Colliers Put Miners Welfare First...

And so to Ruskin Drive Sports Ground and the Buildbase FA Vase, with St Helens Town AFC taking on Hemsworth Miners Welfare FC in the First Qualifying Round.

The original St Helens Town club was formed in 1901, playing at Park Road, behind the Primrose Vaults pub, although the players changed further down the road at the Black Horse. Playing in the Lancashire League and Lancashire Combination, the team initially prospered but struggled after World War 1 and folded midway during the 1928/29 season.

The Saints were reformed by George Fryer and a group of local businessmen in 1946, playing at the former cricket ground at Hoghton Road, Sutton. They took over local team Derbyshire Hill Rovers in April 1947 and entered the Liverpool County Combination.

Former German prisoner of war Bert Trautmann joined the club in the summer of 1948 and the following season Town entered the Lancashire Combination. Despite losing Trautmann to Manchester City in October 1949, the Second Division title was secured.

However after two relegations it was a return to the Lancashire Combination in 1956, a league they won in 1972, 9 points clear of Accrington Stanley (who are they ?!). A move across to the Cheshire League in 1975 was the forerunner to becoming a founder member of the North West Counties in 1982.

The Saints won the FA Vase in 1987, beating near neighbours Warrington Town 3-2 at Wembley, in a match more in keeping with the Rugby League Challenge Cup Final. Then, in 2000, the club left Hoghton Road, with the facilities quickly falling into disrepair and the site was sold for housing two years later. The Saints groundshared with St Helens RLFC at Knowsley Road for ten years but the intended relocation to Langtree Park never materialised. Subsequently they lodged with Ashton Town and then at Brocstedes Park, home of Ashton Athletic.

The club did hold the proud record of being the only team to play in the North West Counties top flight in every season until April 2015 when, on the last day, a Silsden injury time equaliser condemned them to relegation. Hopes for the 2015/16 season were to bounce back at the first attempt, and to move into a Council owned multi sports facility at Ruskin Drive in the town for 2016/17. Neither came to fruition.... and a disappointing 2016/17 followed, with 'home' games predominantly played at Valerie Park, home of Prescot Cables.

The long awaited move to Ruskin Drive finally happened at the start of this campaign. The first home game against Abbey Hulton ended controversially - with the game goalless going into injury time the visitors were awarded a penalty, the floodlights expired, suspiciously, and the match was abandoned with a League hearing this Wednesday. Five league defeats out of five completed league matches leaves the Saints next to bottom, without a point.

The visitors, Hemsworth Miners Welfare FC from the Yorkshire NuBuilds Stadium in Fitzwilliam, began life in 1981 following the demise of Hemsworth Colliery FC the year before. The club joined the Doncaster & District Senior League Division 3, and three successive promotions took the Wells to the Premier Division in 1988.

Hemsworth won the Premier Division Cup in 1995 and then moved to the West Riding County League. Division 1 was won in the 1996/97 season, and in 2007/08 a fourth place finish in the Premier Division was enough to earn promotion to Division 1 of the Northern Counties East League. The Wells were crowned champions in 2015/16 to rise to the NCEL Premier Division. After an early FA Cup exit at the hands of Runcorn Linnets this season, Wells sit second in the league.

Last night's heavy rain caused several postponements but the Saints' 3G pitch means this afternoon's tie definitely goes ahead. So it's past Arnies Sarnies, Cowtown Grill and the execrable T & T Pound Plus with its awful banner : 'HOUSE HOLD. STATIONARY. TOILETORIES. ELCTRICAL'.

Onto the M60 and Smart Motorway, now extended by a further 6 months (not by popular demand), and this time featuring live workmen - a first !! Over Barton Bridge and then joining the M62 I pass a Nice-Pak lorry, 'The World's Most Innovative Wet Wipe Manufacturer', before turning on to the M6, where I leave at Haydock Park which is hosting the final day of the 32Red Sprint Cup Festival.

Finally down the East Lancs Road, turning at Windle, past a glorious flowerbed display at St Helens Crematorium. Beyond Heirs and Graces Day Nursery and the one way Denton's Green Lane which doubles back on itself; Ruskin Drive is a cul de sac on the left.

There's plenty of parking at Ruskin Drive Sports Ground, a 30 acre sports complex originally built in 1902 by Pilkington plc for use by its employees, and now run by St Helens Borough Council. There's also plenty going on - I walk past a rugby union match in progress, Ruskin Park RFC v Sefton (which finishes 70-0 to the home team), down some steps to a bowling green and this brings me to the cricket ground. Most spectators are in or around the Sticky Wicket Bar & Grub - and indeed it looks a sticky wicket in the middle as St Helens Town CC take on Prescot & Odyssey, which ends in a tie with both sides scoring 118 all out.

It's a dual entrance to get in - one side for the football (£5) and the other for the rugby league (£2) where Pilkington Recs are doing battle with Wath Brow Hornets, with Recs winning that one 36-24. The sports complex also features tennis courts and rounders pitches.

Inside it's a three sided ground with housing behind the goal at the top end, and, tied to the fencing, those two Hemsworth flags. One proclaims 'Poey is Innocent', a reference to an 'innocent' miner jailed during the Miners' Strike after an incident in Fitzwilliam, the birthplace of Geoff Boycott.

The left side is inaccessible with fencing and densely populated trees behind the dugouts, and the rugby union match going on behind them. The near end holds the changing rooms and bar, six St Helens Blue Army flags, and the cricket match beyond.

The popular side has a 200 seater covered At Cost stand and the rugby league match in the background. A fan is admonished for stopping in the 'No Standing in Front of the Seated Area' - I'm told a picture of a spectator stood in that area found its way to the League, who fined the club £50 !! In the stand is a slightly odd gentleman wearing sunglasses, shorts, sandals and...... gloves.

