FC, the Ramblers.

Founded originally as Chubb Sports FC, the team lost their club and pitches when the Chubb Lock and Safety Factory closed down (were they locked out?) and the site was redeveloped for housing. The club refounded as Heath Town Rangers in 2001, joining the West Midlands (Regional) League in 2006 and was immediately promoted as Division 2 champions.

Rangers were further promoted, in third place, the following season to the Premier League. Then midway through the 2010/11 campaign Heath Town changed name once more to Wolverhampton Sporting Community FC and won the Premier Division in 2018, but finished bottom of the Midland League Premier the year after, returning to the West Midlands - before moving back to the Midland League One in 2021.

16th of 20 last time, Sporting was moved laterally, 'ridiculously', to the NWCFL Division One South in the close season despite an unsuccessful appeal. Sporting formerly played at the Cottage Ground, home of Wednesfield FC, but moved to Pride Park in Great Wyrley in 2014. 

Starting with five straight defeats this season Wolves seemingly turned the corner with three consecutive victories, before Saturday's four goal Tom Wakefield drubbing at Foley Meir sees them lie 14th of 18.

A recap from last week: Sandbach Albion, formerly known as Hays Junior FC, was founded in 1994. Sandbach Ramblers Youth Football Club was reformed in 1995 to provide access for schoolboy football for the youth of Sandbach and the surrounding area.
 
United originally competed in the Staffordshire County Senior League, before moving to the Cheshire League in 2011 where they were promoted to the Premier Division in 2014. The Ramblers were accepted into the North West Counties in 2016 and have consistently placed upper half, with two failed play off attempts.

United have thirteen points from eight league games this time, including a thrilling turnaround at home against the previously unbeaten Camels of Cammell Laird, coming back from 3-0 down to win 4-3, and a comfortable 4-1 away win at Allscott Heath. However a 5-2 home reverse to Cheadle Heath Nomads followed and sees them 8th but through in the FA Vase, 2-0, at Parkgate on Saturday.

Briefly held up by a traction engine and a succession of old London buses I pass Va Va Voom, Warhammer and The Starving Man as I head for the M6. Numberplates today are 111ME, PH11ZZR and M33 WET. 

Then it's Bank Holiday queues, stretching 2 miles down the A556 and seemingly caused by long tailbacks to enter Knutsford and Sandbach Services. Advertising hoardings offer Nitrous Competitions, Game Changing Cheese and Phantom...  There is also a Slam Transport lorry.

Eventually I pull onto the A5, Watling Street, and then the A34 to reach Great Wyrley. Pride Park is on narrow Hazel Lane, next to Puddleducks Nursery. The suburb also supports Ego @ Tumbledown Farm, Naturelle Aesthetics, Nu Era and Cucina Unica.

Because of the delays I arrive as the teams kick off at 3.02, and have to park on the lane. £7 in and a crowd of 75, with a goodly number of Ramblers fans.

Inside the near end houses two covered seated stands, one benches, the other seats and bisected by Wolfies Bar. To the left is a pathway, behind which is another car park and trees plus some bar tables and building spoil.

On the right are concrete terraces and path, and the far end is partially cordoned off on one side. However it is accessible from the other walkway and curiously hosts the old Away dugout - the Home dugout is behind it, facing away from the pitch. Three sides are surrounded by dense trees, it's almost a gladed forest.

Sporting are in amber and black, Sandbach in blue and white. Both teams immediately go on the attack in sunny, but breezy, conditions.

Sporting take the lead on 14 minutes; a cross finds Edgars Nikolajevs unmarked at the far post and he comfortably strokes home. Thereafter the Ramblers dominate - Ben Greenop is denied and Stan Tatters has an effort just over and another deflected wide.

So it's a real surprise when Wolves double their lead three minutes before half time. A prodigious Sam Cooksey goal kick is held up in the penalty area by Isaac Philips, and Nikolajevs sweeps in for his double; Sporting lead 2-0 at the break.

Four minutes into the second half Wolves' winger Mason Williams fires one from distance and it smacks against the crossbar. Cruelly, within 60 seconds, Sandbach's Joe Bevan is played in and he shoots across Cooksey to make it 2-1.

It then becomes the Cooksey show as he pulls off a number of outstanding saves, denying Greenop and Bevan on several occasions. At the other end, on 71 minutes, Philips shoots and the Ramblers' keeper Monty Parkes diverts it onto the post, then desperately clutches the ball as it threatens to spin in.

However Sandbach's pressure finally tells with six minutes to play - Bevan latching onto a rebound and smashing the ball into the home net for his double. They have chances to win it, but the final act of drama is saved for injury time - Sporting having a goal disallowed for a marginal  offside - and this hugely entertaining clash ends 2-2.

