Borough Earn Their Stripes !!

And so to Windleshaw Sports Club in St Helens for a North West Counties Division One North fixture between FC St Helens and Bacup Borough.

FC St Helens, 'The Stripes', was established in 2014 in the heart of the town, originally as St Helens Town's reserve side. Their motto is 'Simul Nos Firmiories' - Together We Are Strong...

The club started in the West Cheshire League, before moving to the Cheshire League Division Two in 2015 and achieving promotions to Division One in 2016 and the Premier in 2018. As champions last season The Stripes were promoted to the NWCFL, replacing, ironically, former FA Vase winners St Helens Town, who finished bottom and were relegated. FC have started with a win and two draws from their opening three fixtures.

Bacup Borough, from the wonderfully named Cowtoot Lane, began life as Bacup Baldies (!) in 1879 before changing to Bacup then Bacup Borough in 1920. At the start of the 2013/14 campaign they became Bacup & Rossendale Borough, following the sad demise of Rossendale United FC. BARB only lasted two years and in 2015, after two wretched seasons, saw a reversion to Bacup Borough - not through supporter pressure but because 'evil spirits didn't approve' (I kid you not !!).

 

The Borough moved to their current ground, West View, now sponsored by local property developer Brian Boys, in 1889 and joined the Lancashire League in 1893. A move up to the Lancashire Combination in 1903 followed and the club was crowned champions in 1947.

 

Following the amalgamation of the Cheshire League and the Lancashire Combination, the club became founder members of the North West Counties in 1982. In September 1997 and after a 0-10 reverse against Tetley Walker, Brent Peters was appointed manager......and a quarter of a century on is still in charge for this afternoon's game - the world's longest serving football manager. He's also Chairman, Secretary and Director....

The club was promoted as Division Two champions in 2004 but, despite the club motto of 'Prosperity Through Endeavour', suffered relegation at the end of the 2014/15 season - those disapproving evil spirits presumably......... Borough just failed to bounce straight back, losing the play off final in extra time at Barnton in May 2016, and had two poor campaigns followed by mid table mediocrity and Covid..... This season has seen last weekend's 4-3 home win over Nelson after three straight defeats.

A horror journey which sees Dazzle The Clown, a bloke wearing a T shirt emblazoned with 'Beerilliant Dad', numberplates UR 53CUR (an alarm company) and EA55SSY and a building company advertising WhatTheMuk leads to wasps, accidents, stranded vehicles, roadworks and the M6 clogged from J20 to J26. Into Warrington and out on the A57 , the Pink Eye building, Crosfields ARLFC, Snoutwood Trotters (!), then Trigger Pond, Christmas Tree Farm and Bargyloo Farm.

 

That brings me to Bold Heath, Thatto Heath, Clock Face - its rugby league side Clock Face Miners ☺ - Sherdley Manor and via The Glass Horse to central St Helens. To Denton's Green and Tennis Street leading to Windleshaw Sports Club. Ample parking, a fiver in, and a crowd of 77 with at least 20 from Bacup.

Inside we are prevented from reaching the clubhouse by an officious steward - the ground is tree lined, a storage area next to the bar and outside seating and a very plush rest home with first floor balcony. At the top end is a playing field and a minuscule covered area, with the dugouts cordoned off and then, after a complaint, opened up prior to kick off.

St Helens are in red and white stripes, Borough in all white with dark blue herringbone sleeves. Four minutes in Bacup lead as Lewis-Simon Byrne's through ball reaches Jack Hayward, who cuts inside and flatfoots Saints' keeper Joe Mason, slotting into the far corner.

 

Thereafter FC hit the woodwork twice - one a palm onto the stanchion, the other a diving header from Zak Riley. They also miss a sitter, and half time sees Borough lead 1-0, but it's a messy half characterised by strong winds (despite the sunshine), a parched pitch and poor refereeing.

 

The weak refereeing continues into the second period, notwithstanding four Bacup yellow cards - the official failing to crack down on blatant gamesmanship. Borough go two up 6 minutes into the half with a Liam Houghton own goal, flicking in a Borough corner.