Saints are in all blue, Wells in change all yellow. In front of a crowd of 77 ('71 paying' ?). The weather is bright and breezy, and the football isn't. After a soporific half an hour, in which the only highlight is play being stopped whilst a stray rugby ball is retrieved from the pitch, Wells' skipper Luke Danville is allowed a free header at a corner and the visitors lead. Thereafter Saints pose no threat, with lone front man Joel Douglas increasingly isolated, and Hemsworth start to play with the confidence of a team second in the league.

Saints' keeper Adam Fairchild makes a smart stop from a deflected shot, but Rich Collier scores direct from the resulting corner for 2-0. Fairchild then makes two excellent saves, the second from point blank range, to keep Saints alive at the interval.

The Saints make a better fist of things in the second half, with early substitute Neil Weaver and half time introduction Shaun Brady catching the eye. That said Wells' custodian Jacob Collier is not unduly troubled. Indeed Wells continue to pose the greater threat and spurn several opportunities.

Nash Connolly volleys wide, Danville plants another header over the bar, Rich Collier goes close, some kamikaze defending sees the ball poked beyond the post and Wells waste a four on two, leaving manager Wayne Benn indignant that the game hasn't been put to bed.

Seven minutes from the end Weaver's, err, weaving run and shot is blocked by Jacob Collier and Douglas snaffles the rebound. Fairchild is sent forward for two corners in a last gasp attempt to take the tie into extra time but to no avail.

But there is one final chance for the Saints as, with virtually the last kick of the match, Brady is played in one on one. Surely he must score, but Jacob Collier somehow touches his shot onto the post and the ball is smuggled clear. The referee blows the final whistle and Wells are through.

Hart Failure - But I Do Like To Be The Side That's The Seasiders !!

And so to Maesdu Park, or The Giant Hospitality Stadium, in Llandudno as the Seasiders take on Connah's Quay Nomads in the Welsh Premier League - second playing first at this early stage of the season.

Football dates back to 1878 in Llandudno, with the club originally known as Gloddaeth Rovers and formed for the purpose of providing activity for cricketers in the close season. The club was a founder member of the Welsh National League (North) in 1921 and were crowned champions in 1923.

Controversy struck in 1931 when the FAW instructed them to play in East Wales - the club refused and were suspended. In 1935 Llandudno FC became founder members of the Welsh League (North) where they stayed until 1974, winning the league in its first two seasons.

The Seasiders were reformed in 1988, and moved to Maesdu Park in 1991. Chris Coleman officially opened the new 3G pitch on 31 July 2014 ahead of a successful Cymru Alliance campaign that saw promotion to the Welsh Premier League.

Llandudno finished third in their first season in the top flight, earning a Europa League tie against IFK Goteborg, with the Swedes winning 7-1 on aggregate. Last term the Seasiders finished a disappointing ninth, and their strategic partnership with MBi Consulting, with the team rebranded MBi Llandudno FC, came to an end.

Before the Nomads, Connah's Quay FC was founded in 1890 and disbanded after a second Welsh Cup final loss in 1911. Connah's Quay & Shotton FC was then formed in 1920 and beat Cardiff, featuring several players from the team that beat Arsenal in the 1927 FA Cup Final, in the 1929 Welsh Cup Final. Six months later the club went bust....

The existing club was formed in July 1946 as Connah's Quay Juniors, and a senior team was formed and joined the Flintshire League in 1948. Prior to the 1952/53 season the club's suffix changed to Nomads; the Nomads joined the Welsh League (North) and, despite returning to local leagues for 7 years, rejoined it in 1966. In 1974 the club joined the newly formed Clwyd League and, following 3 successful seasons in the Welsh Alliance, became founder members of the Cymru Alliance in 1990 then the League of Wales two seasons later.

The Nomads, an odd name for a club that had spent 51 seasons at the Halfway Ground, moved after a season of groundsharing at Rhyl to its current home, the Deeside Stadium in 1998. After bereavements and retirements the club was taken over by gap personnel in June 2008 to become gap Connah's Quay Nomads.

2010 saw the club narrowly miss out on the cut off for the Super 12 League - thus the club began the 2010/11 season in the Cymru Alliance which they won the following season but were deprived of promotion after failing to gain a domestic license. Notwithstanding this setback the Nomads were again crowned Cymru Alliance champions in 2013 and this time the ascent to the Welsh Premier League was granted.

2015/16 saw the Nomads qualify for the Europa League - and a giantkilling as the club beat Norwegian team Stabaek over two legs before bowing out to Vojvodina from Serbia. A second place finish last term, a mere 27 points adrift of The New Saints, brought about another Europa League adventure. A surprise 1-0 'home' win over HJK Helsinki in Bangor was overturned 3-0 in Finland. The club also removed gap from its name in the close season.

And so on a glorious Saturday, a prelude hopefully to the forthcoming Bank Holiday, it's a detour to Warrington then back to the M56, passing Revolution Scooters and joining at the Stretton Fox. Creamfields traffic is light and Stanlow is hardly belching, although the wind turbines are at full throttle.

Then, after Queensferry, onto the A55, past a van decorated as Scooby Doo's Mystery Machine, and beyond Bodelwyddan to Colwyn Bay and its condemned pier. A quick walk past The Picture House brings us to the town's well kept railway station - colourful flower boxes and vibrant paintings providing an attractive backdrop.

Change at Llandudno Junction, Gateway to the Conwy Valley and Snowdonia National Park (Parc Cenedlaethol Eryri), and then the pretty marina at Deganwy on one side of the water, Conwy Castle on t'other. Into Llandudno and, passing the Stag & Dagger tattoo studio, down to the West Shore with its miniature railway. Back into town and lunch is at the Palladium, the Wetherspoons offering in Llandudno.