Bad Monners - Ramblers Walk Away With It !!

And so to The Giant Studio Stadium and Allscott Sports & Social Club on Shawbirch Road for a North West Counties Division One South clash between Allscott Heath FC and Sandbach United FC.

The Monners (somebody who has lived their entire life in the same town or suburb) was formed as Atlas FC in 2010, changing name to Allscott in 2011, then to Allscott Heath in 2019. 

After a spell in the Mercian League, Heath joined the West Midlands (Regional) League in 2016, succeeding as champions in 2023 and rising to Midland League Division 1. Runners up last season but missing out as play off losers, Allscott moved laterally to the NWCFL Division One South for this campaign. The Monners currently sit 6th with 10 points from 6 games.

Sandbach United was established in 2004 when Sandbach Ramblers and Sandbach Albion joined forces in their quest to improve football facilities in Sandbach. The club badge reflects the union, featuring R and A in its design.

 

Sandbach Albion, formerly known as Hays Junior FC, was founded in 1994. Sandbach Ramblers Youth Football Club was reformed in 1995 to provide access for schoolboy football for the youth of Sandbach and the surrounding area.

 

United originally competed in the Staffordshire County Senior League, before moving to the Cheshire League in 2011 where they were promoted to the Premier Division in 2014. The Ramblers were accepted into the North West Counties in 2016 and have consistently placed upper half, with two failed play off attempts. One place below Allscott in 7th the Ramblers also have ten points from six league games this time. This includes a thrilling comeback at home on Tuesday against the previously unbeaten Camels of Cammell Laird, coming back from 3-0 down to win 4-3.

Past Ouvra Deli and Kanchi Foods then numberplates DE1 8OYZ (J Davidson), AM1 8EAU, PH11ZZR and Vanoffee - unsurprisingly a mobile coffee outlet. And another BJS home delivery van - this one 'Lighting Up Blackpool'....

A very similar route to last week's trip to Shawbury. So to the  M6 and Sica Jenga graffiti and a hoarding advertising Tough CAD  - indestructible plans.

Off at a gloomy Trentham and the journey becomes one of incessant tractors and caravans... At Ashley there's Romany Rise and duck & quail eggs before I'm at Loggerheads again...

Then Almington Quarry, Dorothy Clive Garden and Market Drayton. Here I find Fordhall Organic Farm and a promise...'Gypsy/ Traveller Site Coming Soon' - I bet the residents can't wait 😀 

To Tern Hill Hall, Cold Hatton - it's a lovely summer's day by the way - Waters Upton and horrific roadworks at Crudgington 😳 Onto The Ugly Duckling at Long Lane before turning at the Shawbirch roundabout.

That brings me to The Pheasant at Admaston and shortly after into Allscott  - the cricket, bowling and sports clubs on the right. £6 admission and a crowd of 92 assembles.

The near end holds the car park (no problem today) and a large new build residential estate. The far side has the required 50 seat covered stand, in green, and behind is the cricket club, with a match in progress.

Opposite are the changing rooms and the bar, with benches and a function room alongside. At the top, which is closed off, more football pitches and mature trees.

The Monners are in green and black, sponsored by Y-our Network Group,  whilst the Ramblers are in blue and white, sponsored by Planet Environmental.

Sandbach, prompted by Stanley Tatters, immediately take control. Joe Bevan shoots wide when he should have done better and then hits the underside of the bar.

However third time lucky and on 27 minutes he bursts through and confidently hits home. Ben Greenop doubles the lead three minutes later; his rather apologetic shot dumbfounding unsighted home keeper Bayden Ngo-Zulu.

That becomes three ten minutes before half time. Left back Taylor Kennerley swings in a ball from right wing which misses everyone and nestles in the corner of the net.

3-0 to the Ramblers at the break, Allscott barely raising a whimper.

The Monners are allowed to be better in the second period, with Sandbach not displaying the same level of urgency. Heath's Eric Mensah goes close and then has an effort cleared off the line.

United waste a four on two, and Allscott take advantage. Sub Harry Morris, with a delicious lob over away custodian Andrew Jones, at least gives the Monners a consolation with seven minutes left.

Greenop heads badly wide but the last laugh is with the Ramblers. With the final move of the match they break and the ball falls to sub Sam Lynch and his shot is deflected, looping over Ngo-Zulu.

The 92 minutes are up and Sandbach come away with a deserved 4-1 win 😀 United go sixth, Heath fall to eleventh.

Leon Is The King of Chaddy

And so on a breezy Boxing Day a visit to the ARK Fleetech stadium on Andrew Street for the North West Counties clash between Chadderton FC and Sandbach United.

