Reds Alert - It's A Wrench But Lions Pay The Penalty ....

And so to another trip to Staffordshire, this time to Evans Park off Riverway in Stafford, for a NWCFL Division One South clash between Stafford Town and Stockport Town.

The home club was founded in 1976 by Gordon Evans as Stafford FC at Burton Manor Sports & Social Club and joined the Midland Combination Division Two for the 1977/78 season, winning the league at their second attempt.

The Reds changed their name to Stafford Town in 1981, became a nursery side for Stafford Rangers and left the Midland Combination the following year before entering local football in 1984. Town became a founder member of the Staffordshire Senior League, staying there until 1993 and playing two seasons under the banner of Stafford MSHD following a merger with Sunday League team MSHD.

Town joined the West Midlands Regional League for the 1993/94 season and immediately won Division One, earning promotion to the Premier Division. As champions of the Premier Division the Reds were promoted to the Midland Football Alliance but were relegated back to the West Midlands Regional Alliance Division One, getting back into the Premier Division in 2009/10 as runners up. After moving from Burton Manor to Stafford Cricket Club and finally Rowley Park, the club settled at Evans Park (named after Town's founder) on Riverway in March 2010 - 3G was added in 2016.

The club was transferred to the Midland Football Combination Premier Division at the beginning of the 2012/13 season but fell foul of a restructure of steps 5 and 6 in 2018 and was demoted to the Staffordshire Senior League Premier. The following campaign saw a top 5 finish, and a League Cup success beating Leek CSOB, which prompted a return to the Midland Football League Division One ahead of 2019/20.

After finishing rock bottom at abandonment of that season, and a disappointing curtailed COVID-19 2020/21, the club was moved sideways to the North West Counties Division One South, where they lie 9th with seven wins and seven defeats thus far.

Stockport Town, The Lions, and their brief seven year history featured in the last report from their convincing win at the Badgers of Brocton - since then they have played Alsager at home in the league (lost 1-3) and Cammell Laird away in the Cheshire Senior Cup, losing 2-1, and currently sit 14th of 20.

Before the M6 it's past Waterworx Custom Detailing, Gymfinity and Stamford Grange Luxury Retirement Apartments before the first registration plate H100VES - a Manor Elite Horsebox. Then Bowdon Pumpkins and the motorway, a combination of numberplates GE55 WOT, and yes, ridiculously, J5 8ACH, interspersed with a campervan emblazoned with Martha and the Vandwellers... Not forgetting those lorry skirt advertising hoardings - Borehole Solutions with its Geothermal Drilling, Nuie Heat & Plumb and Quadz... plus those advocating CBD !!

Off at Junction 14 to the A34 and Erwin Hymer Centre Travelworld and into Stafford beyond Anatolian Palace, Vivere and HMP Stafford, turning at Lammascote and bypassing Honeybuds Day Nursery. Then into Riversway Sports Complex with its interminable entrance road and vicious speed bumps, leaving the Schumacher karting track and Flip Out trampoline area behind me.

Finally to Frank Allen Way and the John Horvath Car Park, more than adequate for today's crowd of 64. Stafford Hockey & Cricket Club is to my left with the Brian Westhead Pavilion, and I pay £5 to sit in the Keith Mottershead Stand with its 204 seats.

Alongside is a cafe and the rest of the stadium consists of a walkway enclosed by immaculately trimmed hedges, the West Coast mainline thrumming in the background. The sun beats down as I notice there are no dugouts - the substitutes sit in the front few rows of the stand.

The Reds are in all red (hardly surprising !) with a flash of white, and can name only 4 subs, the Lions in all yellow.

Within the first minute Stafford's Kyle Ashman's deflected shot produces a decent penalty shout - the first of many contentious decisions. But thereafter it's all Lions, playing the tidier football and creating opportunities.

Wealth Dasilva-Olajide links up with Limpitshi Bongwanga ('Henry') whose effort is blocked, and the former also has a shot saved. Then Matt Grimshaw, all alone from a corner, sends a free header wide of an open goal and back towards the corner flag for an incredible miss.

