Reds Letter Day - Route One Gamble Doesn't Pay Off....

And so to Gamble Road next to Fleetwood Town's Poolfoot Farm training base for a North West Counties Division One North clash between new boys Thornton Cleveleys FC and Route One Rovers. The home side's motto is Verra et Marque - see and mark.

The club began life as ICI Thornton in 1980 and changed its name to Thornton Cleveleys International in 1992, coinciding with winning the West Lancashire League Division Two. A further name change to Thornton Cleveleys FC occurred in 1995.

Cleveleys were again West Lancs League Division 2 champions in 2009 and Division 1 winners the following season. The club was Premier League champions in 2022 and also last season by a point, with 26 wins and 3 draws from 32 matches, scoring 105 goals in the process. That has led to promotion and an inaugural season at North West Counties Division One North this term.

The club moved from Bourne Park, where they had resided since 2001 - now redeveloped as housing - to 'Burn Naze' on Gamble Road in 2021. An opening day 3-2 home reverse this time at the hands of Nelson was followed midweek by a 3-1 defeat in the local derby at AFC Blackpool.

Route One Rovers FC, Bradford based but playing in Keighley, was established in 2013 starting as a grassroots BAME team in the local leagues - the club name a jokey brainstormer, winning out over AFC Bradford and Bradford Rovers. The side joined the West Riding Amateur Football League in 2015, playing at Esholt (of Emmerdale fame !!) Sports Ground in Shipley.

Rovers moved to the Zara Sports Centre on the outskirts of Bradford and were promoted in 2016 from Division 2, and then achieved back to back promotions the following season, climbing up to the Premier Division in 2017.

The club transferred to the Yorkshire Amateur League Supreme Division following the demise of the West Riding League in 2019. Three top half finishes (7th, 4th and 6th), then Rovers relocated to the Marley Stadium in Keighley, groundsharing with Steeton in August 2022 and produced an invincible unbeaten 2022/23 season, with 23 wins incorporating a 100% home record, 2 draws and 1 abandonment. Route One was accordingly promoted as champions to the NWCFL Division One North, and are now looking to move up the leagues and find a permanent Bradford base.

A hugely entertaining first season saw 91 goals scored and 81 conceded, the team eventually finishing eighth. This time Rovers have opened as Route None with two 2-0 defeats.

Past Frurt, Osechi and Garveys - defunct since St Patrick's Day before the first lockdown and to be converted to offices - and then it's beyond Beyond (Chill Factore). To the M61, Saturn Commercial Lighting, Last Drop Village and Bolton Wanderers, with signs still directing us to the Macron Stadium... it's now the Toughsheet Stadium - no further comment required....

Thereafter Botany Bay, now a business centre, and the traffic builds as I join the M6. Brockholes precedes turning on to the M55 and then the A585 and the villages of Greenhalgh and Esprick. A van advertising Fat Bob The Locksmith with numberplate FB06 FAT, and other registrations W3NDY, LOO5E and MOO5H feature today.

A metal wheatsheaf in a field, signs for Shippool Creek and Weeton Barracks, and passing Cre8IV Little Theatre as I pull into Amounderness Way and Thornton Cleveleys. Plenty of parking at the football club on Gamble Road so I meander down to the seafront.

Avoiding Chestnut Cherubs and bypassing Pheasant Wood and The Tramway pub - yes the Blackpool trams do come this far 😀 - I come across Wobblinn, a craft ale bar, and Goose Coffee Co. But lunch is at Wetherspoons The Jolly Tars, named after a concert party that performed in the town between the two World Wars. Mini fish and chips and a pint of Coyote (Wolf Brewery) for £9.97 is grand !!

Then the Promenade, after Laser Forge Miniature, also defunct, as I take in the Sea Swallow sculpture and the Shipwrecked Sailors Monument. Blackpool Tower and Assheton Observatory are in the distance.

Circumnavigating the tramlines I return to the football ground which offers The Hatch, The Salthouse and The Wembley Suite. £5 in and a healthy crowd of 215 gathers, but there don't appear to be any away supporters 🤔

Standing is on two sides only, with a small covered shelter on the clubhouse side, which also hosts the dressing rooms and pub tables outside. The ground has no seating or floodlights yet, and is set in a residential area, incorporating a mix of new builds alongside old terraced housing - Poolfoot Farm is up top.