Llandudno, the resort, exudes quality with the busy town centre merging seamlessly into the seafront area. A long pier stretches out to sea whilst inland the two Ormes tower over, high headlands at the tips of the horseshoe coast.

Maesdu Park is hidden in the middle of an industrial estate next to a big coach depot. Inside the Big Hospitality Stadium, the near end is open terrace with the Celtic Pie Co doing good business. The far side hosts three separate covered seating areas - a hospitality area, the main stand named after the ground sponsor and next to it a smaller version. The other two sides have covered stands too, one with a tea bar, and there's the ubiquitous TV gantry and rather pleasant views of the Welsh hills.

The Seasiders are in black and white stripes, the Nomads in red. A rather turgid first half produces only one major incident and talking point. On 21 minutes the pacy Toby Jones latches onto a through ball and gets just ahead of Nomads' Mike Pearson, who trips him inside the box. Red card and penalty - but Seasiders' Sam Hart rolls the ball wide, and the rest of the half sees Llandudno fail to break down a well drilled Nomads defence.

It takes just over an hour before we see a well constructed chance; great work from Danny Hughes plays in Jones who sets up Marc Williams, and his shot is saved at point blank range by Nomads keeper John Danby. Nomads come very close soon after as Michael Wilde thrashes the ball against the crossbar from a cutback.

Sixty seconds later Mike Williams' prodigious headed clearance is hunted down by Jones as George Horan and Danby get themselves in a mess. Danby misses the ball and Jones takes it around him and sidefoots home. He has a second opportunity within minutes but this time it's straight at Danby.

Nomads throw men forward in the final few moments but the Seasiders' defence stands firm. Short at the back, Llandudno sub Sam Ilesanmi muscles through and draws another great save from Danby, but it matters little as the game finishes 1-0 and the Seasiders go top, maintaining their 100% win and clean sheet records.

From Eye In A Storm To Costa Ricay

And so to Champion Hill and the eagerly awaited Bostik League clash between Dulwich Hamlet, in their famous pink and navy blue shirts, and Billericay Town, who have attracted much press coverage of late.

The Dulwich Hamlet story began in the summer of 1893 when Lorraine `Pa` Wilson was handed the princely sum of one shilling and eight pence by a couple of keen young footballers to start a Dulwich Hamlet Football Club.

Hamlet joined the Camberwell League initially, before moving to the Isthmian League in 1907 where they have stayed ever since. The club have won 4 FA Amateur Cups and 5 Isthmian League titles, the most recent being in the 1977/78 season.

During World War I the legendary Edgar Kail joined Dulwich, scoring 427 goals in 14 seasons and winning 3 full England caps in an international career that lasted 6 days !! The approach to Champion Hill is now named Edgar Kail Way, with a blue plaque, in his memory. Goalkeeper Bert Coleman also won a full England cap.

The 1948/49 title came in the middle of popular flying winger Tommy Jover's career. The main stand is named after him in honour of 70 years of magnificent service as a player, official and club President.

The Hamlet returned to the Isthmian Premier Division at the end of the 2012/13 season, after two unsuccessful play off campaigns. There have been three consecutive play off defeats in the last three seasons, as promotion to the National League South proves elusive.

Long since known for their work in the community, and anti homophobia and anti discrimination crusades, Dulwich were awarded the Football Foundation Community Club of the Year in 2016.

The visitors were established as Billericay FC in 1880 playing at Archers Field in the Romford & District League up to the First World War. Local competition was provided by Billericay Albion and Billericay Thursdays.

Ricay then moved to the Mid Essex League until World War II before changing the club's name to Billericay Town, not popular at the time, and joining the South Essex Combination League. The Blues became founder members of the Essex Olympian League in 1966, and were crowned champions in 1970 and 1971.

In fact 1971 was a significant year for the club, moving to New Lodge, named after the adjacent hospital, and becoming founder members of the Essex Senior League. Around this time Ricay also redesigned the club badge to feature an image of the Mayflower which set sail for North America in 1620 - some of the passengers were from Billericay. Tenuous at best, although the club's strapline remains We Sail As One.

The 1970s saw 3 Essex Senior League championships, 2 Athenian League titles and 3 FA Vase successes - 1976 (1-0 v Hoddesdon), 1977 (2-1 after a replay v Sheffield 'The Club') and 1979 (4-1 v Almondsbury Greenway). Dougie Young scored a hat trick in the latter, the first in a Wembley final since a certain Geoff Hurst in 1966.

The following season Ricay moved up to the Isthmian, yoyoing between the 3 divisions and moving to the Premier in 1998. The title was won in 2011/12 but this led to a solitary season in the Conference South before demotion.

In December 2016, after his overtures were rejected by Dagenham & Redbridge, the club was bought by multi millionaire Glenn Tamplin, who appointed himself manager in March - the Blues just missing out on the play offs.

But the circus has really been in town this summer with Tamplin sacking the club's cheerleaders, for distracting the players, then reinstating them. The club's wage bill has rocketed to over £30,000 a week as he brought in the likes of Paul Konchesky, Jamie O'Hara and Jermaine Pennant, expecting to 'smash the league'.

Add in the home dressing room being repainted as a mural of lions ('My players are lions'), and a (now deleted) tweet from Tamplin telling a rival fan to commit suicide, and you get the feeling it could be an interesting afternoon....

After a disastrous start, with an expansion joint 'failing' on Thelwall viaduct, leading to the M6 being closed for 9 hours and causing gridlock in Cheshire, it's finally into Euston and a whistle stop tour of the sights.

First the sauna that is the Tube to Marble Arch, then the Serpentine, Kensington Palace, the Albert Memorial and a sadly bescaffolded Royal Albert Hall. Onto Buckingham and St James's Palaces before reaching Westminster Abbey, and then Big Ben and its bongs, but not for much longer !!