Chadderton FC, 'Chaddy', was formed in 1947 as Millbrow FC, then became North Chadderton Amateurs and finally Chadderton in 1957. Initially competing in the Oldham Amateur League, the club then progressed through the Manchester Amateur League and on to the Manchester League in 1963.

A step up to the Lancashire Combination followed and, after finishing runners up in 1982, they became founder members of the North West Counties, created by the merger of the Lancashire Combination and Cheshire County League. Promotion in 1990 was swiftly met with relegation the season after, but the club lasted longer at the higher level after gaining promotion in 1993 - until being forcibly demoted in 1999 due to ground grading issues.

In 2007 Chaddy was taken over by Craig Halliwell and Tony Bhatti of HB Property Group, but within two years ties had been severed; the club becoming a members' club run by the people for the people. The play offs were reached last year, but the team remains best known for two of its ex-players - England international David Platt and Mark Owen from Take That.

Sandbach United was established in 2004 when Sandbach Albion and Sandbach Ramblers joined forces in their quest to improve football facilities in Sandbach. The club badge reflects the union, featuring R and A in its design.

Sandbach Albion, formerly known as Hays Junior FC, was founded in 1994. Sandbach Ramblers Youth Football Club was reformed in 1995 to provide access for schoolboy football for the youth of Sandbach and the surrounding area.

United originally competed in the Staffordshire County Senior League, before moving to the Cheshire League in 2011 where they were promoted to the Premier Division in 2014. The club was accepted into the North West Counties this summer and, whilst initially looking for a season of consolidation, currently lie sixth in the play off places.

And so to Timperley Met, and an (almost) fit for purpose Metrostink service with the tram full of bleary eyed Man United fans, seemingly wanting to discuss George Michael's death..... Past Old Trafford and into the city centre where I walk the Second City Crossing which is littered with beggars.

Then onto the Rochdale line, 'The Line of Violence', at Exchange Square and beyond the National Football Museum the conversations turn to hard drug use. It's a bleak line with abandoned mills on both sides of the track; I alight at Westwood for a walk down the hill, crossing from Oldham back into Manchester, into the teeth of a biting wind.

The Humdinger pub is no humdinger as it is closed and looking for tenants or to be sold, before I reach Fish World and a male jogger in pale pink socks and shocking pink running shoes.... Andrew Street is across the way, and the ARK Fleetech Stadium is hemmed in amidst a warren of terraced house side streets.

Inside immediately to my left is the tea bar with the main bar upstairs. This end and the popular side are tree lined, with the latter providing the only cover (but not from this wind !!) and a middle section with three broad steps for seating and backed by Broadway - the Oldham version !!

The far end is open with a small hillock and waste ground, whilst the near side hosts a very boggy car park - and several spectators do not even venture from the warmth of their vehicles for the entire 90 minutes... The dug outs are on this side too along with a waste receptacle that tells us shoutily 'DO NOT PUT DOG CRAP IN THIS BIN'. On the pitch the goalposts are still being erected....

Chaddy are in all red, United in change white with one blue stripe and their goalkeeper in pink - but I don't think he was the aforementioned jogger ! A pale sun provides no warmth and there really is no respite from the icy wind. 51 goals in Chaddy's 11 home league games so far this season - so a guaranteed goalless draw then ?

Immediately it is obvious that Chaddy are more up for the fight and their front two of Leon Iluobi and James Curley are a handful all afternoon. However they manage to make a complete hash of a two on one, caused by dreadful Sandbach defending, and then have three valid penalty claims rejected.

United seem disjointed and rarely threaten, although Josh Lane pinches the ball from the last man and greedily shoots wide when a pass to unmarked centre forward Danny Bartle would surely have seen him score.

After Sam Gibson shoots just wide for Chaddy, the home side get the goal they deserve on 26 minutes. Wingman Luke Heron beats his man, runs to the dead ball line and crosses for Iluobi to slam home from five yards. Iluobi is then denied by a magnificent last ditch challenge from United captain Bradley Cooper (awaiting his next film role one assumes). At the other end Bartle gets it all wrong with his left foot when a header was the better option, and Chaddy lead one nil at the break.

The second half sees more of the same, Curley shoots straight at the keeper, Chaddy have two goals disallowed - one for a push on the keeper at a corner, the other for a tight offside - and hit the underside of the bar.

Sandbach are frustrated and frustrating to watch, and create only one significant opportunity but Bartle's twenty yard strike is handily parried wide. Still the second goal won't come for the home side but, as we edge into injury time, Gibson beats three men on the left, shoots beyond the keeper - and strikes the post... Iluobi's first half goal proves to be enough :-) 

Fog On The Line - Villagers Lost In The Mists Of Time...

