High Noon For High Lane - Bury At The Death !!!

And so to the William Scholes Playing Fields in Gatley, otherwise known as Scholes Park (named after a former Gatley resident and estate agent), for a bonus match in the Lancashire and Cheshire Amateur Football League Division One between High Lane FC and Bury Amateur AFC. This match is running alongside Cavaliers v Astley & Tyldesley in Manchester League Division Two on the Athletics Track - a game comfortably won 5-1 by the visitors.

High Lane FC was founded in 1985 as High Lane Juniors Football Club to allow local residents' sons to play in competitive junior football. The club grew over the years and in 2008 became High Lane FC introducing an open age team, initially playing in the East Cheshire Sunday League, and then moving to the Lancs and Cheshire on Saturdays.

Champions of Division 3 in 2014, and then winning Division 2 the following year, Lane are currently top of the First Division this time, albeit having played more games than their rivals.

Bury Amateur AFC had two predecessors - Bury Athenaeum who lasted six seasons starting in 1903 and Bury Doric's who played one pre World War I campaign and never resurfaced. The Ammies were established on 28 February 1921 at the town's Derby Hotel, playing at the old Golf Links on Manchester Road.

The club won three successive Central championships in the Lancashire Amateur League between 1924 and 1926. During this period the Ammies merged with Bury Sports Club in 1925, but it was not a happy relationship and was terminated in 1934, and the team relocated to Redvales, off Manchester Road. Another move to the Warth Riverside Ground, betwixt the River Irwell and the Manchester to Bury electrified railway came about two years later in 1936.

Further championships were won after World War II, but the team became groundless in 1965, and was forced to play their fixtures at the Lancashire Fusiliers Regiment barracks. Bury won two more championships in 1985 and 1990.

But the club's long term future was secured early in the Millennium with the amalgamation with Prestwich-based junior club, Drinkwater Warriors, and the Ammies now play at Drinkwater Park in Prestwich. Joining the Manchester League in 2008 Bury won the First Division in their second season to be promoted to the Premier - but the first team quit to become Bury A F C in 2011.

However the rest of Bury Amateur AFC remained unchanged, playing in the Lancashire and Cheshire Amateur Football League. As runners up in Division Three in 2013 the side was promoted, and then moved up to Division One a year after, where they remain, currently lying mid-table.

Storm Otto has wreaked its havoc with trampolines on the railway line and tarpaulins on the overhead wires. But still beyond House of Boba and Cheshire Stoves & Fires I reach Timperley village centre and the iconic Frank Sidebottom statue.

Thereafter it's Altrincham Kersal RUFC, Baguley, home of Wythenshawe Town (a third game later on for the second half - it finishes 3-0 v Litherland REMYCA), then Wythenshawe Park, Menorah Synagogue and Sharston, home of Wythenshawe Amateurs and Hellermann Tyton before I arrive at Gatley - numberplates en route are CA2 1 WUF and L99 GND, with a gardener advertising himself as The Lawn Ranger... Honeybear Nursery, the Horse and Farrier and the old Tatton cinema - now a Co-op - precede a right turn, by the railway station, into Oakwood Avenue and then Beech Avenue, at the end of which is Scholes Park.

Scholes Park hosts four football pitches, a strange children's slide and a grassed over athletics track, where Cavaliers play, plus a sports club building with changing rooms. The top end is bounded by the Airport railway line - a steady stream of passenger services and one freight today - above is the flight path and with plenty of parking it really is Planes, Trains and Automobiles !!

The crowd barely scrapes double figures on a mild, cloudy afternoon, with the home fans seemingly not knowing who today's opponents are... The game kicks off at four minutes to two, with Lane in blue and black, Bury in red and black.

It's a tight, feisty, noisy affair with a flurry of yellow cards - but no goals, mainly due to some breathtaking saves from Bury keeper Liam White. That is until the 90th minute when Ammies' Anthony O'Brien breaks free on the right and hits a rising, stunning piledriver into the top corner - Bury Amateur snatch the points 1-0 and High Lane fall to third in the table.