Thornton Cleveleys, The Reds, are naturally in all red with a white trim, whilst Route One Rovers are in grey with a silver trim - their entire squad BAME. A minute's silence is observed for the Southport tragedy, and the game kicks off in sunny, breezy conditions.

The game starts shambolically, full of misplaced passes, poor control, wasteful crosses and players perfecting the art of falling over. The first real shot arrives from the away side on the half hour, and it is a real shock four minutes later when Rovers' centre forward Umar Ali Zahoor receives a cross, spins his marker and shoots high into the net beyond Mark Smith at the near post - Route One lead 1-0.

Cleveleys are given an opportunity to level matters up a minute before half time. Zakariah Arshad's trip in the box results in a home penalty, but Ben Duffield's spot kick is brilliantly saved by Isaac Khan, one handed low to his left.

The second period is better, chances being created but neither keeper is unduly troubled. Then two incidents occur which define the match's outcome.

First on 67 minutes Zahoor breaks and chips Smith but Stuart Dagger stabs the ball away off the line. Three minutes on first half hero Khan becomes second half villain, shockingly losing a loose ball over his head, floundering, and home substitute Sebastian Greaves equalises for The Reds.

Two minutes later Jordan Beavers is given all the space in the world to saunter through between Rovers' centre backs and he calmly places the ball beyond Khan to make it 2-1. Then on 76 minutes Robbie Hulme smashes home at the near post for 3-1. Finally an inadvertent Rovers' defensive deflection plays in 17 year old Greaves again and he steers home his second with ten to play - four goals in ten minutes and it ends up 4-1 to Cleveleys  😊

 

Glad Mags - Salmoners Hauled In....

And so to Tommy Gent Way at Hall Lane in Maghull FC - sharing Old Hall Field with the cricket club, also in action today, for the season's curtain raiser between 'new' boys Maghull FC and AFC Darwen.

Maghull FC was founded in 1921, originally playing at Boyer Fields then moving to Pimbley Playing Fields off Deyes Lane. The Hoops moved to their current Old Hall ground in 1954, competing in the I Zingari League until 1960, and thereafter the Liverpool County Combination.
The Mags joined the Lancashire Combination in 1972, then the Cheshire County League six years later. Maghull was a founder member of the North West Counties Football League in 1982, and won the Division 2 championship in 1993 but did not gain promotion due to ground grading issues.

The club moved to the West Cheshire League Division One for the 1999/2000 season, and were crowned as champions in 2014. The Mags achieved promotion back to the NWCFL Division One North in this last close season after finishing West Cheshire runners up for a third time - this following ground grading approval and planning permission for two new covered stands, 100 seats and 100 standing.

Darwen FC was formed in 1870 and was a member of the Football League between 1891 and 1899. In their first season they were relegated from the First Division, finishing 14th of 14, and became a founder member of the new Second Division. In 1893, after finishing 3rd, they were promoted via the test matches (the Victorian version of the play offs !!), but relegated the following season.

In their final season as a league club they set two unwanted Football League records that still stand - the most number of consecutive League defeats (18) and the most number of goals conceded by a club in a Football League season (141). The club nickname, 'The Salmoners', is a throwback to the salmon and pink shirts they wore at this time.

 

After leaving the Football League the club moved from Barley Bank to the Anchor Ground, and joined the Lancashire League, which they won in 1902. They then entered the Lancashire Combination, playing there for the next 70 years (apart from a World War 1 break) and winning it four times.

 

After their last championship in 1976 the Salmoners joined the Cheshire County League before becoming an inaugural member of the North West Counties Football League in 1982. In 2003 Carlsberg Tetley tried to wind up the football club but liquidation was avoided.

 

However in April 2008 another winding up petition from Bee radio station was joined by Thwaites Brewery and ING, and in May 2009 Darwen FC was liquidated. That same month AFC Darwen was formed, playing in the West Lancashire League for one season, before being elected to the North West Counties for the 2010/11 season, and winning promotion to the top division in 2015 - but finishing bottom in 2018 and remaining in Division One North ever since.

The day starts grey, then rain before settling on sun and breeze. Past the boarded up Railway brothel in Altrincham, navigating through a surfeit of potholes in Bowdon and then the festival of colour at Denzell Gardens brings me to the M56 and onto the M6.

