Ammers Nail Off Track Railwaymen......

And so to Easter Monday and the Southerns Stadium at Bracken Edge on Roxholme Road in Potternewton, on the northern outskirts of Leeds. Today's Northern Premier League Division One East game features Yorkshire Amateur AFC, their last home fixture of the season, and Shildon AFC.

Yorkshire Amateur AFC was established by Kolin Robertson in November 1918, becoming a founder member of the Yorkshire League in 1920. They originally played at Elland Road, which had become available after Leeds City folded - however they sold the lease to Leeds United in 1920 for £250, and eventually relocated to Bracken Edge in Potternewton a century ago in 1922.

The Ammers left the Yorkshire League after four seasons but rejoined in 1930. There they remained, fluctuating between various divisions, before the league merged with the Midland League to form the Northern Counties East League in 1982.

The club was promoted to Division One East of the Northern Premier League in 2021 on a points per game Covid pandemic formula.

The visitors, Shildon AFC from Dean Street, are known as the Railwaymen after the wagon works which was a major employer in the town for many years - their other nickname is The Shells.

The club was established in 1890 as Shildon Town, joining the Auckland & District League in 1892. By 1900 the Railwaymen were in Northern League Division 2, but folded due to financial problems.

The Shells reformed as Shildon Athletic in 1903, taking the place of Stockton St Johns, who resigned, in the Northern League. The team moved to the North Eastern League in 1907 and changed its name to Shildon AFC in 1923.

The Railwaymen rejoined the Northern League in 1933, finishing as runners up before securing four consecutive championships. Thereafter three relegations (1985, 1992 and 1999) were countered by three promotions (1987, 1993 and 2002 - latterly as division winners).

Shildon were FA Vase semi finalists in 2012/13, losing 4-3 on aggregate to Tunbridge Wells. Two years later the club finished Northern League runners up, by a point, to Marske United, before winning the championship in 2016.

The Railwaymen were also promoted last summer on the same basis as the home side.

An early start sees a walk down to Navigation Road, past Girl Boss, and a train to Manchester Piccadilly - five football grounds en route plus Human Appeal, the hat museum chimney and the flowerboxes at a rechristened Heaton Chapel & Heaton Moor station.

Then a walk across town to Victoria, bypassing Clampdown Records and Gobstopper Candy. I reach Hanging Ditch, the National Football Museum and Chethams School of Music and Victoria station still advertising far flung destinations including Goole and Belgium.

Then the Leeds stopper, past Malta and Arrow Mills, into the Calder Valley under a bruised sky with intermittent sunshine. First is Todmorden, 'our incredible town' with Kindness signs in the hills, then Hebden Bridge with a plethora of dedication boards.

That leads me to Mytholmroyd and its Iron Man information signs, and onto Sowerby Bridge, gateway to the Ryburn Valley - Manchester 29 miles, Leeds 22 - and home to the Jubilee Refreshment Rooms. Halifax sees Shaw Lodge chimney, Hargreaves Foundry, Quality Street since 1936 and the Halifax Flour Society 1879 building.

Disappointingly the Mill Lane Social Club just outside Bradford is shuttered, the car on its roof seemingly repossessed. Fittingly, as we approach Leeds, there is Strachan - The Art of Fine Furniture.

Then to Leeds city centre, Friends of Ham, 'The Swine That Dines', Piranha Hair Design, the blue plaque denoting the home of Smithfield Ironworks, Bagel Nash, Delico Fine Foods, Virtuoso Legal and the Northern School of Contemporary Dance. That leads me to Chapeltown and the Mandela Community Centre, the Dutch Pot West Indian takeaway, Petals & Stitches and Barakah Bros before I hit Potternewton. Numberplates today are CA51BAD, NN18 PEN and 1055 DD.

A walk across Potternewton Park and its run down mansion takes me to Roxholme Avenue, then Roxholme Road, and, ultimately, Bracken Edge. £8 on the gate and a crowd of 102 today - with about 20 enthusiastically supporting the Railwaymen.