Oakmen Felled and Outgovaned !!

And so to the Manchester League Division One and the Armitage Centre in Fallowfield for this afternoon's clash between a rechristened Govan & University of Manchester (clearly not from Glasgow - more of which anon...) and Wilmslow Albion, fresh from their injury time win at East Manchester last week.

Govan Athletic was established in 2001 by Jack Norbury, who still manages the team. Apparently Jack was so inspired by Sir Alex Ferguson's autobiography that he set up a football club named after Fergie's birthplace, as you do....

Athletic competed in the Stockport Football League in 2001/02, finishing as runners up, and moved up to the Lancashire & Cheshire Amateur League as a consequence. Division 2 was won in 2007/08, with Govan champions of Division 1 the following season. 

Athletic joined the Manchester League in 2016, were relegated to Division 2 in their first season, but were promoted back to Division One the following year. 6th from 13 and 6th from 12 in the two Covid truncated seasons pointed to mid table consistency.

Last time Govan finished 4th of 11 before partnering in the close season to become Govan & University of Manchester and moving from Platt Fields to the Armitage Centre. It's a transition that's working as Govan lead the league (first of 14) with 34 points from 13 games.

Today's visitors are the Oakmen from Wilmslow Albion - Albion, from Oakwood Farm (in Styal), was established in 1919 and spent the majority of its formative years in the South East Lancashire League, finishing as runners up in 1928/29.

Subsequently Albion joined the Mid Cheshire League where they finished second, behind Linotype (now Cheadle Heath Nomads), 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. Last term Wilmslow kicked off with a 4-0 thumping of Tintwistle Athletic, but finished 11th with only one more victory (at Altrincham Hale) and bottom with 7 points, comfortably adrift and counting themselves lucky there was no relegation. This time Albion again were occupying last place (14th) with 8 points from 15 matches.... but last week's victory took them above Hindley Juniors and out of the (one place) relegation zone !

Past Zen Tiling and Bathrooms, a broken bus, roadworks, Garvey's advertising St Patricks (which year ?) and a couple of outlets still selling Xmas trees. Then off at Essoldo, bypassing Iglesia Ni Cristo, shocking roads in Chorlton, and beyond Vietnamese Potbellied, Zaxxfried, King Bee records, Gita Bhavan Hindu Temple, Whalley Range High School, crossing Princess Road, to Moseley Road, St Kentigerns, Holy Innocents, Ya Souvlaki, Arabian Nites, and the Armitage Centre, Fallowfield complex.

Opposite are terraced houses, the car park, and to the left is the campus, whilst up top is the pavilion and an 8 step terrace outwith the cage. A crowd of 23 gathers in the cold but glorious sunshine 🌞 Today's numberplates are AM1 8EAU and P16 DOC, and a van advertising Paws & Tours.

The Armitage Centre lies on part of the site of the Fallowfield Stadium constructed in 1892 - and which hosted the 1892/93 FA Cup Final, switched from Kennington Oval. Wolves beat Everton 1-0 with a 15,000 stadium capacity but 45,000 apparently in attendance - Everton claiming, in vain, a replay due to overcrowding. The stadium also hosted 2 Rugby League Challenge Cup finals in 1899 and 1900 and a Calcutta Cup Rugby Union international between England and Scotland.

Bought in the early 1960s by Manchester University, demolished and then redeveloped as student housing and the university's sports facility, the Armitage Centre is now a gym, sports hall, with fitness classes and sports pitches (football, plenty of hockey - one player wearing a 113 shirt today, and rugby) and squash courts.

The Armitage Centre holds three fond Cup memories for me from my banking days:

• Playing for 35 King Street against Altrincham Stamford New Road and scoring the tie's opening goal. Immediately asking to be substituted because of injury, but reluctantly persuaded to stay on, and ending up scoring five in a 6-3 victory,
• The 1994 Subsidiary Cup Final for Manchester Corporate Banking Office which finished all square and went to penalties. We had missed a penalty and were staring defeat in the face when the floodlights went out - car headlights proving insufficient and meaning a replay the week after. That replay saw one goal separate the sides with me breaking from half way to slot home,
• The last ever Subsidiary Cup Final in 1996 again for Manchester CBO, a goal and a comfortable 4-1 win - and guess whose lounge the Cup now resides in ?