 

Houghton then follows this with a terrible miss at the other end, and Elliott Bradshaw heads over from a free kick. Finally, on 74 minutes, Jacob Stretch smashes the ball into the top corner from the edge of the box to halve the deficit.

 

But despite plenty of Stripes' huffing and puffing there is no equaliser as the game becomes increasingly bad tempered, and they are indebted to a super save from Mason at the death to leave Borough 2-1 winners.

Champagne Football From Bolly - Valley Of The Dead.....

And so to Banky Lane for a Cheshire League Division Two mid-week fixture between Mersey Valley FC and Bollington Town FC.

Mersey Valley FC from Banky Lane, which lies on the border of Sale and Carrington, was set up in 2014, joining the Cheshire League Division 2. The Ambers gained promotion in 2016, but dropped back in 2018 despite finishing mid table. Valley then resigned mid season 2019/20 with their results expunged.

The club reformed and was readmittted this summer to the Cheshire League, starting with 4 home fixtures - defeats 2-6 to Haydock FC and 0-5 to West Didsbury & Chorlton Reserves, and draws 2-2 against Stretford Paddock and 1-1 with Pilkington Reserves and then a sweltering 2-0 away defeat at Lymm Rovers last Saturday. Their motto of 'Health and Happiness' rather misplaced currently.....

Bollington Town FC was established in 2021, but strangely were champions of the Altrincham and District League Division One in both the 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons.

Bolly play at the Bollington Recreation Ground just outside Macclesfield, and, after being elevated to the Cheshire League have started with four straight victories.

Beyond Arthur's Tree, The Old Pelican, Siddalls Bridge and a dog pooh fairy that doesn't exist (!) brings me to Manor Avenue. Thereafter the Sam Brooks pub, the Racecourse Estate, rebranded as 'Our Sale West', then Manor Academy 'Succeeding Together' and Mersey Farm. Numberplates on view tonight are SO11JA W, CL0 8OOT and H20 PTP (Pete The Pipe), plus a gardener advertising as Never Mower...

That brings me to Banky Lane, the sewage works to the right and Mersey Valley Sports Club on the left. The club also hosts Sale Amateurs FC on an adjoining pitch, rugby in the form of Ashton on Mersey RUFC and a bowling green - a hoofed clearance in the first few minutes landing on the green, disturbing the bowls matches in progress. The iconic liveried shipping container is at the far end, the clubhouse adjacent and the other two sides are tree lined - and with midges again the sewage works......

Mersey Valley are in amber with a black stripe, Bollington in change black and white stripes with yellow trim. Kick off is pushed back to 1845, the crowd is 30ish, and Town waste three glorious chances in the first five minutes, one from an appalling back pass matched by an equally shocking one on one miss.

No matter as Josh Connolly stabs home from a yard on 7 minutes, and when the ball comes back off the post thrashes home the rebound two minutes later, which prompts a very early home substitution. The Ambers, in a rare attacking foray, see a header drift wide from a long throw, but it's all Bolly, pressing high and depriving Valley of their possession dominated game plan. Several more opportunities are spurned - the Valley keeper having a blinder - before Connolly cuts inside and squeezes, left footed, the ball inside the post for his hat trick on 37 minutes; Town lead 3-0 at the break.

More of the same in the second half - Bolly go four up on 54 minutes, with a short corner converted by Nathan Jackson, the ball squirming through the keeper's hands. The home custodian goes down with cramp shortly after - no wonder given how overworked he has been !!

5-0 arrives ten minutes later as a gorgeous through ball sees four Bolly attackers squabble over who will score, the Ambers' shotstopper performing heroics, his defenders absent without leave, and eventually Connolly delivers the coup de grace. And that's how it finishes, Bolly passing up more chances and the Ambers forcing one tip over - Town deserved winners, but they should have had more....

Green For Rovers - Red For Ambers.....

 And so to Lymm High School and the Leisure Centre for a Cheshire League Division Two clash between Lymm Rovers FC, their fourth home outing in five, and Mersey Valley FC - their first away fixture after four straight home games.

Lymm Rovers was originally established as a junior (boys) team but after gaining FA Charter Standard Community Status set up a female section and then, in 2021, entered a seniors team in the Altrincham and District Amateur League.