And so to Hind Heath Road and the Sandbach Community Football Centre, for a clash between two newcomers this season to the North West Counties - Sandbach United and Charnock Richard. The M6 Motorway Services Derby anyone ?? !!

Sandbach United was established in 2004 when Sandbach Albion and Sandbach Ramblers joined forces in their quest to improve football facilities in Sandbach. The club badge reflects the union, featuring R and A in its design.

Sandbach Albion, formerly known as Hays Junior FC, was founded in 1994. Sandbach Ramblers Youth Football Club was reformed in 1995 to provide access for schoolboy football for the youth of Sandbach and the surrounding area.

United originally competed in the Staffordshire County Senior League, before moving to the Cheshire League in 2011 where they were promoted to the Premier Division in 2014. The club was accepted into the North West Counties this summer and, whilst initially looking for a season of consolidation, currently lie sixth in the play off places.

The visitors hail from Mossie Park, and a village more renowned for its motorway service station than its football team - Charnock Richard.

In 1933 the Chorley Sunday League became the Chorley Alliance League and a Charnock Richard village team was entered, competing until the outbreak of the Second World War. The club was reformed at the end of the War, winning the league title in 1947/48 but then ran into difficulties and closed down at the end of the following season.

The present club was reborn in 1955, playing in the Chorley Alliance League then the Preston & District League, with a brief flirtation with the Bolton Combination. In 1993 the Villagers joined the West Lancashire League and after winning the Premier Championship seven times, including four consecutive seasons from 2012 to 2015, moved up to the North West Counties this summer, and lie third but with a minimum of three games in hand on Whitchurch Alport and City of Liverpool above them.

And so on a gloomy freezing Saturday afternoon it's onto Manchester Road, then past North Cestrian 'Where Individuals Thrive' and Denzell Gardens shrouded in mist. Through the confusing new Bowdon roundabout and joining the M6 'Smart' motorway and 13.75 miles to the end of roadworks - so all the way there, then !!

It's a blanket of fog making the PIES graffiti barely visible, but astonishingly (OK unsurprisingly) a huge amount of drivers/ imbeciles choose the no lights option.... Off at junction 17 and to the outskirts of Sandbach where I turn near the Hightown Drinking Fountain, one of 77 listed buildings in the market town.

Then onto Hind Heath Road and the Sandbach Community Football Centre. Plenty of car parking and an overflow at the cricket club across the road, which is doing a sideline in selling Christmas trees. A green Shogun sporting what can only be described as a car tattoo, a golden 'The Fat Frog', draws in and then leaves immediately….

Outside the sign tells us Proud Sponsor's (oh dear !) Planet Environmental and then we see what £2m FA and council grants gets you in terms of facilities - an impressive clubhouse on the popular side, 3G pitch, 9 other pitches, 40 teams and over 600 players. Despite, or because of, the new floodlights not much of this is in evidence because of the murk. Two sides are fenced off and out of bounds (ignored), and the near end supports two open, but covered sheds....

The referee, after some debate, decides to start the game as he can see both goals from the centre spot and indeed it's only in the two far corners that the action is particularly fuzzy. Sandbach are in maroon and light blue, with Charnock Richard in white with green trim.

United start the stronger and have a decent shout for a penalty when Danny Bartle appears to be clipped. Shortly after an incisive pass inside the left back sees Omar Mballo score with aplomb for the home side.

As much as Sandbach have controlled the first quarter hour their lead is wiped out soon after. The Villagers' Ollie Evans is tripped in the box, and Nathan Fairhurst calmly hits home the penalty. The away side take control, dominating proceedings with some lovely one touch football. United keeper Ryan Moss makes two fine saves but is beaten by Carl Grimshaw's majestic header from a precision Mark Adams cross for the Villagers to lead 2-1 at half time.

Conditions deteriorate during the interval but the second half gets underway with Charnock again creating opportunities. Ten minutes in, a through ball is cleared desperately by Moss ahead of the onrushing Evans but straight to Adams who lobs home from 40 yards to make it 3-1.

Evans and Grimshaw have chances to extend the lead, but Sandbach respond. Bartle has a shot cleared off the line after some particularly kamikaze defending, then blazes over from six yards and the Villagers' Adam Halton makes the save of the day, turning aside a piledriver - 'Quite how he saw that in this fog - unbelievable'.

By this time we are largely guessing what is going on; the fog means we can no longer see the far touchline and on 74 minutes the referee abandons the match to some disgust. 'Conditions are no different to 3 o'clock' is the general consensus but the fact that we only hear the referee blow his whistle three times, and cannot see him is probably why he brings matters to a premature end......