And there's an e-programme for today's game:

Govan are in red and black, sponsored by GBR Solutions - strange as the club badge and colours are purple and white and their hashtag is #purpleandproud (even stranger they play in white for the following week's home fixture against Boothstown). Albion are in change blue with black flashes, sponsored by Eastern Revive.

Govan govern the entire game and after hitting the post with a deflected shot, and a header cleared off the line from the resultant corner they eventually score through Matt Turner. Three decent saves from Wilmslow's keeper follow but Athletic are frustrated by a hard working Albion who pose no attacking threat whatsoever - their only effort a late shank by Calum McKenzie deep into the second period. 

1-0 at the break and after a bad miss, hitting the post again and having a goal disallowed, Louis Rhodes eventually twists and turns in the box, stroking home to double the advantage with a quarter of an hour to play.

Then it's sub Colin May's show as he scores a 7 minute hat trick - a 20 yard drive across the keeper on 83 minutes and then two penalties, both for clear trips, on 88 and with the final kick of the match. The league leaders triumph 5-0, having been only a goal in front with 15 minutes left.

Oakmen Fell East - Beating The Blues !!!

And so to 2023 and the Wright Robinson Sports College in Gorton for another Manchester League Division One floodlit affair (3pm) between East Manchester and Wilmslow Albion.

East Manchester FC was formed in 1960 as the works team of the Ferranti engineering factory and initially competed in the local Chorlton League, which they immediately won. A switch to the South East Lancashire League brought about several changes of name from Ferranti to ICT to ICL and finally to East Manchester in 1985.

Success in the South East Lancs prefaced The Blues joining the Manchester League in 1981, and a ground move from Mellands to the GMB club, both in Gorton. Winning the second tier title saw the club promoted to the Premier Division of the Manchester League, and a league and cup double arrived in 1992.

East moved venue again to Kirkmanshulme Lane, then settling at Dave Pace's Butchers Arms in Droylsden until 2006. A short return to the GMB ground and thereafter the Blues took up residence at the Wright Robinson College in 2008. The club was relegated in 2015 but bounced back as champions the following season. 

However another demotion, in bottom place, in 2019 sees East at 11th (of 14) this time with 12 points from 14 games after their victory at Manchester Central in their final fixture last year, in the First Division - moving up from next to bottom above today's visitors.

Wilmslow Albion, from Oakwood Farm (in Styal), was established in 1919 and spent the majority of its 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 (now Cheadle Heath Nomads), 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. Last term Wilmslow kicked off with a 4-0 thumping of Tintwistle Athletic, but finished 11th with only one more victory (at Altrincham Hale) and bottom with 7 points, comfortably adrift and counting themselves lucky there was no relegation. This time Albion again currently occupy last place (14th) with 8 points from 15 matches... so that relegation may just have been deferred !

Through Timperley, past Finishing Touch, then Dixons Academy Brooklands, Camperlands and on to the M60. Gratuitous Extinction Rebellion Revolution graffiti, the Crystal Methodist's Pyramid and off at Denton Rock. Numberplates today are AD10S SU and PO0 5TAF (S & C Drain Services) and a van plugging, er, The Party Plug.

Towards Gorton, bypassing Caribbean Cookout, Bundu Khaan, turning at the Lord Nelson and avoiding Pampered Paws and High Bank Bowling Club, we reach the Wright Robinson Sports Village - 'Excellence Is Our Aim'. It's a vast complex with a plethora of astroturf pitches but a crowd of only ten assembles at the furthest tree lined exposed pitch in a knifing wind - in contrast to the well attended East Manchester Junior Football League games alongside. So cold is it that East reluctantly provide the linesman on the opposite side in the teeth of the wind, trundling across the pitch whilst the game is in play - and not bothering at all in the second half....