Despite finishing bottom Rovers were accepted into the Cheshire League Division Two, starting with an 8-0 home loss to Hartford, a 4-3 win against Haydock (after going 4-0 up), a 6-0 thrashing at Upton (who apparently were awesome !) and then an encouraging 4-0 thumping of Atherton Laburnum Rovers' second string. 

Mersey Valley FC from Banky Lane, on the border of Sale and Carington, was set up in 2014, joining the Cheshire League Division 2. The Ambers gained promotion in 2016, but dropped back in 2018 despite finishing mid table. Valley then resigned mid season 2019/20 with their results expunged.

The club reformed and was readmittted this summer to the Cheshire League, starting with home defeats 2-6 to Haydock FC and 0-5 to West Didsbury & Chorlton Reserves, and draws 2-2 against Stretford Paddock and 1-1 with Pilkington Reserves.

So on a glorious, sweltering mid August Saturday it's past the Old Cheshire Cheese, Twister Interiors and Cuts Both Ways - Ladies and Gents Hairdressing. Down to the Bowdon roundabout with registration plates J5ST DO and DA15Y B'Z on view.

The Lymm turn off brings me to Little Bollington, Ye Olde Number 3 and the Posh Bunny Motel. Thereafter Agden, the Barn Owl Inn, signs for the Traction Engine Rally this weekend, and through roadworks past the Jolly Thresher, it's a right into Oughtrington Lane and Lymm High and Leisure Centre.

Plenty of building work - and car parking ! - in evidence with the 3G pitch, one side open but spectators lurking in the shade behind the sheltered left goal and opposite (beyond the dugouts), surrounded by countryside and trees, the school on its periphery. The crowd numbers 8 - 6 pensioners, a young lady and myself, but this swells to 25 by the end. The extreme heat sees one of the (original) pensioners on the verge of collapse, staggering on the railings, midway through the second period. Thankfully he recovers...

Rovers are in dark blue, keeper Ross Laidlaw in shocking salmon, whilst Valley wear, naturally, amber with a black stripe - their custodian in red. The heat means drinks breaks every 15 minutes... and not just for the players !!

Lymm have two 'goals' chalked off for offside, before on 20 minutes a raking crossfield ball is cut back and stroked home by Rory Ridley-Thomas. Rovers hit the post with a lob, but double their lead three minutes before the break - a side to side move picks out Joe Napier-Hemy on the left and he sweeps home. Laidlaw preserves the two goal advantage with a fine save on half time.

The second half is understandably subdued as the mercury hits 32C, and is characterised by Lymm perpetually picking the wrong option and the Ambers' wild shooting. Two bookings from the referee, who is exemplary, and then in injury time Valley have a shot tipped onto the bar. The resulting corner sees a goal line clearance but it is 2-0 finalizado - exhausting.....

Rock On Tommy - Red Rebels Routed As Ville Make Hey !!!!

And so to July 30 2022 and Villa Park (no, not that one !) aka the Ray Parker Stadium in Wallasey and the start of a new season - and the beginning of a new journey for league newcomers Ashville FC who host Abbey Hey in a North West Counties Division One South curtain raiser.

Ashville FC was founded in 1949 by D-Day veteran John Dennett and his wife Joyce at 25 Ashville Road, Wallasey, initially entering the Wallasey Youth League and then joining the Bebington League in 1951. After winning the Bebington League, Ashville moved to the Wirral Combination, winning the league in all three seasons they competed in it.

In 1955 'Ville was voted into the West Cheshire League, winning Division Two in their inaugural season and after promotion to Division One relocated from Wallacre Park to Villa Park on Cross Lane in 1962. Champions in 1968 and 2012, with a couple of relegations en route, quickly rectified, the club finished runners up last term and was admitted to the North West Counties Division One South for the new campaign.

Abbey Hey FC hail from the Abbey Stadium, and not the one in Cambridge ! Their Abbey Stadium is to be found on Goredale Avenue in Gorton, Manchester, M18.

The visitors date back to 1902 when they formed as Abbey Hey WMC, but the club has disbanded and reformed on a number of occasions. In 1998, after 4 Manchester League championships, they moved from the Manchester League to the North West Counties and were promoted in that first season to the top tier.