The Houses of Parliament, 10 Downing Street, Westminster Bridge, Nelson's Column and a trip on the London Eye - where the neighbouring pod hosts a Japanese wedding party, and our half hour revolution is greeted by a thunderstorm (Thunderbolt and Lightning, very very frightening - the Eye in a storm J) Finally the Tower of London and Tower Bridge completes the sightseeing.

The journey to Dulwich Hamlet involves three hills, firstly an overground to Denmark Hill where the station lamp standards are painted in pink and navy blue, a nearby roof is covered in graffiti 'Feed The Pigeons' and the air ambulance at adjoining Kings College Hospital chops into action. A walk round Ruskin Park, up Champion Hill, a pint of Spitfire at The Fox On The Hill and then down Dog Kennel Hill and through Sainsburys car park to the ground.

Hamlet have played at Champion Hill since 1902 on 3 separate grounds. The last of these was constructed in 1992 after the sale of the adjoining training pitch to Sainsburys and a season of groundsharing at Tooting & Mitcham.

Inside the stadium immediately to the left is a shipping 'mega' container which houses Dulwich Hamlet Supporters Trust. Three sides sport set back three step partial terraces, with the popular side partly covered. The ground is dominated by the Tommy Jover Stand and clubhouse on the near side, with an abundance of stickers and approved graffito images on all sides.

There's also a tea bar to one side of the Tommy Jover Stand and a Thai food outlet to the other, next to a bar in a prefabricated garage. The far end shouts 'Up The Hamlet', and this is where the Rabble, Dulwich's 'ultras' congregate for the second half. The toilets continue the stickers and graffiti theme - 'Refugees Welcome', 'No to Fascism', 'No to Homophobia', and various associations with other foreign clubs including Altona 93 and St Pauli plus.

Hamlet are in pink and navy blue, Ricay in change red and white - and both sets of supporters are in fine voice with a significant away following in the crowd of 1,688. The Rabble raise flags declaring 'No One Knows Us We Don't Care' and 'Ordinary Morality Is For Ordinary Football Clubs'.

Within a minute Hamlet's Dumebi Dumaka has fired just wide and then Sierra Leone international Ibrahim Kargbo shoots marginally over the Ricay bar. At the other end Ricay's Louie Theophanous is put through on goal but scuffs his shot horribly, and Preston Edwards saves well from Rob Swaine from a corner to preserve Hamlet's clean sheet. Kargbo's deflected drive is then tipped onto the top of the bar by Ricay's keeper Alan Julian.

Just before the break a lofted ball forward catches on the wind, allowing Billy Bricknell to control with one touch and then rifle the ball past Edwards, and Ricay lead. But there's still time for one more Hamlet attack which sees Leo Chambers handle the ball on the floor to concede a penalty. Ashley Carew sends Julian the wrong way, and it's 1-1 at the interval in a first half that certainly lived up to expectations.

The second period continues in similar vein, although despite Dumaka's splendid control and trickery Hamlet fail to create real opportunities. Bricknell's shot is hooked off the line, and from the resulting corner Carew also clears off the line. Pennant, booked earlier, makes way for the heavily braided Ricky Modeste.

Shortly after substitute Nana Boakye-Yiadom gets in a tangle, the ball hits him on the arm and Ricay have a penalty. Bricknell dispatches it nonchalantly. Hamlet fight back and Nyren Clunis's slaloming run is brought to a cynical end by Konchesky, who receives a yellow card that could easily have been red.

With three minutes to go Hamlet win another free kick just outside the area, but lose possession and the ball breaks to Jake Robinson, a £24,000 capture from Hemel Hempstead in March. He takes one touch before chipping the ball home past the flailing Edwards from 50 yards - a quite stunning and audacious goal. Edwards makes a wonder save from Bricknell's free kick in injury time to deny him his hat truck.

Ricay win 3-1 and their expensively assembled side justify the bookies favourites tag in the second half. The teams leave to Hamlet chants of 'What a waste of money' directed at the ever animated Tamplin.....

All's Not Well For Wells As Linnets On Song

And so to the first Saturday in August and the return of football J The season's opener this time brings the magic of the FA Cup to the Millbank Linnets Stadium, with Runcorn Linnets facing Hemsworth Miners Welfare in the Extra Preliminary Round. The clubs met at the same stage last year with Hemsworth 2-1 victors at home, both sides having a man sent off.

The home club started as Highfield and Camden Tanneries Recreation Club in 1918. Renamed as Runcorn FC the Linnets won the Cheshire County League in its first season, and enjoyed a League and Cup double in 1937. In 1968 the club became founder members of the Northern Premier League, winning it twice, and the pinnacle was the Alliance Premier League title in 1982.

During the 1993/94 season the Linnets' stadium at Canal Street nearly fell apart. A perimeter wall collapsed during a cup game with Hull City, the roof blew off one stand and the main stand was destroyed by fire. This crippled the club and relegation, for the first time ever, followed.

In 2000 Canal Street was sold, with the club moving to the Halton Stadium at Widnes, and rebranding as Runcorn FC Halton. However the Linnets' precarious financial position forced a move out of the Halton Stadium, first to Southport's Haig Avenue and then to Prescot Cables' Valerie Park. Unable to pay players' wages the club finished bottom, suffered a second successive relegation and in 2006 resigned from the league and ceased activity.

Runcorn Linnets FC was formed on 28 April 2006 at the spiritual home of Canal Street in the Quayside function rooms next to the Linnets Park housing estate. The new club joined Division 2 of the North West Counties Football League and ground shared at Witton Albion's Wincham Park. The Linnets were promoted as runners up in their first season to Division 1 (now Premier Division), missing out on the title on goal difference.

The club moved to its new stadium on Murdishaw Avenue in 2010 at the end of its R2R (Return 2 Runcorn) project. The last six seasons have all seen top six finishes, including three consecutive second places - but the NWCFL Challenge Cup was won in 2013.