The near side hosts a Bar Area, changing rooms and the all seater stand in the corner. Elsewhere it's a walkway on the other three sides, a partial one step terrace opposite and a mini astroturf pitch behind - three sides surrounded by residential housing, the other by trees (and bracken ?). At the top end Ammers advise us that 'Every Person Is Born With A Seed Of Greatness'.

Ammers are in white and blue, currently sitting 12th and their season fading, starting with no number 8 (12 instead), Shildon in change navy and red, who have qualified for the play offs in fifth place. The away side have much the better of the opening exchanges with their centre forward, Dean Thexton, somehow seeing his shot blocked after an Ammers' defensive horror story. He has a goal disallowed and is narrowly wide with two further chances.

But it's not all one way - the home team's Adam Priestley fires off two thunderbolts, parried away, and then sub Amir Berchil shimmies down the touchline and cuts back for Roy Fogarty to sidefoot into the far corner on 27 minutes. The Shells' sub, Billy Greulich-Smith, shoots straight at home custodian Max Culverwell when he should have done better, and we reach the break at 1-0. There is no tannoy or any announcements throughout the entire proceedings.....

The second period begins quietly with Thexton's scissor kick the closest to an equaliser. Then on 62 minutes Priestley beats Railwaymen keeper Shaun Newbrook to a through ball, cuts back inside past the centre half and exquisitely chips home to make it 2-0.

Thereafter Ammers try to put Shildon back in the game - heading against their own bar and then over Culverwell, with the ball being hooked clear on the line. Culverwell makes a wonderful save from Thexton on 90 minutes but the striker finally heads home in injury time for a consolation as it finishes 2-1 to Yorkshire Amateur.

Eagles Soar - But Reduced to Gulls....Yellows Peril At The Death !

And so to Great Sankey and Thornton Lane for a Cheshire League Premier Division fixture between Eagle Sports and Egerton.

Founded in 1928, Eagle Sports began life as a works team for Electro Hydraulics. After a company merger Sports relocated from Warrington to Great Sankey before competing in the Warrington & District League (W&DL) and in 1941 moved to Thornton Road soon after.

After a successful and lengthy stint in the W&DL, The Gulls moved up to the Mid Cheshire League in 2004, renaming as Penketh & Sankey Eagle and crowned as Division 2 champions in their first season. Relegated the year after, the club reverted to the Eagle Sports FC name and were promoted back to the now Cheshire League Division 1 in 2009.

Sports have won the JB Parker Cup twice, the Warrington Guardian Cup, the Cheshire League Memorial Cup and the Liverpool Cup. Promoted as runners up in 2014 Sports remain there, finishing third in 2015 and 2019, and currently sitting 7th this season.

Egerton FC was formed in 2002 and was named after its founder, Maurice Egerton. After playing in local leagues, the Yellows moved up to the Cheshire League and in May 2016 chairman Tom O'Donnell announced plans to redevelop the site in Mereheath Lane, just outside Knutsford, in order to be eligible for promotion to the North West Counties Football League.

In the 2017/18 campaign, Egerton received national media attention after the signings of former professionals Nathan Ellington, Dean Gorre and the (tragically) late JLloyd Samuel. In the same season, Egerton finished fourth in the Cheshire League Division One, earning promotion to the Premier Division in the process. Egerton entered the FA Vase in 2019/20 but the club was later withdrawn after failing a ground grading inspection.

That same season the Yellows put forward their nomination to move up to the NWCFL, but the season's curtailment proved a blessing - 7 points from 18 games would surely have meant exiting the division in the opposite direction !! But this time third place may yet mean promotion... and indeed rumours on the terraces of Whalley Range suggest this is a done deal...