The club previously played at St Werburghs Road under an arrangement with Lookers, who reneged on the deal two years in. The Red Rebels then moved to Godfrey's, named after local councillor Godfrey Ermen, and after two seasons on the old English Steel site, took up residence at the Abbey in 1984.

Relegation in 2019 leaves Hey in Division One South, but last term's 4th place finish with 26 wins and 6 draws from 38 matches bodes well for this season.

Beyond gas leaks, roadworks and a derelict Wheatsheaf brings me to the M6 and a van displaying 'Locks Off & No Broken Barrels' - a local locksmith.... Thereafter Thelwall, Woolston, the Oliver Cromwell cottage in Warrington and The Beer Necessities, and today's numberplates SK13R OZ and WHII NOT...

To the Stag at Walton with its Secret Beauty Room - so secret it's boarded up.... Then Daresbury Garden Village and the M56 (no junction 13 !!) and Stanlow with its wind turbines but no belching chimneys today.

A new bridge under construction and average motorway speed limits and then on to the M53, Cheshire Oaks and at its end Tree Frog Software and the promise of 'Intermittent Street Lighting'..... That brings me to Wallasey, the police helicopter a permanent feature this afternoon, and the Villa Park ground on a closed off industrial estate next to a dilapidated Wallasey RUFC.

Plenty of car parking at the stadium, with a bumper crowd of 207 in attendance. £5 in and the Ray Parker has only two sides open - the near end hosting the Sports & Social Club, alongside a covered stand with two rows of red seats and sponsorship from PGA Horse Transportation. The ground is backed by residential housing behind the bar, woodland opposite, Mersey Rail (Misery Rail ?), the churches and heart of Wallasey and Mosslands School on the closed off side, and the rugby club and industrial units behind.

Ville are in grey and black quarters, with white sleeves and backs, Hey in red and white 120th anniversary kit - complete with celebratory badge:

It's an incredible start for the league newbies - just over two minutes gone and a robust but fair challenge leads to the ball ending up on the right wing. Sam Hughes' delicate floated cross is delightfully volleyed home by Tommy Johnstone and the home side lead.

Three minutes later Peter Morgan, who is subject to an atrocious challenge and subsequently limps off, plays in Johnstone. His first attempt is smothered by Morecambe loanee Joe Lawton, wearing a bizarre lime green shirt matched with navy shorts and socks, but the ball breaks loose and from a yard Johnstone doubles the advantage. This prompts a pitch invasion from an overexcited toddler....

On 26 minutes it should have been three, but having bypassed Lawton a limp shot is unconvincingly cleared off the line. The Red Rebels can only fire off a shot from portly veteran Jamie Baguley which fizzes over - 'a team in transition' according to the away faithful, which equates to awful....

The second period sees 'Ville play with one up front following the departure of Morgan. No matter as Abbey Hey create very little and the home defence, expertly marshalled by captain Tom Hartley, suffer few alarms. Indeed Hartley and Matt Croft are involved in a left wing move that sets Johnstone free and he dodges Lawton and hits home for 3-0 and his hat trick on 56 minutes.

Baguley is then strangely substituted twice - the second one preceding an Ashville free kick that Johnstone, with a deflection, scores for his fourth and 4-0 with a quarter of an hour to go. Pinball in the Abbey area somehow prevents a fifth...

Finally, the Red Rebels' captain, Luke Hincks, is shown a straight red to match his shirt with two minutes left - presumably for something he said to the referee - as Villa Park sees Ashville ease home 4-0.

Winnington Explore Every Avenue - But Stymied By Vulcan Bombshells !!

And so to the Moss Farm Leisure Complex in Winnington and a Cheshire League Division One fixture with massive promotion ramifications between Winnington Avenue and Vulcan.

Winnington Avenue YC 94 was established, unsurprisingly, in 1994. Initially playing in the Crewe and District League, where they were champions in 2014/15, Avenue joined the Cheshire League Division Two in 2018. Unable to play at their nearby home venue at Jubilee Fields, requiring extensive modifications, Winnington have taken residence at Moss Farm for their Cheshire League adventures.