Queues at Thelwall precede long term roadworks, but I'm off at Woolston and past Roughleys Monumental Masons and Kwality Printer. Bizarrely the satnav directs me through Burtonwood, next to Burtonwood Bridge RLFC, and beyond Peak Fitness and Angel Aesthetics.

This brings us to St Helens, The Duckeries, World of Glass and The Glass Horse. When I'm instructed to turn into a bus lane we turn back via Rainhill Stoops and pick up the M62 and M57, exiting at Switch Island. Numberplates Y44PPY, A5 FOR and G1LTY feature along with a locksmith's van advertising Goldie Locks 🙄

Old Hall Field is a short distance down the A59 and we park in the overflow car park at the Baptist Church - much needed with a bumper crowd of 430 in attendance. £4 in, the cheapest in the NWCFL this season, sees a tree lined field split into separate cricket and football pitches.

The football ground is flanked on its three other sides by residential properties with a raised walkway and church clock tower up top. There is the clubhouse and changing rooms on the near side and further up a covered shelter, but no seats or floodlights yet.

Maghull are in light blue and white hoops, Darwen in salmon pink and navy blue. An early effort shanked wide by Mags' Robbie McDonald is overshadowed by the game's first major talking point on 5 minutes. Maghull's Nathan Peet is harshly shown a straight red card for a dangerous challenge, when it was a yellow in everyone else's book.

The home side are down to ten and the referee further angers the Mags on 20 minutes by awarding the Salmoners a debatable penalty. Darwen's centre forward Leon Creech sends Callum Lenton the wrong way and the away team lead.

That lead is doubled six minutes on, as the ball fortunately ricochets into Creech's path and he shoots home for his, and the Salmoners', second. But Maghull fight back with Harrison Worden having a shot well blocked and another home effort is cleared off the line. Creech goes close to getting his hat trick with a curling effort and Lenton saves well to bring up half time, with Darwen two goals to the good.

The first three minutes of the second period define the outcome of the match. Darwen's left back, Gary Basterfield, has a bending attempt that strikes the inside of the post and this is immediately followed by a magnificent save by Lenton from Jack Coop.

At the other end Worden's excellent cross is met by Darren Brannigan, and his lovely steered header, in off the post, reduces the deficit. The Mags are fired up now and draw level just before the hour, Kieran Halligan beautifully using the wind to curl home beyond Henry Turner.

On 73 minutes Worden blazes over when he should have done better - and is immediately hooked. No matter as five minutes later McDonald is played in and produces a deft finish under Turner and Maghull lead 3-2.

Aside from Ryan Cattermole's free kick, tipped over by Lenton, Darwen rarely threaten. To add insult to injury in the 95th minute the Salmoners' Chris Bailey receives a second yellow and thus a red, meaning we have seen 9 yellow and 2 red cards this afternoon - hardly the referee's finest performance....

Eventually after eight and a half minutes of injury time he concludes matters for a famous Mags' win 😀

Robins Reliant, Billinge Bilge...

And so to the final Saturday of the season and a 12.30 kick off to fit in with the Mancunian FA Cup Final 🙄 Fittingly it's Manchester Road in Knutsford for the 2023/24 season's swansong and a Cheshire League Division One fixture between Knutsford FC and Billinge New Street FC.

Knutsford FC, the Robins, was formed in 1888, playing on the Heath. The first known record is of a 14-0 drubbing of Manchester 'Aberdeen' Club on 29 December 1888. Subsequent organised friendlies, local leagues and cup ties prefaced the Reds joining the Manchester Federation League in 1898, winning the title in their first season. Thereafter Knutsford Athletic played in the Altrincham & District Amateur League prior to World War II.

The current Knutsford FC was formed on 22 February 1946, joining the Mid Cheshire League, subsequently rebranded as the Cheshire League. Relegated to Division Two in 1977, The Robins moved back up to the Premier tier in 1983 as Division Two was disbanded. 

Knutsford was crowned as top level champions in 1995, 2012, 2013, 2016 and most recently in 2018. Indeed I was at the Reds' last game of that season on Whit Bank Holiday Monday against Malpas FC at Manchester Road, paying my £2 to park at the near end next to the clubhouse and changing rooms. Opposite side dugouts with the ground bounded by the A50 on one side, trees on t'other 🙄

And what a game 😊 Six goals in the first half (3-3) and eventually a 4-4 draw, with Alex Hughes scoring all four for the visitors 😃 It was Knutsford's only draw of a season that produced 24 wins and 3 defeats... That point elevated Malpas to the runners-up position on goal difference, but still 21 points adrift...