Due to emergency bridge repairs on Thelwall Viaduct an alternative route is needed at the last minute - so past Venom IT, Garveys (still advertising St Patrick's Day !) and Dogs and Divas, it's onto the M60 and beyond Chill Factore and off after Barton Bridge at junction 11, joining the A57. Then the Barley Farm pub, with hordes of Sale Sharks fans descending on the AJ Bell, City Airport and Makro brings me to Irlam and Cadishead.

The weather takes a turn for the worse with heavy, almost torrential rain. Eventually I reach Rixton where there is Anterior - open by appointment only apparently. Thereafter Juniper Farm and Woolston with signs for Paddington House Hotel and the strangely named florist - La Beau Fleurs. Numberplates en route DG11TAL, a second appearance from T22URDS (for those unfortunate blockages !) are matched by NU22 NOW at a car dealership, and CH04CAT and CH12CAT on Cheshire Cat buses in town.

Into the centre of Warrington, eschewing The Hop Pole brings me to Skittles, a vanity project reputedly costing £1m. That is quickly followed by The Golden Gates and the iconic Pink Eye.

Turning into Old Liverpool Road brings me to Sankey Bridges and the shuttered Coach & Horses and Sloop Inn before I reach Thornton Road. Eagle Sports Club is down a rutted road on the right, and the car park is no better...

Ahead of me is the main pitch and beyond a rugby pitch, and in the distance another football pitch - with Fiddlers Ferry power station in the background. It's a railed off ground with the main side tarmacked to half way and the dugouts. Behind those is the Eagle Sports Social Club selling its own Up The Gulls canned beer.

The changing rooms are at the near end, and the other three sides are framed by residential housing - see attachments at the foot of the report.

Eagles are in two tone blue - light blue with a diagonal dark blue stripe and the Yellows, unsurprisingly, in yellow and black. A young referee and two linesmen, one begloved, the other sporting a full tattoo sleeve get matters underway in front of a crowd of 25ish. That crowd dissipates as the weather turns vile - driving rain, hail and a biting wind; the promised sunny spells do not arrive until the second half but the wind ensures there is little warmth from the sun.

The Gulls start better, having a shot shovelled wide and two shouts for a penalty. Then on 23 minutes home captain Coleman heads in decisively from a corner. There is nothing from the visitors until 2 minutes before the break when the left back shoots from 25 yards, prompting a sprawling save round the post.

The second half starts in similar vein, both sides struggling with the wind - but the Gulls (understandably !) coping better. A sliced defensive clearance is well held by Egerton's keeper and he then dives at the feet of a home striker to prevent a second goal.

On 62 minutes he produces a superb tip over, then claws away a viciously inswinging corner, saving the rebound and the follow up is cleared off the line. A deflected shot wide and another effort palmed aside continues to stymie the      Gulls.

Egerton are frustrated with their end product creating only wild shooting. That is until the 93rd minute when, out of nothing, a worldy volley into the top left corner gives them an undeserved equaliser. Matters are all over seconds later.

The equaliser is blamed on a home supporter trapping the ball from a miscued Gulls' shot and delivering the ball back to the Yellows' keeper instead of allowing the ball to run into the long grass and running down the clock.....

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Chapel's Prayers Go Unanswered - Absolutely No Styal Whatsoever.....

And so after Storms Dudley, Eunice and Franklin have wrought havoc, putting paid to last weekend's fixture with a reformed Blacon Youth, it's to Altrincham Road in Styal for a Cheshire League Division One clash between Styal FC and  Holmes Chapel.

A football club existed in Styal in 1912, and this is taken as the year of the club's foundation. The club started out playing in the Lancashire and Cheshire League (L&CL).

Immediately after the war the Villagers played in the local Wilmslow & District League until they received an invitation to rejoin the L&CL, where they remained for a quarter of a century. They joined forces with the cricket club, building the present pavilion in 1958 and the land on which the ground stands was placed in trust by then owner HG Greg Esq.