Promoted at the end of a Covid ravaged 2019/20 campaign Avenue currently sit second on 60 points with two matches to play - today and next Saturday at Blacon Youth, who can also mathematically still go up.

The modern day Vulcan FC was established in 1955 in Newton-le-Willows as a works team by its employer, Vulcan Foundry, a locomotive builder, and its workers - but historically its roots can be traced back to 1923/24. Vulcan Institute had two ignominious seasons in the Lancashire Combination, finishing next to bottom on both occasions in 1963 and 1964, before disappearing. 

Vulcan Newton joined the Lancashire Combination in 1979 and became a founder member of the North West Counties Football League in 1982 - but it only lasted 2 years. A merger saw the club change name to Vulcan Clock Face before settling on Vulcan FC - all incarnations spending the vast majority of their time plying their trade in the Warrington & District League.

The current Vulcan FC, who were long time leaders of Division 1 this time but now overtaken by promoted Whalley Range, stepped up from the Warrington & District League to the Cheshire League Division Two in 2017. Promoted as runners up in their first campaign Vulcan lie third now, behind on goal difference to Avenue, also with 60 points going into their final game of the season. As for the club badge.....say no more !!

The M56 and off at junction 10, the Stretton Fox on one side, the Partridge on the other (how apposite !), with numberplates BA55 EAD, SW15 SHY and GD 16ERS (gravediggers ?!) alongside Apple Jack's Adventure Farm. I join the A49. past Brookside and Greenwood Fisheries and the Chetwode Arms, then Whitley, Antrobus St Marks Primary School, Little Leigh and into Barnton, home of Hormbrey Butchers. 

Right at Anderton Boat Lift and The Cods Pollocks chippy as I reach Winnington, beyond the cricket club and Winnington Avenue (the street), home of Jubilee Fields, and onto the Moss Farm Leisure Complex, next door to Winnington Park County Primary School.

The complex is the home of the Cheshire FA, Northwich RUFC and Northwich CC, with the 4G caged astroturf surface surrounded by 3 rugby and 2 football pitches, a social club and tall trees - and Winnington Park RUFC in the distance. 

The advertised 1345 kick off proves to be incorrect as we get underway at 1401.

But before the match gets underway the first bombshell.... Vulcan's home game against Blacon Youth on 12 February, which finished 1-1, is overturned due to an ineligible Blacon player. Youth are deducted one point and that, plus a 'failure to fulfil' at Denton Town means Blacon cannot be promoted. Vulcan are awarded the win and move onto 62 points.
 

Avenue are in red and white chequerboard, sponsored by D & R Pipe Fabrications and Vulcan in change grey and yellow, sponsored by Cannon Electrical Services. In overcast conditions, the sun occasionally breaking through, there is a healthy crowd of about 75, swelling to three figures by the end.

Vulcan start much the better, amidst a flurry of free kicks conceded by Avenue. On the quarter hour the Bombers have a header from yet another free kick deflected over the bar, and another header from a corner is just past the post.
 

It takes 35 minutes for Winnington to create a chance - Vulcan's keeper standing tall to parry from the centre forward. No matter though as a minute later Avenue fashion another opportunity and Callum Payne's shot is excellently saved, but from the floor his rebound trickles in. A shot into the side netting nearly doubles the advantage but Winnington lead 1-0 at the break.
 

The second period is not easy on the eye with Avenue using every excuse to waste time, conjuring up multiple injuries, and hanging onto their slender lead. That said their rearguard action is quite magnificent, blunting the Vulcan attack of any clear chances.
 

That is until the second Vulcan bombshell on 69 minutes when a free kick is beautifully delivered into the box and volleyed home by Scott Fisher. It's all Vulcan now, but Avenue regain their defensive resilience, and frustration boils over into a flare up, which appears to include a Vulcan head butt - the referee does nothing other than award the away team a free kick for the original wild challenge.
 

With Vulcan going for the win, and promotion, that leaves gaps at the back and Avenue create chances on the counter attack, three wastefully spurned and one cynically eliminated with the away custodian marooned on the half way line....
 
That brings us to 8 minutes of injury time, and in the 100th minute Avenue's keeper pulls off a stunning point blank save to keep the scores level. Ultimately it means Whalley Range are crowned as champions and Winnington need to win at Blacon next Saturday in the last league game of the season to be promoted - otherwise Vulcan will erupt and go up....