East naturally are in blue with a mix of Greystones and National Debt Support sponsored shirts, the Oakmen in change orange and black, sponsored by Eastern Revive. Fifteen minutes of utterly forgettable football ensues.

Then Wilmslow see a cross not fully cleared and James Rogers volleys into the top right corner. Cue an East fightback (Eastern Revive ??!) and a sumptuous half volley levels matters on 25, before the Blues take the lead 9 minutes later, their right back hitting the post and the rebound slotted home.

In the second half East are desperately poor, conjuring up a couple of dangerous crosses but little else. Albion equalise six minutes in; Calum McKenzie cutting in from the left touchline, before arrowing in a glorious top corner strike.

A combination of desperate defending and near misses from Albion takes us through rain and then injury time with a draw the likely outcome. However three minutes into stoppage time Wilmslow break and their strike from the right of the penalty area is met with a fabulous save and a collective groan from the away bench... No matter as Rogers sweeps home the loose ball to leave the Oakmen 3-2 victors, their first league win since August - sufficient to take them out of the relegation zone and within a point of East ☺

Outcasts Are Cast Out - East Is East, Blues Is Best........

And so to the Seashell Trust, formerly the Royal Schools For The Deaf, on Stanley Road in Cheadle Hulme for a Manchester League Division One derby between Manchester Central FC and East Manchester FC.

Manchester Central FC was formed in 1928 by Manchester City director John Ayrton and the owner of Belle Vue stadium, John Iles. Ayrton founded Manchester Central because he felt that East Manchester needed a League side - City having moved out of the area in 1923.

The Outcasts played at the Belle Vue Athletics and Speedway Stadium, joining the Lancashire Combination in its first year (1928). With Billy Meredith as coach, the Magpies finished seventh of 20, and applied to join the Football League for the 1929/30 season - which was knocked back.

Central finished runners up the following year, but another attempt to join the League failed. 1930/31 was less successful - 7th and another fruitless League application. However Wigan Borough resigned from the Football League in October 1931 and Central applied to take their place.

This was initially accepted but a formal complaint was lodged jointly by Manchester City and Manchester United, on the grounds that Manchester could not support a third League side. The Football League backed the existing sides, United receiving hugely critical media coverage, and Central were denied, subsequently resigning from the Combination, continuing in the Manchester Amateur League for a few years before becoming defunct.

The club was revived in 2016, joining the Manchester League Division One, and promoted to the Premier as runners up in 2018 - a season culminating in Murray Trophy and Terry Wood cup successes. Despite finishing second in the top tier the Outcasts chose to opt out at the end of the 2018/2019 campaign, before rejoining in Division Two in 2021 and earning promotion to Division One - five wins and a draw from 10 matches leaves the Magpies mid table (8th of 14) this term.

East Manchester FC, from the Wright Robinson College in Gorton was formed in 1960 as the works team of the Ferranti engineering factory and initially competed in the local Chorlton League, which they immediately won. A switch to the South East Lancashire League brought about several changes of name from Ferranti to ICT to ICL and finally to East Manchester in 1985.

Success in the South East Lancs prefaced The Blues joining the Manchester League in 1981, and a ground move from Mellands to the GMB club, both in Gorton. Winning the second tier title saw the club promoted to the Premier Division of the Manchester League, and a league and cup double arrived in 1992.

East moved venue again to Kirkmanshulme Lane, then settling at Dave Pace's Butchers Arms in Droylsden until 2006. A short return to the GMB ground and then the Blues took up residence at the Wright Robinson College in 2008. The club was relegated in 2015 but promoted back as champions the following season. However another demotion, in bottom place, in 2019 sees East playing, next to bottom this time with 9 points from 13 games, in the First Division.

Belatedly onto Park Road, delayed by roadworks, past a pony being led in a pink coat then De Luxe Chicken (still no sign of opening !) and Beauty by Peaches & Cream. Thereafter the Moss Trooper, Hare and Hounds, Al Khans, Cheshire Dog Spa and Bowdon Rugby Club on Clay Lane. All these intertwined with numberplates 123 ANY and JU51 BOX (a greengrocer) and a van emblazoned with 'The Rutland Fox'... and another with Willow Goat Crafts....