Styal joined the Mid-Cheshire League (now the Cheshire League) in 1977 and, after various league reformations and two relegations and one promotion, moved up from Division 2 as runners up in 2001. Champions in 2007/08, the Villagers were relegated to the renamed League One in 2017 where they remain - 7 wins and 13 defeats this time around.

Holmes Chapel Hurricanes FC was founded in 2000 by Chris Rogers as a vehicle to enable his son and friends to play football. Initially playing local league football, and based at Holmes Chapel Leisure Centre, The Hurricanes moved up to the Cheshire League in 2018, finishing next to bottom of League 2 in their first term. 

After the Covid aborted 2019/20 season, last year's curtailed campaign saw Chapel place 4th of 11 which was enough to secure promotion to Division One - where they sit 5th of 15 with 32 points from 18 games.

Through Timperley, House of Boba, Marvel Guitars, Barberian, Harry's Den, the Frank Sidebottom memorial and Hale Country Club & Spa, curiously hosting Bowdon RUFC. Then into Roaring Gate Lane with number plates M15 ADO, DOO8Y, U D18K ED (unbelievable !!) and a van advertising Home James (plumbing) into Altrincham Road, past Peacock Farm, home of Kirk Butchers, 'Traditional Aged Cured Beef', The Ship Inn, and opposite Apprentice Lane, I reach Styal Sports and Social Club.

The road is completely jammed with parked cars for the adjacent Quarry Bank Mill and there is minimal space at the Club - but the lack of parking leads to inventiveness and a 13 point turn, avoiding the mud. Inside there is The Alan Jones Stand, a small covered terrace, next to which is the only seating - a bench occupied by 2 adults and one child. This is agin the sports club, backing onto the cricket pitch and pavilion - the clubhouse selling Mobberley Brewhouse Unchained this afternoon.

The Villagers are in yellow and blue, sponsored by Lowery Capital, Chapel in red and black - their sponsors Manifest Fitness on the front, George & Dragon on the back - as the sides kick off against a tree lined backdrop and drenched fields. Breezy with sporadic sunshine and on a very soggy pitch, matters get underway at 1355 - the crowd topping out at 15, mostly away fans. The referee is a silver haired, moustachioed pensioner, and subject to much vitriol from both benches.

Styal start the stronger and have a golden chance on 20 minutes - a woeful back pass produces an even worse spoon over from the ensuing one on one. Chapel's skipper amazingly heads wide from 3 yards seven minutes later.

Then, on the half hour, the talking point of the half. The Villagers create an opportunity, scruffily shooting beyond the Hurricanes' keeper, and the ball is messily diverted back from over the line and onto the post and cleared. The referee is handily placed on the half way line (!) and awards a corner - which hits the bar.....

The second half is abject, with a surfeit of hoofing, overhit passes and appalling shooting. The two main chances, one for either side, come from one on ones involving rounding the keeper but woeful control means they come to nought.

The match plays out to a goalless draw, but not before some spectator abuse leads to Styal's left back taking offence leading to a contretemps, involving (presumably) the spectator's son (number 15) squaring up - handbags.....

The game festers to a close with more unseemly scenes at the final whistle.....

Windle Labour To Cup Victory - Moore Not The Merrier !!!

And so to the Grange Sports and Social Club in Latchford, Warrington for a JA Walton Challenge Cup fixture between Cheshire League Division One sides Moore United FC and Windle Labour FC.

Moore United was established in 1946, entering the Warrington and District Football League. Billy Green's Red and White Army joined the Cheshire League Division Two in 2008/09 and, after demotion to the third tier in 2014, was promoted back to League One in 2017/18.

But the last three seasons have been disastrous - 9 points from 17 games in 2019/20 finishing next to bottom at the curtailment of that campaign. This followed by 7 points from 22 matches in 2020/21 and last place, matched almost exactly by 7 points from 21 games, goal difference -61, this time around - and last place again.