Red Alert - Hurricanes Warning !!!!

And so to Hurricanes territory in the leafy environs of Holmes Chapel - Holmes Chapel Hurricanes FC hosting Malpas FC today in the Cheshire League Division One, in a rearranged fixture that Malpas FC failed to fulfil earlier this season.

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 sufficient to secure promotion to Division One - where they sit 6th of 15 with 42 points from 27 games; this their final game of the 2021/22 season.

Malpas FC, from the Oxhays - the town twinned with Questembert, lesser known brother of Camembert - was established in 1901 and, after playing locally in the Crewe Sunday League, joined the Chester League, moving to Saturday football. After winning consecutive Premier Division championships in 1983 and 1984 Malpas moved up to the Mid Cheshire League (now Cheshire League) in 1985. Relegated to Division Two in 1991, the club was promoted back two seasons later.

Demoted again in 1997 Malpas moved up to the Cheshire Premier in 2015, and finished runners up - a campaign that ended with a thrilling 4-4 draw at champions Knutsford FC. They again finished runners up in 2018 but were relegated the following season, and lie 12th, and safe, with 25 points from 26 games this time, defeated 6-2 at Parklands on Thursday, and finishing their season at Styal on Tuesday.

So amidst blue skies and a gorgeous sun drenched spring afternoon it's beyond Em's Bench, Nerd (a board game outlet), which opened at 12 noon today, the derelict Wheatsheaf, a striking bluey purple Californian Lily and then Full Circle Partners (Funerals Your Way). That leads to the M6, where the graffiti has largely been expunged, and a one junction stomp, bypassing the trailers advertising Blue Lagoon Spas, Are You Pregnant ? and Orange County CBD. Today's car numberplates are 5UC, EA63ERLY and HE1 8ABE.

Then onto Chester Road, Cotton Farm and signs advertising Knutsford Races tomorrow before I turn into Selkirk Drive and Holmes Chapel Comprehensive School - the Leisure Centre alongside. The 3G pitch is at the back of the sports centre, with the other 3 sides tree lined. There are four shaded metal benches and a concrete walkway on the one accessible side and a shed outside the mesh.

Chapel are in red and black, sponsored by Manifest Fitness and the George & Dragon, Malpas in change blue with red trim - their sponsor Highgate Garage. Due to an overrunning children's pirates session the game eventually starts at five past two, in front of a 'crowd' of 5 - which steadily increases to 8 and a huddle in the corner, the nearest point to the bar !!

The Reds start the better with Sam Hatcher forcing a decent save before Malpas create a golden opportunity, one on one, but chipped wastefully over the bar. Oli Hewitt hits the post for the Hurricanes when he should have scored when played through, but it's a frustrating half that ends scoreless with Chapel on top but profligate and tame with their shooting.

Matters take a turn for the worse four minutes into the second period - Chapel's keeper lacking control from a back pass, the ball pinched by a Malpas forward who is then cynically brought down. Yellow card, penalty and 1-0 to the visitors - but this is their only shot on target during the entire match....

Gradually the Hurricanes gather a second wind, and on 62 minutes Matt Haynes' long throw falls at the feet of Hewitt and he stabs home the equaliser from close range. Ten minutes later Charlie Rodick produces a sumptuous finish from the corner of the penalty box following a one two and Chapel lead, after which they hit the woodwork twice and Hatcher misses, awfully, a sitter.

No matter as five minutes on he redeems himself, dummying the keeper, to score an open goal and it's 3-1. Then on 82 minutes a poor defensive clearance ( a mal pass ??) falls to Ben Law and his 25 yarder into the roof of the net is the goal of the game.

Four minutes from time Hurricanes go 5-1 up, the ball recycled and cut back to Hatcher who beats the keeper and a defender on the line. To add insult to injury Malpas are reduced to ten men just before the death - a second yellow for dissent - as Chapel finish the season on a high.

Quakers Fail To Get Their Oats - Green Army Nullified....Again !!!!