The visitors, Hemsworth Miners Welfare FC from the Yorkshire NuBuilds Stadium in Fitzwilliam, began life in 1981 following the demise of Hemsworth Colliery FC the year before. The club joined the Doncaster & District Senior League Division 3, and three successive promotions took the Wells to the Premier Division in 1988.

Hemsworth won the Premier Division Cup in 1995 and then moved to the West Riding County League. Division 1 was won in the 1996/97 season, and in 2007/08 a fourth place finish in the Premier Division was enough to earn promotion to Division 1 of the Northern Counties East League. The Wells were crowned champions in 2015/16 to rise to the NCEL Premier Division.

So on a blustery, sunny afternoon it's past the carved wooden eagle on Manchester Road, the closed Wheatsheaf pub, the shut Altrincham Shaver & Repair Centre and beyond the recently opened Da Noi restaurant, a welcome replacement for the execrable Champz (Chumpz ?) bar. A glorious floral display at Denzell Gardens takes me to the M56 where a pile up on the opposite carriageway sees tailbacks as far as the Stretton Fox.

Off at Daresbury, through Preston Brook and into Murdishaw where the Millbank Linnets Stadium is behind the defunct Halton Arms pub. Overflow car parking on the building site heralds an attendance of 324.

Past the existing clubhouse and into the ground where there is a small covered terrace behind the goal, the back wall completely covered by the two Hemsworth flags. One proclaims 'Poey is Innocent', a reference to an 'innocent' miner jailed during the Miners' Strike after an incident in Fitzwilliam, the birthplace of Geoff Boycott.

Next to it is the reason for all the building work - a brand new clubhouse being constructed in the corner. Along the popular side is a modest all seater covered stand, with the message on the roof stating 'By the fans, for the fans'. The rest of the ground comprises a fenced in walkway, surrounded on three sides by open fields and trees.

The Linnets are in yellow and green hoops, the Wells all blue with black trim. Linnets are first to threaten but Freddie Potter's chip barely troubles Jacob Collier (most appropriate !!) in the away goal. At the other end a hopeful ball puts Lloyd Henderson through but he shoots with the wrong foot and the ball curls away from goal.

Play is somewhat disjointed and niggly, not helped by the gusting wind. Stu Wellstead's forces a splendid save from Collier before on 25 minutes Kris Holt's cross sees an absent Wells back line and captain Kyle Hamid heads the ball beyond Collier to give the Linnets the lead.

Seven minutes before half time brings the game's flashpoint. Wells' David Briggs launches a dreadful studs up challenge on Holt and all last season's animosity flares up again in the ensuing scuffle. Eventually, after much pushing and shoving, Briggs receives a straight red card.

The second half sees Wells struggle to create much in the way of attacking opportunities as the man disadvantage tells. The Linnets find the Hemsworth rearguard well organised and obdurate. Harry Viggars' mistake, dispossessed by Potter who has a clear run on game that results in a lame finish beyond the post, the only clear cut chance.

The final quarter brings another excellent save from Collier, tipping Holt’s header from a corner on to the bar, and Paul Shanley's measured strike is just off target. With six minutes to go a cross from the right finds Shanley at the back post and he tees it up, just outside the six yard box, for the onrushing Michael Simpson to steer into the bottom corner. 2-0 and the tie is over, with Wells coming up dry J

Nomads Home From Home With A Stunning Finnish

And so to the last week in June and the recommencement of European club competitions. Tonight the visit of HJK Helsinki to Connah's Quay Nomads, appropriately at the Bangor University Stadium, a mere 107 mile round trip for the 'home' side, in the Europa League.

Before the Nomads, Connah's Quay FC was founded in 1890 and disbanded after a second Welsh Cup final loss in 1911. Connah's Quay & Shotton was then formed in 1920 and beat Cardiff, featuring several players from the team that beat Arsenal in the 1927 FA Cup Final, in the 1929 Welsh Cup Final. Six months later the club went bust....

The existing club was formed in July 1946 as Connah's Quay Juniors, and a senior team was formed and joined the Flintshire League in 1948. Prior to the 1952/53 season the club's suffix changed to Nomads; the Nomads joined the Welsh League (North) and, despite returning to local leagues for 7 years, rejoined it in 1966. In 1974 the club joined the newly formed Clwyd League and, following 3 successful seasons in the Welsh Alliance, became founder members of the Cymru Alliance in 1990 then the League of Wales two seasons later.

The Nomads, an odd name for a club that had spent 51 seasons at the Halfway Ground, moved after a season of groundsharing at Rhyl to its current home, the Deeside Stadium in 1998. After bereavements and retirements the club was taken over by gap personnel in June 2008 to become gap Connah's Quay Nomads.

2010 saw the club narrowly miss out on the cut off for the Super 12 League - thus the club began the 2010/11 season in the Cymru Alliance which they won the following season but were deprived of promotion after failing to gain a domestic license. Notwithstanding this setback the Nomads were again crowned Cymru Alliance champions in 2013 and this time the ascent to the Welsh Premier League was granted.

Last year saw the Nomads qualify for the Europa League - and a giantkilling as the club beat Norwegian team Stabaek over two legs before bowing out to Vojvodina from Serbia. A second place finish last term, a mere 27 points adrift of The New Saints, brings about another Europa League adventure starting tonight with the club also removing gap from its name in the close season.

Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi, 'The Football Club of Helsinki', was founded on 19 June 1907 by Fredrik Wathen. HJK, or 'Klubi' (The Club) have won 27 Finnish championships, including six in succession between 2009 and 2014, 12 Finnish Cups and 5 Finnish League Cups.