Windle Labour FC, from Dentons Green in St Helens, was established in 1998 and formerly played in the Warrington & District League, joining the Cheshire League for the 2016/17 term.

 

Promoted as League Two champions in their first season, Labour, playing at the Sutton Leisure Centre, have been mid table in Division One ever since. That said they lie fourth (of 15) currently albeit with 34 points from 22 games - the 3 teams below them have anything between 3 and 9 games in hand.

Onto Manchester Road and beyond The CatNap, Aura Apartments, Antz In Their Pantz and Diva Den, litter strewn Altrincham streets and fallen trees at Dunham Forest Golf Club to Thelwall. En route Armadillo Self Storage and Van Diesel Transport with numberplates 1 MDB, T13 DRY (company of the same name) and M33 WET (a Brooklands plumber !) to the centre of Warrington... and another plate M2 YEW ☺

Past Kwality Printer and the demolition site that was Chevys into Salisbury Road and St Elphins Primary School brings us to the ambulance station. Adjacent, on waste ground, are three marooned boats and two abandoned caravans; over the River Mersey via Kingsway Bridge takes us to the Grange Sports & Social Club, with the rain thankfully abating - but not the wind !!

The clubhouse is on the left, changing rooms on the right and behind are two floodlit bowling greens, a mini astroturf pitch and the football field - resembling treacle and definitely without floodlights. A warm up pitch, with Victoria Park beyond the trees is alongside - cricket sightscreens at either end and the wicket coned off.

Moore are in all red with minimal white flashing, sponsored by Switching Cars - in such small type that it takes us an hour to decipher the words. Labour are in change aquamarine and navy blue, sponsored by JS Decorating - which is a lot clearer !! The crowd peaks at 5 but only two watch the entire proceedings on a slippery pudding of a pitch....

After a non-descript start Windle take the lead on 7 minutes - a right wing cross and strong header into the bottom corner. The next major talking point arrives midway through the half as the referee pulls up lame, hobbles to the changing rooms and, after an 11 minute delay, limps back to continue proceedings.

Labour hit the bar and also waste two great opportunities, with United's best chance a one on one sent wildly wide. Finally in the seventh minute of stoppage time a lucky ricochet leaves Windle's left winger space and he shoots across the keeper for an assured finish into the far corner to leave it 2-0 to the visitors at the break.

The second period starts quietly until Moore turn the tie on its head on the hour mark. A cross is turned in then two minutes later an assured finish from the edge of of the box makes it 2-2.

Parity only lasts for four minutes though with Windle converting a recycled corner - the header just beyond Moore's keeper. United hit the post but the game is finally put to bed with four minutes to go - Labour's forward, looking suspiciously offside, gathering the ball on the wing, cutting inside, beating two men and burying the ball into the net.

4-2 to Windle Labour at the death - which is spot on 4pm after an astonishing 15 minutes of injury time over the two halves....

Greenalls Not Bitter - Bears With Sore Heads.....

And so to January 2022 and a Cheshire League Premier Division fixture between GPSO (Greenalls Padgate St Oswalds) and Congleton Town Reserves at Walkers, now known as The Tetleys Club, on Long Lane in Warrington - last week's game against Broadheath Central, celebrating their centenary this year, having fallen foul of the weather.

Greenalls FC was established in 1963 and was formerly the local Greenalls Brewery works team. Greenalls played in the Warrington and District Football League for many years with the highlight being winning the Guardian Cup and the Division One title in the same year, 1988.

During the 2002/03 season Greenalls were approached by Padgate St Oswalds who played in the Mid Cheshire League Division 2 about the possibility of merging teams. The merger was then agreed and in place for the 2003/04 campaign, where they emerged as champions - they have remained in the top flight ever since and won the Cheshire League in 2010/11. 

Congleton Town FC was formed in 1901, starting life in the Crewe and District League where they were champions in their first three seasons. This prompted a move to the North Staffordshire & District League, and having conquered this in the 1919/20 season they were off again - this time to the Cheshire County League.