To Roaring Gate Lane, Hale Top Farm, Etrop Grange and the Manchester Airport Relief Road - thankfully not flooded today.... Off at the Handforth turn and Little Acorns Nursery - Fun Frogs in the opposite direction - and then right at the Waggon and Horses into Stanley Road.

The vast complex is on the left, tree lined, bounded by the Relief Road, construction works aplenty and a mix of residential housing (Sir Norman Stoller Way) and the Academy. Problems with the electric gates, both in and out, lead, eventually, via a pot holed access road to the car park, changing rooms and astroturf pitch. Confusion regarding kick off time but it's finally clarified as 3pm under the floodlights.

Central are in white and black with single back and red hoops, sponsored by iMap, East in all blue and a mix of Greystones and National Debt Support sponsored shirts. The referee is wearing gloves before a crowd of 12, with light rain turning to blustery winds and a leaf strewn (but not leaf logged !!) pitch.
 
The Magpies are sluggish in the first period, incohesive and lacking any real threat. No real surprise that the Blues take the lead just after the quarter hour - a clumsy challenge in the box, and the penalty comfortably converted. 90 seconds later it's 2-0 as a left wing cross is adeptly flicked into the far corner.
 
Finally the Outlaws get going and their best chance sees Gabriel Wiwoloku turn and fire, but it is deflected just wide. But it could be worse - East's right full back shoots from 25 yards, a minute before half time, and his sweet strike smacks the foot of the post before coming out.
 
A quadruple substitution for Central at half time sees no change as East hit the side netting - but then the substitutions start to make a difference... On 49 minutes sub Ruben Abreu receives the ball, beats his man, pulls back and scores to halve the deficit. Seven minutes later Abreu shows sublime skill to square to Kaine Martin who taps in, virtually on the goal line, and it's 2-2.
 
Just beyond the hour Abreu finds Junior Silva and his shot is blocked, desperately, on the line - East immediately counterattack for a two on one, which ends in a disappointing finish wide. Half an hour of end to end entertaining football follows, the crowd enthralled as to which (if any) side will poach the winner...

Then in the 90th minute the Blues break and, at the third attempt, their left back shoots into the roof of the net despite shotstopper Dan Whiting's vain attempts to save. East take the points from their 3-2 win, moving up to 11th, whilst the Outcasts reflect on 10 weeks without a home league win.....

Badgers Cull & Top Totty In Twelve Goal Thriller !!!!

And so to The Wythenshawe Club on Longley Lane in Northenden and a Manchester League Division Two fixture between Baguley Athletic and Tottington United. The end of the cricket season has seen Athletic revert from Dixons Brooklands Academy in Baguley, where I saw them beat Eccles United in the Cup, and that Man & Technic sculpture, to their usual 'home' at the cricket club.

Baguley Athletic FC was established in April 2004 as a breakaway from parent club Woodhouse Park United. The Badgers achieved back to back local league promotions in 2006 and 2007 but thereafter immediately folded.

The club was reincarnated in 2013, joining the Manchester Saturday Morning League. Promoted in 2016, folding again in 2019, but reforming in 2020, and entering the Lancashire and Cheshire Amateur Football League for 2021/22, Baguley finished fourth (of 11) in Division Two.

The Badgers were then accepted into the Manchester League Division Two this past close season, and have started with eight wins, including an astonishing 15-1 slaughter of Cavaliers three weeks ago and a 6-3 drubbing of Eccles last weekend, and one defeat (to Chadderton Cott). Baguley sit second with games in hand....

Tottington United FC was formed by Norman Entwistle and his father in the early 1970s, playing in the Bury Sunday School League. Norman's father worked as a park keeper for Tottington Urban District Council before it became part of Bury Council in 1974.

In 1992 the club entered into a 20 year lease to play on the pitch formerly used by Tottington St Anne's FC. A Sports Council grant renovated the pitch and installed new changing rooms at St Anne's Field.