Leandro Tanswell Vargas plays in Henry for another smart stop, and then Will Calligan has two efforts saved, one beaten out by Reds' keeper Samuel Amedu, the other a fine instinctive reaction save. In response Stafford can only muster two disappointing shots from Tom Duffy and Ashman as we reach the break goalless.

The match resumes its turmoil after the interval and ten minutes in there is a coming together between the Reds' Ryan Taylor and Lions' Jamie Wrench. Taylor stumbles in the box and the referee, as reliable as a political manifesto this afternoon, points to the penalty spot. Harry Bowers sends Josh Schofield the wrong way and Stafford lead 1-0.

Thereafter resilient home defending and more strange and wrong refereeing decisions frustrate Stockport - and exasperate everyone in the ground. The Lions are reduced to long shots, one of which from Calligan sails onto the cricket pitch 'He made such a hash of it that it should have come with a fried egg' !!

For the Reds Josh Oultram plays a one two and his effort just passes the post beyond a statuesque Schofield. Then the Lions get their chance; a dreadful pass from Amedu reaches Stockport sub Max Dickov in the penalty area and with the whole of the goal to aim at he smashes the ball against the underside of the bar.

On 79 minutes, and after yet more incredible officiating, Grimshaw is booked and sinbinned for dissent. Stafford fashion only one further opportunity, Nathan Scott's shot tipped over by Schofield, but the Reds hold on for a solitary goal victory.

Pride As Lions Roar - Badgers Up Sett !!!

And so to the southern outskirts of Stafford and the Silkmore Lane Sports Ground where Brocton host Stockport Town in a NWCFL Division One South clash. The home side is looking to get back on track after a 4-1 mauling by Stafford Town in El Staffico on Tuesday...

Brocton FC was formed in 1937 when Arthur Mayer, landlord of the Chetwynd Arms pub in Brocton village donated the original match ball and, more importantly, provided the field beside his pub as the club's pitch.

The Badgers (naturally !) competed in the Rugeley and District League (champions in 1947) and then the Cannock Chase League, winning six titles, the last in 1978.

Between 1979 and 1991, the club stepped up to the Staffordshire County League (South) before gaining a much prized place in the Staffordshire Senior League (at one point called the Midland League). This necessitated a move to Rowley Park Stadium in Stafford away from 'The Chet'.

In 2003 an application to the Midlands Football Combination was successful, the club having moved to Cannock Stadium the season before. After a year, however, Cannock Stadium was no longer available (it was shortly to be demolished and sold for housing) so a further move was made to the Coppice Colliery ground of Heath Hayes for a 4 year period by which time Brocton had secured a 30 year lease on a former sports field belonging to Staffordshire Police at Silkmore Lane in Stafford and had developed it to a standard suitable for the Midland Combination.

In 2013/14 Brocton, under manager John Berks, were the last winners of the Midland Combination League before this competition merged with the Midland Alliance to form the Midland League, with the Badgers promoted to membership of the Midland League Premier Division at step 5. But three years later relegation to Division 1 beckoned, and coronavirus scuppered the 2019/20 promotion bid with the season declared null and void.

In May 2021, following league restructuring, the Badgers were placed into the North West Counties Football League Division One South, where they currently sit 14th (of 19) with 13 points from 13 games...but one place above Stockport who are 3 points behind but with a game in hand.

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

Previous tenants Stockport Sports, formerly Woodley Sports, who were playing in the Premier Division, were expelled from the league early in 2015 for postponing games, and, amidst unpaid debts, were liquidated. Conspiracy theories abounded... 2019/20 saw Town in 9th place when the season was abandoned, notwithstanding Robbie Savage stepping out of retirement to make a 10-minute cameo appearance against now defunct FC Oswestry Town.

And last season saw only seven league fixtures fulfilled; the highlight being an FA cup giant-killing at Skelmersdale.