The visitors from the Telia 5G-areena were a multi sport club until 1978, but other official sports - bandy, tennis, bowling, ice hockey, handball and figure skating - are no longer endorsed. Runners up in last season's Veikkausliga, HJK stand 8 points clear at the top this time after 15 games and today's game sees a return to Bangor - in 2011 a 3-0 away win against Bangor City formed part of a 13-0 aggregate victory in the Champions League.

It's hardly flaming June as the rain teems down under battleship grey skies. Past Little BigHeads and a slight detour via Thelwall and Warrington before rejoining the M56 and overtaking a car and trailer carrying a septic tank - foul like the weather.....

Then the A494 where the traffic is held up by a Dewulf combine harvester, past Bodelwyddan, and through the Conwy, Penmaenbach and Pen-y-Clip tunnels. Penrhyn Castle greets us on the outskirts of Bangor, 'City of Learning' - one of the UK's smallest cities with a population of 19,000 including 10,500 students !! It's also the home of a multitude of empty shops and closed pubs - even The Black Bull, the local Wetherspoons offering, is shut....but the rain has relented. The cathedral dates back to 546 AD and we pay a quick visit before climbing Bangor Mount, shrouded in cloud.

Lunch is at The Feral Cat with a pint of Palomino from the Wild Horse Brewery. Then a trip to Garth Pier, 50 pence to get on - scandalous but no one is collecting... All the outlets are closed leaving just the view of the Menai Bridge and a couple of bemused HJK fans for your 50p ! Back to the car, passing Peep nightclub and the Lash Lounge, both of which conjure up unwanted images, and the rain returns.

A quick pootle down the Holyhead Road brings us to Bangor University Stadium in Nantporth, the home of Bangor City Football Club, Club Pel-droed Dinas Bangor. The Citizens were founded in 1876 as Bangor FC, and have played in the inaugural season of the Welsh Cup and the Europa League - as well as being founder members of the North Wales Coast League, Welsh National League, North Wales Combination, Welsh League (North), Northern Premier League, Alliance Premier League and League of Wales.

The club moved to Nantporth in 2012 after 43 years at Maes y Dref (now housing) and 92 years at Farrar Road (now the town's Morrisons supermarket). The Citizens have won 3 Welsh titles, the last in 2010/11, and 8 Welsh Cups, and are tonight on Europa League duty themselves in Lyngby, Denmark.

The car park backs onto the main grandstand where the 'home' supporters sit, with the segregated Finns in the smaller family stand opposite, next to the press gantry. The HJK tifosi have brought two banners - 'Forza' and 'HJK kannattajat' - and a travelling support of 29 (we count 33 !), two of whom are topless..... The other three sides of the ground are tree lined, preventing views of the Menai Strait.

In the swirling rain our neighbour in the main stand turns to ask 'It is June isn't it ?' - he leaves, shivering, ten minutes into the second half, whilst other spectators are wearing winter coats and gloves - but 12°C is positively tropical for the HJK hardcore two !!

The tannoy officiously informs both teams that there are 10, then 5, then 2 minutes of warm up time left, before instructing the players to leave the field. We are also told that HJK's Brazilian captain, Rafinha, is celebrating his birthday today (he's 35). Andy Morrison, Nomads' manager, takes his seat three rows ahead of us and provides us with a typically animated performance, the language naturally industrial.

Nomads are in red with white trim, HJK in blue and white with an eclectic team mix of 5 Finns, 5 Africans and a South American. Unsurprisingly Helsinki, overwhelming favourites tonight, take control and start to exert pressure. Akseli Pelvas rolls his man and shoots, but Nomads' custodian John Danby saves well and Demba Savage's follow up is heroically blocked.

Savage beats his man to dink over an inviting cross but there are no takers, whilst Rafinha warms Danby's hands. Shortly after, Ghanaian international Anthony Annan's shot is deflected, just, wide into the side netting. Nomads have defended superbly but hardly threatened until the 38th minute when they are awarded a slightly dubious free kick.

Mike Pearson rolls the ball to Nathan Woolfe thirty yards out, and his delivery into the corridor of uncertainty causes mayhem, missing everybody before going beyond HJK's unsighted keeper, Markus Uusitalo, hitting the inside of the post and trickling in. Nobody can quite believe it, certainly not HJK who look shell shocked and create nothing more before half time.

The second period sees Nomads best spell with Callum Morris forcing a decent save from Uusitalo, and Jay Owen's header is touched aside. Thereafter HJK dominate possession, but in the face of resilient defending never look convincing enough to force the equaliser.

Wild long range efforts from Faith Obilor sail out of the ground, whilst Vincent Onovo, Evans Mensah and Rafinha, again, only require regulation saves from Danby. As time ticks on two moments of goalkeeping madness nearly provide a Finnish finish (sorry!).

First, flailing at a cross he could never expect to reach, Danby tips the ball to Savage whose lob is headed off the line by Pearson. Then inexplicably carrying the ball outside the area gives Klubi a dangerous free kick which is blocked and the subsequent goalmouth melee and flurry of corners come to naught, leaving the Nomads with an unexpected and famous victory. ‘Is Connah's Quay Nomads win the Welsh Premier's greatest in Europe ?’ asks the BBC.

Purple Reign - REMY Low On Spirits

And so to the final Saturday of the season and the North West Counties Football League Division One Play Off Final at Litherland Sports Park. A local derby as well, with just over a mile separating the two clubs, Litherland REMYCA and City of Liverpool FC.

Litherland REMYCA, 'The REMY', began life in 1959 as St Thomas FC, based in the Seaforth area of Liverpool and playing in the Church of England League. The club changed its name to Bootle CLB (Church Lads Brigade) in 1967, before becoming REMYCA United a year later - a combination of the two organisations closely connected with the club, REM Social Club and Bootle YMCA.