United joined the Manchester Football League Division One in 1996, gaining immediate promotion to the Premier as runners up. Despite a third place finish the following season Totty withdrew mid term in 1998/99.

The club then appeared in the West Lancashire League Division Two in 2001/02, but only for one season - resigning due to vandalism of the changing rooms. Tottington resurfaced in the Lancashire Amateur League Division One and were crowned champions in 2012/13.

Thereafter top half finishes followed but Totty were relegated in bottom place in 2017/18, however a promotion rebound as runners up came in the following year. United stood top in the curtailed 2019/20 campaign and that was sufficient to ascend to the Premier League.

Four wins and a defeat before the season was null and voided - and then the club came close to oblivion, due to a lack of players and the effects of the pandemic. Only a Covid loan from Bury Council kept the club alive, but the team did not compete in 2021/22.

Accepted into Manchester League Division Two for the 2022/23 campaign, Tottington currently sit above the pointless Breightmet and Cavaliers with 4 points from 10 games - after a three point deduction.

Up towards Timperley village and the Grange estate, the Old Garden, then across Beech Fields onto Maple Road and into Wendover - the scene recently of a drugs related kidnapping and assault and a murder. Numberplates en route are F1LTH and KF16HTS before I reach Wythenshawe Road and Hologic, Sky Farm Shop and then Wythenshawe Park and its newly reopened, after an arson attack in 2016, Hall - £6.7m of refurbishments over six years, whilst the arsonist was jailed for four and a half years.... Opposite is a house with an unusual carport and petrol pump in the front garden, massive mounds of leaves and a dead squirrel... 

Past the Ministry of St Bonaventure, briefly touching on Northern Moor and then it's under Princess Parkway to Face & Eye and the Jehovah's Witnesses Assembly Hall. Right into Longley Lane and beyond the Farmers Arms, Just Sew Perfect and Bread & Butties brings me to The Wythenshawe Club.

A narrow drive leads to the car park and clubhouse, the cricket pitch - the square fenced off - and sightscreens and scoreboard up top, mothballed for winter. The football pitch is also roped off and access is limited to one side only.

Opposite are the dugouts and behind the conifers lies an airport car parking facility, whilst at the top end and on the other side of more trees and another fence is the Vita Liquid Polymers plant. The other two sides are flanked by residential housing.

Baguley are in silver and black, United in change yellow with a blue and red diagonal stripe, in a match refereed by Titus Tresidder. The crowd accumulates to 23 and 3 dogs in the sun - but none of us predicts a dozen goal bonanza.....

Within 90 seconds a Baguley cross is cleared dreadfully and Lee Hendley sidefoots home. The Badgers then hit the bar twice before Totty break through via their speedy winger, home custodian Dan Green charging out, missing both man and ball and Ryan Lockett equalises.

Parity doesn't last long - 4 minutes in fact ! Lee Gaskell's suicidal back pass from beyond half way is nowhere near and Hendley calmly tucks away. Eight minutes later Victor Abadaki converts a near post header from a corner and it's 3-1.

On the half hour Green flaps at a Lockett shot and Jack Cabrelli scores from the rebound. Six minutes on The Badgers concede a needless penalty and Gaskell makes it 3-3. A breathless first half finishes with Hendley poking home from the six yard line for his hat trick and 4-3 to Baguley at the interval.

Hendley misses three one on ones in the second period as Athletic hit the bar again, but Kain Deegan shows him the way and makes it 5-3 on 61 minutes. Seven minutes on his stunning volley brings the score up to 6-3. Five minutes later some gorgeous penalty area interplay leaves sub Curtis Campbell to stroke home and we're at 7-3.....

United hit the post and then in the final five minutes a Totty break sees a cross that Green gets nowhere near, leaving sub Arran Ashall to tap in at the far post (7-4). Two minutes after Tom Hendley heads home for the Badgers, virtually on the goal line from a corner, to conclude matters at 8-4.