Against a sky like tarmac, the M6 beckons with today's numberplates en route being V17NYL (a flooring company), MU51CKS (the world renowned Forsyths Music Shop) and the truly execrable DJ 53XEE... It's not long before I'm assaulted by lorry trailers next to the motorway - this time Three Wrens Gin, Orange County CBD, Halloween Spooktacular at Trentham and the Lady Boys of Bangkok... Sadly after a fatal lorry collision and bridge reconstruction THE PIES graffiti is no more but Jenga remains - obviously built better !!

Off at Junction 13, through Acton Gate and then onto the A449 to Rickerscote Road which leads into Silkmore Road - the ground entrance down an alley between two houses. £5 secures me entrance at the gate, from the car, and I drive in - with a crowd of 54 no problems of being hemmed in !

Inside, as the rain pelts down, the clubhouse is in the top left corner and next to me are two stands, one a covered terrace, the other a 100 seater. All four sides are tree lined with hedges in lovely surroundings set in a residential area with new builds mixed with older houses - a warm up area faces the stands, behind a hoarding advertising Liz Ashfield Andy Faulkner Stamp Dealers ... truly a first ☺

I sit next to the Badgers' laconic announcer, and directly behind the wife of Lions' manager, Matt Jansen. The Badgers, 'A Team Built On Community Spirit', are in green and white (rather than black and white !), Stockport in change all yellow, with mascot, manager's son, Freddie, and only able to name three academy teenagers and Jansen, who turns 44 this month, as substitutes.

Stockport create the early openings - Geffry Ehote, Max Greenhalgh and Kieran Kennedy pass up presentable chances and there is little from Brocton - Cam Osborne firing straight at Josh Schofield. Osborne is later substituted after breaking a finger in an innocuous challenge.

On 18 minutes Leandro Tanswell Vargas (Leo) threads the ball through a sea of legs, as the Lions appeal for a penalty, and Stockport lead. Four minutes later Limpitshi Bongwanga (Henry to his team mates !) doubles the advantage with a firm header. Aside from Jamie Walsh's deflected effort for the Lions, and ever worsening weather conditions, that's it to the break which sees Stockport two up.

The second half sees Brocton as disjointed as a plate of spaghetti, barely conjuring up a meaningless opportunity, let alone a meaningful one. After a bad miss from Henry, Leo cuts inside and his deflected shot goes over the Badgers' keeper Tony Allsopp on 69 for 3-0. Henry rifles home eight minutes later to make it four, whilst the Badgers' best effort, in the embers of the game, is a sharp shot blocked by one of their own men....

Just time for Lions' sub Thomas Beckett ('I thought he was dead') to waste two glorious chances - but credit to Allsopp who also produces a wonderful save from Walsh. It finishes 4-0 to Stockport, but it should have been double figures and hat tricks for Leo and Henry... The announcer proclaims the final score as 'Brocton 0 Stockport Town 2', is roundly ridiculed, corrects himself, and assures us he has actually been watching the game....

Skem Get The Blues As Lions Roar...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Captain Pickering Mechs His Mark - Lions Wounded

And so to The Mechanics and a trip to Jepson Way for a North West Counties clash between AFC Blackpool and Stockport Town.

The home side was founded as Blackpool Metal Mechanics in 1947 before changing name to Blackpool Mechanics FC. Walter Jepson, after whom Jepson Way is named, was a founding member and long serving club secretary.

The Mechanics started out playing in local Fylde leagues but in 1959 took the decision to move up and join the West Lancashire League. After being crowned champions in 1960/61 and 1961/62 the club moved to the Lancashire Combination, with a best finish of runners up in 1975.

With the formation of the North West Counties Football League in 1982 they were placed in Division Three. The Mechanics were promoted as champions to Division Two in 1985/86 and enjoyed a solitary season in Division One in 1991/92.

In May 2005 Lytham St Annes FC, having resigned from the West Lancashire League, merged with the Mechanics. Then in May 2008 the club merged with Squires Gate Junior FC, with the club renamed AFC Blackpool. The nickname 'The Mechanics' or 'The Mechs' was retained, and the stadium was renamed as a nod to the club's heritage. The club badge curiously shows a squawking seagull…..