And so to the end of April and the dying embers of the 2021/22 season; today sees a visit to the Horsfall Community Stadium in Bradford and a National League North clash between Bradford (Park Avenue) and Darlington.

Bradford FC was originally established in 1863, its Park Avenue name deriving from the club's former home and to differentiate it from Bradford City Football Club.

Formed as a rugby football team, and known locally as simply Bradford, the club moved from the Rugby Football Union to become a founder member of the Northern Rugby Football Union in 1895. This followed an RFU dispute over broken time payments. 

1907 saw 'The Great Betrayal' as a narrow majority of members voted to abandon rugby (league) and concentrate on association football at Park Avenue. The minority set up a new rugby club, Bradford Northern (now Bradford Bulls).

Bradford FC had been playing football since 1895, in the West Yorkshire League and then the Yorkshire League, but were banished to Birch Lane and closed down in 1899 due to mounting losses.

The success of cross town neighbours Manningham, who switched to football and renamed as Bradford City, prompted the Northern Union Club to apply to join the Football League in 1907. They were not accepted and joined The Southern League (!), where their nearest opponents were Northampton Town, 130 miles away.

But the following season Bradford were elected to the Second Division of the Football League, and promoted to the First Division in 1914. Post war the club steadily declined, relegated to the Second Division in 1921 and Third Division North the year after. Promoted as champions in 1928, then demoted in 1950, Park Avenue were placed in Division Four in 1958.

Despite two campaigns in the Third Division in the early 1960s BPA suffered difficult times and were voted out of the league in 1970, replaced by Cambridge United. The Green Army joined the Northern Premier League, selling Park Avenue in 1973, groundsharing at Valley Parade and subsequently going into liquidation on 3 May 1974.

The club was immediately reformed as a Sunday League side, competing in the Bradford Amateur Sunday League, then promoted to the Bradford Sunday Alliance League - and somehow still playing at an abandoned Park Avenue... The club was forced to move when a new indoor cricket school was set up at Park Avenue, and that saw a move back to Saturday football.

BPA joined the West Riding County Amateur Football League in 1988, then transferred to the Central Midlands League the year after and then the North West Counties Football League in 1990 - playing at rugby league grounds McLaren Field (Bramley) and Mount Pleasant (Batley). The Green Army were champions in 1995, rejoining the Northern Premier League and moving to the Horsfall Stadium.

Park Avenue was a founder member of the Conference North in the 2004/05 season, then suffered consecutive relegations before returning to the Northern Premier League in 2008 as champions. They stepped back up to the Conference North in 2012, beating FC United of Manchester 1-0 in the play off final. There they have remained, albeit with a lucky Covid escape in 2020 when bottom place, 20 points from 33 matches, would surely have seen relegation before null and voidance. Bradford are safe this time - 16th with 43 points and 3 games left including today.

Darlington 1883 is the phoenix club of Darlington FC, and was founded in 2012 as a fan and community owned club - the FA allowing it to revert back to its original name of Darlington FC in 2017. The original Darlington FC was established in July 1883, playing in regional leagues before becoming a founder member of the Northern League in 1889. 

The original Quakers were admitted to the Football League when the Third Division North was formed in 1921. Their best placed finish was 15th in the Second Division in 1926.

Relegation to the Conference in 1989 was quickly reversed, promoted as champions the season after. But after three times going into administration - in 2004, 2009 and 2011 (when they won the FA Trophy 1-0 against Mansfield Town with a 120th minute goal in a truly appalling game) - the club ceased to exist on June 21 2012 and was expelled from the Conference, where they had been relegated to two years before. 

The financial problems partly stemmed from the 27,000 all seater white elephant Darlington Arena built under the stewardship of convicted safecracker George Reynolds. This in stark contrast to their former 120 year home at Feethams and its Tin Shed end !!

Darlington 1883 joined the Northern League for the 2012/13 season and won it at the first attempt. After losing in the 2014 play offs, promotion to the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League Premier Division was secured, again via the play offs, and the Quakers were promoted as champions to the Conference North at the first attempt. Darlo moved back to playing in the town at Blackwell Meadows that season, after ground sharing with Bishop Auckland at Heritage Park - but were prevented from competing in the play offs as the stadium did not meet ground grading criteria.