 

45 years later and yet to crack it, there was a brief 3 season foray into the Manchester League before joining the Mid Cheshire League. After winning this three times in 1974, 1976 and 1978, Town reverted back to the Cheshire County League and their last ever season there brought the Division 2 championship in 1982.

 

The restructuring of the leagues saw Congleton become founder members of the North West Counties League, and they moved up to the newly created Northern Premier League Division One in 1988. Perennial strugglers, Town was finally relegated back to the top tier of the NWCFL in 2001 - and continue to play their football there, currently just above half way this term in the top division.

 

The reserve side was formed from a three way merger of Town, Congleton Vale Rovers and Congleton Rovers in June 2020.

 

Congleton Town are known as the Bears, a throwback to the 1620s when bearbaiting was popular in the town and if historic lore is to be believed, in an attempt to attract more spectators, it used money set aside for a Bible to buy a more aggressive bear:

 

'Congleton Rare, Congleton Rare,

Sold the Bible to buy a bear.'

 

Consequently the town became known as Beartown....

Congleton's Reserves currently sit sixth (of 18) with 32 points from 19 games whilst the home side are averaging a point per match after 15 games, and lie 13th.
 
Straight into roadworks 'Narrow Lanes - Do Not Overtake Oyclists' (seriously !), then past Pure Fades and to the M56, with en route numberplates R4CYS, MOO1E, WE11DER (can't guess his profession !!) and then a truck emblazoned with Stage Freight... Over Thelwall and off at Juniper Park into Woolston to the centre of Warrington.
 
Then via Beamont Community Primary School with its strange sign for Wasps Out of School Care, and opposite Woolston Detachment - the local Army Cadet base. Passing the Blackburne Arms, The Furry Dogmother and So & Sew brings me to Long Lane and the A50 and the Tetleys Club, hosting an engagement party this afternoon. The sign highlighting that this is the home of Fearnhead FC and Greenalls FC is obsolete - Fearnhead and another previous tenant, Tetley Walkers FC, long since consigned to oblivion.
 
The floodlights are for the two bowling greens, with the football pitch behind, surrounded by conifers at both ends and residential properties and brambles (where a ball gets lost in the first half !!) on the away side in the glorious sunshine. A small covered four step cosy breeze block corrugated iron stand is next to the changing rooms and the clubhouse on the home, shaded side. The attendance today is 19 plus a baby - although more have congregated by the end.

Greenalls are naturally in green and black, The Bears in change all purple, and one of the linesmen is in glasses, gloves and tights....
 
An early Bears chance produces a one on one but the number 9 doesn't shoot, overcomplicates matters and loses the ball and his footing. Then on 21 minutes GPSO take the lead with a sumptuous drive from the edge of the penalty box into the bottom left corner.
 
The Bears hit the bar with a header twelve minutes later, but Greenalls have the best opportunity for another goal four minutes before the break. A one two results in a clear trip and a penalty is awarded, resulting in an abject miss into the conifers...
 
No matter as within seconds of the restart a horror mistake from Congleton's centre back gifts possession in the penalty area to the home side. The first effort is saved and the rebound doesn't happen because of a tug - a second penalty kick is given with a different taker and outcome leaving GPSO 2-0 up - their goalscorers being Ben McWilliams and Przemek Staniszewski
 
Thereafter Greenalls really should put the game to bed, missing several good chances and hitting the post - meanwhile the Bears' cupboard is bare...
 
Then with nine minutes to go the ball bobbles over Greenalls' centre half's boot, a feat subsequently matched by both goalkeepers - but both save themselves embarrassment by scrambling back. That leaves an easy task for the Bears to sweep home and halve the deficit.
 
Shortly after a dreadful dive in the box by a Congleton sub results in a yellow card for simulation - matched by three bookings for the home team, including their manager, in a fractious final twenty minutes. The Bears' final effort is a header from their makeshift centre forward deep into injury time which is comfortably saved to leave Greenalls 2-1 winners and give GPSO their first league win since September.
 