Progression to the I Zingari League followed in the 1970s, although the move up to the Liverpool County Football Combination was short lived. The merger of the two competitions in 2006 led to the formation of the Liverpool County Premier League and REMYCA won the Second Division in its inaugural season.

Further promotion to the Premier Division was achieved in 2010, and the club adopted its current name in 2013. A fifth place finish in 2014 brought about a successful application to join the North West Counties Football League Division One for the 2014/15 season. Two ninth placed finishes in the NWCFL have been topped by third this time around, and a 1-0 win over Sandbach United last weekend.

The first meeting that led to the formation of City of Liverpool FC was in October 2014, and the club was officially established in May 2015. The club chose to play in the colour purple, as it is the civic colour of the city....and a mix of Liverpool red and Everton blue - leading to their nickname 'The Purps'.

The Purps applied to join the NWCFL in early 2016 but their application was rejected by the FA and COL were instead placed in the Liverpool County Premier League. However they took up the option to appeal the decision, especially as vacancies arose due to Northwich Manchester Villa's resignation and Rochdale Town's expulsion from the league. At Wembley Stadium on 8 June 2016 the appeal was successful.

Groundsharing at Bootle's Delta Taxis Stadium, it has been an extraordinarily successful inaugural season. Leading the way for much of the campaign, the Purps eventually finished fourth and beat Whitchurch Alport 1-0 to reach the play off final.

Added to this, COL beat Sandbach United to lift the First Division Challenge Cup, their first ever piece of silverware. On Tuesday they face Barnoldswick Town in the League Challenge Cup Final at Highbury (Fleetwood rather than Arsenal), and this week were awarded the title 'Non League Team of the Year' by sports bookmaker Coral.

Through the outskirts of Altrincham, past The Barmy Sarnie, Cloudchasers and a plethora of Indian restaurants (Delhi Alley anyone ?) to the M56, a verdant landscape, then the M6 and a shower at Thelwall. Then joining the M62 - IKEA on one side, a massive wind turbine on the other - to the M57 where a Home Start Maintenance van shows maintenance doesn't apply to the vehicle, with thick black exhaust fumes belching out.

The end of the motorway, PIES graffiti, Switch Island, Copy Lane police station and right at the Netherton pub brings me to Boundary Road, home of Litherland Sports Park, on the left just beyond Wendy House Day Nursery.

Litherland Sports Park houses a cycle track, AstroTurf pitches and fitness studio and suite - plus 150 car park spaces which are all taken by 2pm, at which point 'park where you want/ can' becomes the (un)acceptable policy adopted by patrons arriving late. Entering the facility I have to buy a ticket at the booth (£5) then show it to the gateman, in the absence if a turnstile.

Inside is a six lane running track surrounding the pitch and four almost bare sides enclosed by a single railing, with the cycle track visible behind the near goal. The far side has a minuscule all seated stand - quite useless given the fans stood in front of it - and a small covered bus shelter. It is here that the raucous Purps support takes residence with their banners 'Hated. Adored. Never Ignored.' 'Purple Partizan Internationals'.

On the near side the two dugouts, which are between the running track and pitch, ensure that at least one goal is obscured for much of the length of the touchline.....

Kick off is delayed until 3.15 because of crowd congestion with the attendance given as 1303 - unheard of at Step 6. There is a minute's applause for the recently departed Alan Dixon, a Hillsborough survivor and campaigner, who lost his brother at the tragedy.

REMY are in red and black, and their keeper in lime with the Purps in, erm, purple and white. A tight first half ensues with REMY having the early half chances, as Colin Quirk's free kick evades every one and drifts beyond the post and a misplaced defensive header almost produces an own goal for the home side.

COL's first real opportunity is created by REMY stopper, Dave Potter, whose sliced clearance reaches Purps' John Connolly but his shot is mishit and wide. Then REMY have their own purple patch with a superb through ball playing in Lennon Whewell who shapes to shoot - either a magnificent last ditch tackle by COL's Allen Weston or a nailed on penalty, depending on your allegiance.... Ste Ferrigan is just over and Chris Lowe's strike is straight at Stephen Longrigg.

Goalless at half time with REMY slightly shading it, but the final is won in the first eleven minutes of the second half. Barely 75 seconds in, Connolly's square ball across the six yard box is tapped in by Jamie McDonald. Cue orange flare and general pandemonium.... Four minutes later REMY captain Colin McDonald's header the wrong way sees the lineswoman flag erroneously for offside, the referee correctly plays on, and namesake Jamie takes advantage to round Potter and score from a tight angle for his second to make it 2-0 to the Purps.

On 56 minutes COL break but winger Matty Williams appears to lose control of the ball, before brilliantly chipping Potter from 35 yards and the game is over at 3-0. Colin McDonald loses his head and is lucky to stay on the pitch, having been booked and warned.

Despite a flurry of substitutions REMY can't break though a Purps side that play on the counter, and who should have increased their advantage as Joe Camozzi hits the underside of the bar and sub David Forbes spurns two great late opportunities. The Colour Purple reigns J

Bucks Fizz, Jamie Makes Hay and West End OKay

And so, on the final day of the North West Counties Football League season, it's a trip to the Delta Taxis Stadium for the Premier Division clash between Bootle FC and West Didsbury & Chorlton AFC.

The original Bootle FC was formed in 1879 and played its first fixture in 1880. The club were Everton FC's main rivals and competed with them for a prestigious place in the newly formed Football League. The Bucks narrowly lost out as only one club per area was permitted to join.

In 1889 the club became founder members of the Football Alliance, finishing runners up and FA Cup quarter finalists. The Football Alliance then became the Football League Second Division with Bootle finishing a respectable 8th but resigned due to ongoing financial problems - ironically being replaced by Liverpool FC - and then folded.