Breathtaking stuff !!  ☺

Jonny On The Spot Four Goalden Grey Lambs !!!!!

And so to the Park Stadium on Manchester Road for a Cheshire League Premier Division fixture between Lostock Gralam FC and Winstanley Warriors FC.

Lostock Gralam FC was founded in 1892, making the Grey Lambs (yes really !!) one of the oldest clubs in Cheshire; Gralam have played at the Park Stadium for over a century. The club also helped establish the Mid Cheshire League in 1948 as a founder member.

The club won a trio of championships between 1951 and 1953, but had to wait a decade before triumphing again in 1963. A further consecutive treble between 1966 (a 100% record - 24 matches, 24 wins) and 1968 followed, but the Grey Lambs left the Mid Cheshire League in 1975.

Lostock rejoined the Mid Cheshire League after a near 20 year hiatus for the 1993/94 season in Division Two, with promotion following in 1997 as champions. Relegated two terms later, Gralam won the (now) Cheshire League Second Division in 2010.

A yo-yo period between 2013 and 2016 (down, up, down, up) prefaced being crowned Cheshire League champions in 2019. Thereafter two Covid abandoned seasons, and fourth last time out. The Grey Lambs are seventh this season with seven wins and a draw from 11 matches - games in hand could see them rise to second, behind Broadheath Central.

Winstanley Warriors FC, from Little Lane in Goose Green in Wigan, was established in 2004. After playing in the Wigan & District League, Warriors joined the Cheshire League Division Two in 2016.

Moving up to Division One in 2018, Winstanley ascended to the top tier, the Premier, after securing 14 wins and 2 draws from 17 games in the pandemic curtailed 2019/20 season. Warriors are placed 11th (of 17) with 20 points from 12 matches - and only two points below the Grey Lambs.

Onto the A556, past Tim Burgess Chainsaw Sculptor at Rostherne, The Windmill at Tabley, Tabley House, Cuckooland, Dove Barn Weddings, The Smoker at Plumley, Celandine Court and The Weavers Whistle (formerly the Watermead) brings me to the Slow and Easy. Numberplates PR0 5E CU (a suspended sentence ?) and a flatbed R46 8ONE (an assortment of 'riches' in the back !!), a Chartered Geomatic Surveyors (no, new one on me too !!) and a dog walking business Strictly Come Wagging..... On the way back the car alongside entreats me to TE11 BEV... Into the pub car park through a tight entrance I take the 14th, and last, parking space on the grass - and pay £3, which amidst much confusion, ends up being £2....

Inside the Park Stadium the far end is an open, grassy area and there is a small covered standing area on the nearside touchline. The pub (Slow and Easy) end houses the newish changing rooms, refreshment bar and beer tables - a grass mound runs the length of the pitch on the far side. I end up sat on one of the backless benches in the sunshine, trees on three sides, opposite the chemical works peeping above the treetops.

The Grey Lambs are in, er, all blue sponsored by Kitwood House, Warriors in all red, sponsored by DPSI Group, before a crowd of 28 including toddlers plus a dog (the sign ignored !) and Winstanley make the better start, without unduly troubling Martin Blain in the home goal. But Lostock post fair warning with a shot saved at point blank range before on 36 minutes a fabulous through ball from captain Tom Hassall finds winger Jonny Jones who comfortably tucks away across the keeper, and Gralam lead 1-0 at the break. It's an interval that sees one spectator nip out for a Chinese at the nearby Ho King takeaway....

The second period is all about one man - Jonny Jones. Two minutes in a fabulous kick from hand by Blain finds Jones all alone on the right wing and he lobs the onrushing Warriors stopper. Changing wings Jones completes his hat trick on 59 - another exquisite through ball, dummied by the centre forward and a lofted finish makes it 3-0.

Eight minutes later it becomes four as Jones sidesteps Winstanley's custodian and hits home for Jones 4 Warriors 0. Two minutes on he is played in again, but unselfishly squares the ball for Hassall to tap into an empty net. His reward - substitution and loud applause.