The Mechanics' best ever season saw them promoted as First Division champions in 2010/11 to rise to the Premier Division. After four seasons they were relegated to the First Division having finished bottom. Last time around was an underwhelming 19th (out of 22) but the current campaign sees the side just into the play off area after Thursday night's 2-1 win at Bacup Borough.

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

Previous tenants Stockport Sports, formerly Woodley Sports, who were playing in the Premier Division, were expelled from the league early in 2015 for postponing games, and amidst unpaid debts were liquidated. Conspiracy theories abounded.....

The Lions' first season saw them secure a play off berth, bowing out to losing finalists Bacup Borough. Last term was notable for manager Calum Sykes resigning just before Christmas and decamping to New Mills along with most of the first team. A 0-10 home reverse to City of Liverpool on New Year's Eve represented their nadir, but new manager Dave Wild steered them to 10th place with 9 victories in the 18 games over which he presided.

So on a bleak, grey Saturday afternoon it's past ELCTRICAL and TOILETORIES, then Jellytots & Dollymixtures to the M60 and the usual carnage on Barton Bridge. Off at the M61 and that 'Incontinence Supplies at Internet Prices' sign, beyond Botany Bay and then joining the M6 briefly and exiting on to the M55.

At the end of the M55 at Marton Fold it's a left into Midgeland Road, past Hollyacres Luxury Cats Hotel and then right onto School Road with two football clubs next to each other - Squires Gate, in the league above, and Blackpool Wren Rovers, in the league below. Straight over into Jepson Way where I park on the Spirit of Youth FC car park. The Mechanics is hidden just round the corner.

Inside a ground full of character - and four covered stands. Behind one goal at the top end an ancient fascia for some auto repair centre, bearing just the letters UTOS, affixed to rusted girders and above a three step terrace with corrugated sides and crush barriers.

To the left the main stand, set between the two dugouts, originally two full rows of orange and red seats but some now ripped out and abandoned on the walkway. Opposite a further two rows of seating in front of the clubhouse and changing rooms, with the 'Hospitality Suite' hemmed in the corner.

Behind the near goal a more basic covered terrace housing the AFC Blackpool ultras, the 'Tin Hut Brigade' and their many flags and drums. Beyond is the South Shore Cricket, Squash & Rugby Club, home to Blackpool Scorpions RLFC, and the runway of the reopened Blackpool Airport, primarily used by offshore helicopter operations and private planes. In the distance a mummuration of starlings and a bizarre sign 'Were you my 1964 Pleasure Beach Girl from St Georges Park ? Text Pete on...', apparently erected by a lovesick Lytham pensioner !!

The Mechanics are in all tangerine, the Lions in change all purple and the linesman on the near touchline is possibly the youngest I have seen - and the most frozen looking !! A scruffy first half ensues, spoiled by a bitter wind and a squally shower.

Town have the Lions' share of the play and chances. Aaron Dwyer takes advantage of a defensive howler but Mechs' keeper Callum Kirkland steers his shot into the side netting. The best opportunity sees George Blackwell's pinpoint cross met by an acrobatic volley from Ben Halfacre which thunders against the crossbar. The Mechanics can only muster a dangerous Ben Duffield cross which is fortuitously sliced wide by Town's Daryll Grant.

The second half is brighter and within five minutes Duffield latches onto a through ball to score assuredly beyond Lions' stopper Lewis Fielding. Seven minutes later Fielding saves one on one and the rebound from Mechs' skipper Danny Pickering is deflected high before looping in. Controversy rages as the Lions, pride affronted, furiously claim Duffield, virtually on the goal line and clearly offside, headed home. After an eternity the goal stands.

Jamie Hinchliffe pulls a goal back for the visitors from a corner but an equaliser never threatens. Duffield hits the post from another one on one, Kit Gregory shoots high and Conah Bishop goes close as the Mechanics win 2-1 to go fifth.