This time with three straight losses seemingly having kyboshed any play off hopes, Darlington are 13th on 51 points.

The club's badge depicts Locomotion No 1, a nod to the town's railway history, and a Quaker hat, synonymous with the religious movement in the town.

Past Radium House, home to the Stubborn Mule Brewery, and a virtual carbon copy travel performance of Easter Monday. Mama's Cuisine, The Arches & Quay House Business Estate, hosting Premium Mutts Dog Food takes me to Navigation Road, 5 football grounds (7 including Broadheath Central and their reserves !) and bypassing Biffa Waste and beyond Stockport Shunters Cabin brings me to Manchester Piccadilly. Today's car registration plates en route are JO08Y LU, 45 LP and H4NAH.

Outside is the Victory Over Blindness monument and I eschew What A Potato and Scappaticci to reach the Corn Exchange, dating back to 1837 and rebuilt in 1903. Alongside is Chethams, formerly a manor house in 1453 then a hospital and the original site of Manchester Grammar School. Then Victoria and its signs for Ireland, Scotland and today's destination, Bradford, amongst others.

A packed train, due to Transpennine strike action and Manchester City playing at Elland Road, Leeds later, leaves in glorious weather down the Calder Valley line - not helped by a malfunctioning toilet... Past Vitriol Works, before Mills Hill, then through Walsden to Todmorden with its Platform One Gallery of local artworks.

Bridgeholme Cricket Club is just before Hebden Bridge, then it's Mytholmroyd and 'The Coming and Return of The Iron Man'. Welcome to the South Pennines at Sowerby Bridge and the Southowram TV transmitter at Halifax brings me into Bradford.

Outside is the award winning Jacob's craft ale bar, 'Top of The Hops', before I move onto the steep uphill Manchester Road and Lahorigate, Van Monster, Icee Babyy, Chaat Wala (King of Chaat0 and two very overworked ponies and carts. That brings me to the iconic Odsal stadium with its famous curve, Q Gardens alongside but the Northern pub further on is derelict.

Up Halifax Road and then through a ginnel by White Rose Campers leads me to Horsfall Playing Fields, hosting a cricket match. The Horsfall Stadium is next door and I pay my £14 to join a crowd of 660, bolstered by a healthy away contingent, including former Darlo legend Nathan Cartman.

The Horsfall Stadium was originally built as a running track in 1931 and was upgraded, complete with synthetic pitch, in 1994 when The Green Army moved in. It was upgraded in 2007 and has a capacity of 3,500 - the 1,800 seats coming from Lord's Cricket Ground.

Inside I'm met by the ubiquitous shipping containers, trees on the other three sides and then a pavilion, with changing rooms underneath. At the far end, the main entrance on Cemetery Road, is a minimalist covered terrace, training and hospitality rooms, old programmes shop, office, clubhouse and beer garden. The main all seater stand is to my right and the near end has, below the banking side, a mini strip of astro turf where kids are playing a form of match; the entire pitch is encircled by a six lane running track.

 

The Green Army are in predominantly white with pale green sleeves and socks, whilst Darlington are in change yellow and blue - the visitors starting the better with Jake Cassidy going close early on. But BPA create the best chance of the half, Harrison Hopper's through ball springing the offside trap and leaving Lewis Knight one on one - but away shotstopper Tommy Taylor stands tall and blocks Knight's effort.

Nicky Clee and Knight, again, have shots saved whilst at the other end Cassidy has another shot blocked and a flick saved by home custodian George Sykes-Kenworthy, who is later booked for hauling down Cameron Thompson outside the box.

0-0 at the break but the second period begins enterprisingly enough with the Quakers' Jarrett Rivers clearly tripped, but no penalty given, and then Kevin Dos Santos weaving through and firing against the inside of the post. Ben Hedley sends a 25 yarder just over but it's not all Darlo; a counterattack with Dylan Mottley-Henry on the wing sees his cross produce a Sam Fielding strike, instinctively saved by Taylor.

Brad Dockerty puts a point blank header over, and The Green Army have their own penalty shout and a goalmouth scramble cleared. But they are grateful for an excellent Sykes-Kenworthy save in injury time to confirm a fourth consecutive home 0-0 draw.