The Grey Lambs have a sixth incorrectly ruled out, and Warriors see their hand ball 'goal' disallowed, before their substituted number six is shown a red card for something he said to the linesman. The last action produces a fabulous save from Blain, preserving his clean sheet and a 5-0 home victory - summing up one of those days for Winstanley, but then again the reverse fixture is scheduled for next Saturday....

Milan Is The Man - Let's Be Avenue As Winning(ton) Lose

And so to Mereheath Lane in Knutsford for a Cheshire League Premier Division clash between Egerton FC and Winnington Avenue YC 94.

Egerton FC was formed in 2002 and named after founder Maurice Egerton, and, after playing in local leagues, joined the Cheshire League Division Two in 2012. This was renamed Division One for the 2014/15 season.

In May 2016 chairman Tom O'Donnell (in attendance today) announced plans to redevelop the Youth Club site in order to be eligible for promotion to the North West Counties Football League. During the 2017/18 campaign Egerton received national media coverage after signing 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. 

The Yellows entered the FA Vase in 2019/20 but the club was later withdrawn after failing a ground grading inspection. That same season Egerton put forward their nomination to move up to the NWCFL, but the season's Covid curtailment proved a blessing - 7 points from 18 games would surely have meant exiting the division in the opposite direction !! They were thwarted by FC St Helens' championship last term, finishing third.  

This season has, thus far, proved to be a mixed bag - 6 wins and 6 defeats sees the Yellows in 10th (of 17).

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 went up as runners up last season after a ridiculous 8-1 final day away victory at Blacon Youth, bombing out fellow contenders Vulcan....

Avenue currently sit 7th with six wins, 2 draws and 4 defeats.

Past the Moss Trooper, Hare & Hounds, Fusion Kitchens, Indian Stone (Paving etc) and then a detour through affluent Hale, via the Grand Designs house on Bankhall Lane. Beyond 'Beyond Stitching', to the site of the old Bleeding Wolf and onto Ashley Road with numberplates NUG6S (an orange Porsche !) and B10OMY, then a van advertising The Veteran Locksmith and finally the wise man's registration plate -  5AGE.

Into leafy Cheshire and Ashley, the Greyhound, Tatton Weddings at Stock Barn Farm and the Tatton Mile as torrential rain pours down. Avoiding High Legh Water Tower and running the gauntlet - Gauntlet Birds of Prey - Eagle & Vulture Park - it's through flooded roads onto Mereside Road then Mereheath Lane before I reach Egerton Youth Club.

Despite previous advice that a fee would be charged to enter the cage, a crowd of 29 assembles for free. The leaf strewn astroturf surface is at the rear, trees in the distance, the social club opposite and both ends flanked by grass pitches. There is a mini sheltered terrace on the near side, which comes in handy at half time when the rain returns... but we kick off to sunshine and jets - the ground in Manchester Airport's flightpath.

Egerton, naturally, are in yellow and black, Avenue in red and white chequers, the near linesman wearing protective glasses. Winnington's keeper, in orange and wearing, appropriately, the number 94 jersey makes two good saves just after the quarter hour, parrying wide. Avenue have one effort narrowly wide from distance - but it's all rather frenetic, littered with mistimed tackles, overhit passes and aimless hoofing. And it's a surprise when, with less than a minute to half time, the Yellows have two attempts blocked and the ball falls to Milan Thompson who steers it into the top corner. Quite frankly it's a goal the game doesn't deserve and Egerton lead 1-0 at the break.

The second half lives down to expectations - Avenue fashion a good move just after the hour on the right wing which is disappointingly wasted wide of the far post. Egerton should have been awarded a penalty shortly after, but matters liven up in the last ten minutes.

The booking count reaches four and Winnington throw caution to the wind in an attempt to find an equaliser, but without seriously threatening. That leaves them exposed at the back and prompts two excellent chances for the Yellows - the first, on the left, placed just wide and the second in injury time a 30 yard effort at an open goal, Avenue's keeper hopelessly marooned outside the box, which agonisingly brushes the outside of the post - rather summing up a match that Egerton edge 1-0....