Oakmen ? More Like Jokemen... Fortunately Alty Hale In Reserve !!

And so to December and Oakwood Farm in Styal for a Manchester League Division One fixture between Wilmslow Albion and Altrincham Hale.

Wilmslow Albion was established in 1919 and spent the majority of their formative years in the South East Lancashire League, finishing as runners up in 1928/29.

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

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

Promotions to the top tier in 2003 (relegated in 2006) and 2016 - a one season aberration that saw two wins, 26 defeats and a goal difference of -83, leaves the Oakmen back in Division One. This time Wilmslow kicked off with a 4-0 thumping of Tintwistle Athletic, but since then one point from 33 leaves them 11th and comfortably adrift, staring relegation to the bottom rung in the face - having played 12 games, and with only 11 clubs in the division, probably early in the New Year..

Altrincham Hale FC was established in 2007 playing in the local Altrincham & District League, before joining the Manchester League Division One in 2017. Immediate relegation was followed by swift promotion as champions in 2018.

11th of 13 in the abandoned 2019/20 season, Alty Hale sat next to bottom at null and voidance last term, with only three games played because of a Covid outbreak at the start of the season - one win and 2 defeats. Currently sitting 9th, with games in hand, the Green and Whites have 13 points from 10 games.

 

..Onto Park Road, past Star Bridge pizzeria (formerly Istanbul Grill - a front for a convicted drug dealer), then House of Boba (bubble tea), Movie Makers (every Wednesday !), Timperley Stove & Fuel Centre, Yew Tree Villas and in the village centre Be Precious - more bubble tea (?) but not yet open. All the while with numberplates TR10 MOP (Cleanology), 5000N and M33 WET (a plumber from Sale) on the way.

Then the Larkhill Centre, the Commonwealth War Graves and left to Clay Lane, Bowdon Rugby Club before I reach Roaring Gate Lane, Davenport Green and the vast expanse that forms Manchester Airport. Right into Styal and Oakwood Farm is opposite Quarry Bank Mill, just before the women's prison.

The complex comprises Wilmslow Albion's headquarters, Wilmslow Phoenix Sports Club, hockey and lacrosse teams, a cricket pitch and an artificial surface hosting a hockey match alongside which I see a late, late goal. Sadly early signs are not good with the football car park locked, the clubhouse shuttered and the phone unanswered - Alty Hale's contact number proves to be someone no longer connected to the club.... Sadly a second consecutive week where the crowd is one, but all other similarities disappear - no players warming up, no corner flags, no officials or indeed anybody or anything this time....

The ground itself is tree lined, and definitely not waterlogged, and aside from the clubhouse hosts a bijou covered stand, capacity circa ten (or less depending on Covid rules....) and a number of wind whipped plastic advertising hoardings blown inside out. Postponement eventually reaches Twitter 20 hours after the scheduled 2pm kick off time....

 

So I beat a hasty retreat to see if Alty Hale Reserves' match against Dukinfield Town Reserves, in Division Three, has beaten the vile weather - heavy rain and a vicious icy wind; and it has.... Parking on Balmoral Road I arrive as Duki, in green and white, take the lead from a defensive mix up. Several dreadful misses at both ends precede Alty Hale, in change yellow and green, equalising from a penalty and then going ahead to leave it 2-1 at the break. 

Dukinfield level up early in the second half and then take the lead, as the crowd of 4 is supplemented by a dogwalker - the dog immediately assigned to search and rescue duties, and successfully recovering two balls kicked out of the ground.

Alty Hale turn things around to go 4-3 up, but are hit by a three goal salvo in the last ten minutes as Duki Town win 6-4 to go top of the table in a match that threatens to boil over with a brawl, just before the interval, and several tackles bordering on manslaughter....

 

Quite a day !!