The club was resurrected after World War II and joined the Lancashire Combination in 1948. The Bucks decided not to sign Bert Trautmann, apparently not wanting to cause upset because of local war feelings, and he joined St Helens and moved on to bigger and better things. The club won the league at the first attempt but struggled in the top flight, before resigning and folding during the 1953/54 campaign.

In 1953 the current club was formed as Langton FC, playing in local Bootle leagues then the Liverpool County Combination. Twenty years on there was a successful request to change name to the latest incarnation of Bootle FC.

A year later the Bucks joined the Lancashire Combination and after two championship successes left to enter the Cheshire County League. In 1982 the Cheshire County League was one of the leagues merged to form the North West Counties Football League with Bootle FC a founder member.

After relegation to the Second Division, in 2002 the club dropped back into the Liverpool County Combination as Bucks Park on Copy Lane closed its doors for the last time. Four years later with a new ground, New Bucks Park at Vesty Road (now sponsored by Delta Taxis), the Bucks were re-elected to the NWCFL and promoted as champions to the top tier in 2009 - a third place finish being their best performance since.

West Didsbury & Chorlton AFC, the visitors from Brookburn Road, was formed in 1908 in West Didsbury as Christ Church AFC by a local Sunday School superintendent - a team formed out of the Boys Brigade Company and the Young Men's Bible Class. The side played in the Manchester Alliance League up to the outbreak of World War 1.

The team changed its name to West Didsbury AFC at the start of the 1920/21 season, entering the Lancashire & Cheshire League. The 'Bury won the Rhodes Cup, twice, and the Whitehead Cup, but never the league.

In 2003 the club renamed to West Didsbury & Chorlton AFC, and moved across to the Manchester League in 2006, with their 2012/13 application to join the North West Counties being accepted. In their first season 'West' finished third and were promoted to the Premier, as now defunct title winners Formby AFC failed ground grading criteria.

The club enjoys celebrity support, including local indie rock band Dutch Uncles who launched their album O Shudder at a game in 2014 (still never heard of them !!). They also form part of the club's Krombacher Ultras, named after the lager sold in the clubhouse.... 

And so on a cloudy, breezy afternoon it's on to Manchester Road, past the carved wooden eagle at Altrincham Dental Practice, the Wheatsheaf pub (surprisingly closed) and Champz Bar (unsurprisingly still closed !) to the new M6 / M56 link road.

It's motorways all the way from here - the M6 and a becalmed Thelwall viaduct, the M62 and a quiet IKEA and miles and miles of massive warehouses, and the M57 and its elephant signs for Knowsley Safari Park. The end of the motorway sees 'PIES MUSIC OUT SOON' graffiti, now rather out of date, and Switch Island. Avoiding the signs for nearby Aintree racecourse, past Copy Lane police station then a left on to Park Lane, right into Bridle Street and left into Vesty Business Park.

This brings me to the Delta Taxis Stadium, a football ground with its own wind turbine - much in keeping with the spinning wheels on the roofs of the other industrial units. Inside New Bucks Park to my left are two seated areas, one white and one blue, bisected by the entrance to a busy clubhouse. Further up is a cosy covered (bus) shelter.

To the right is a refreshment bar, Frankie Andys, next to the Dodge Kop, a two step covered concrete terrace with four benches and festooned in flags - 'We Are The Bucks', others honouring players (Cox, Liam Loughlin, Muff) and joined by two from West Didsbury & Chorlton. From the roof hangs a banner 'Nice 1 Jamie'.

On the opposite side are the dugouts and two mini all weather pitches while the far end holds a small grass warm up area. The pitch is bumpy and bare in places and after the incident involving a player's credit card on the field at Barnoldswick, this week a player's car keys are found on the grass......

The Bucks are in blue and yellow, West in white and black. Before kick off there is a guard of honour and round of applause - after a 17 year association with Bootle FC, over 450 matches and more than 100 goals local hero Jamie Hay hangs up his boots today. Fittingly he is given the captain's armband for his final appearance.

In the opening minutes it's all West, with Matty Kay and Ben Steer having efforts just wide and Ash Woods has a shot cleared off the line. The Bucks can only manage a Carl Peers effort straight down 'Bury keeper Aaron Ashley's throat.

Finally just beyond the half hour Steer puts West ahead, fortuitously getting a second chance, steering (!) the ball into the left hand corner of the net. Bootle respond and a ball whipped into the box appears to evade everybody - Liam Loughlin credited with the equaliser.

Shortly after Ashley palms away a long range strike, when he should have done better, and Hay thrashes the rebound home as the stadium erupts. West go straight down the other end and Kay drives home from the edge of the area, low and hard beyond Ryan Jones, for 2-2 at the interval. Four goals in eight minutes and 'I've seen less attempts on goal in a penalty shoot out - and it's only half time !!'

The second period sees the home side take control and after a lovely Peers flick on, Ryan Cox lays the ball off for Hay to superbly curl the ball in from 20 yards. Within minutes Hay's majestic header crashes against the crossbar, and Ashley tips aside Joel Powell's close range effort before producing a magnificent double save to deny Peers.

The Bucks are rampant but surprisingly West get back into the match with a dubious penalty awarded for handball. Kay sends Jones the wrong way to level it up at 3-3 just after the hour. Ten minutes on Woods slices home after some wonderful play from sub Carlos Mendes Gomes and Kay - the finish not quite matching the build up !!

Ashley sensationally denies Cox in a one on one, and then Kay slots home his hat trick after another fine team move – and the six West supporters go wild in the bus shelter !! He is denied a fourth from a free kick as Jones tips his effort over.

The final moments of the match and the ball is played across West's box just too far ahead of Hay, looking for his hat rick - that really would have brought the house/ wind turbine down !! 5-3 to 'Bury at the finish in a fabulous advert for Step 5 football, with Bootle finishing as runners up to Atherton Collieries, and West a best ever sixth.