However the Robins were relegated in 2022, after a post season 9 point deduction, to Division One - 12th of 14 last time, and they will finish 5th of 16 this term after a late surge of form (one game left - away at Malpas !) - but winners last month of the Cheshire Amateur Cup 1-0 against Premier Division champions Poynton.

Billinge Football Club was founded in 1988 by Phil Middlehurst, originally playing in the St Helens Combination at Eddleston Fields. The club joined the Mid Cheshire League (now Cheshire League) in 2004 and moved from Eddleston Fields to purpose built facilities at Barrows Farm in 2008.

That same year The Storks achieved promotion to Division One, which became the Premier Division in 2014, before suffering relegation during the following year in 2015. Two years on the club went up once more before demotion back to Division One in 2022.

The club merged with New Street FC of Rainhill, formerly of the South Lancashire Counties Football League, last summer to become Billinge New Street FC - the Storks & The Street. 10th of 14 last time, this term they end 13th of 16.

Sadly Manchester Road where the Robins would have been in red, black and white and the Storks in claret and blue does not happen this time. A journey past Tim Burgess Chainsaw Sculptor, Gauntlet Birds of Prey Eagle & Vulture Park, Fryer's Garden Centre and Cottons Hotel & Spa also does not occur 😒

At a very late stage the fixture is postponed due to a failure to fulfil - New Street unable to raise a side... So instead a rapid dart to Manor Farm on Ridgeway Road in Timperley, with numberplates 11 CRY, BRA55Y and OH10 MRS on the way 😊

And a very entertaining Manchester League Division Four clash, in front of a crowd of 7 - including other spectators who were en route to Knutsford.... The game kicks off 15 minutes early at 11.30, between Baguley Athletic Reserves and Walshaw Sports Reserves, and sees the visitors and champions, edge home 4-3 😀

Terras' Firmer Defence Leaves White Tigers Toothless...

And so to New Meadow Park in Gloucester, a National League North ground (for now - The Tigers were relegated early in April after a 6-1 home drubbing by the Seals of Chester), for a National League South fixture between Truro City FC and Weymouth FC.
Truro City FC was established in 1889 and was a founder member of the Cornish County Football Association. In the 1930s the White Tigers left Cornish football, joining the Plymouth and District League.

The Tinmen became a founder member of the South Western League in 1951, but struggled, having to seek re-election in their first two seasons and eventually dropping to the Cornwall Combination between 1975 and 1978. Following rejoining the South Western League and with successful further re-elections Truro City was crowned champions in the 1992/93, 1995/96 and 1997/98 seasons.

After declining and suffering financial problems, the club's fortunes changed in 2004 when the White Tigers were taken over by local property developer Kevin Heaney. All debts were cleared and the Tinmen achieved promotion to the Western League Division One at the end of the 2005/06 campaign.

City immediately moved up to the Premier Division with a record of 37 wins, 4 draws and one loss - and won the FA Vase at Wembley, beating AFC Totton 3-1 in the final. Further championships in the Western Premier (2007/08), the Southern South West (2008/09) and the Southern Premier (2010/11) saw the Tinmen climb to non-league's second tier, but only for two seasons.

2013 brought a return to the Southern Premier, having finished last and with ten points deducted after falling into administration. Heaney's company went into liquidation with debts of £4.5m and he was declared bankrupt, and amidst threats of expulsion a £50,000 bond was paid by local businessmen to ensure The White Tigers' survival.
Promotion back to the National South in 2015, via the play offs - beating Hungerford and St 

Neots - was a four season stay however they were demoted to the Southern League in 2019. Last term saw the City finish third and overcome Poole Town on penalties and then Bracknell Town 3-2 away in the play offs to move back into the National South for this season, with the club now taken over by former Toronto Wolfpack owner Eric Perez.

Historically City played at Treyew Road, before selling up in 2014 and groundsharing at Torquay United's Plainmoor ground. A temporary return to Treyew Road followed in January 2019, before a final departure in 2021, the ground becoming a supermarket shortly after, with the Stadium for Cornwall to be constructed, housing the football club and Cornish Pirates RUFC.

Another 'temporary' groundshare at Bolitho Park, home of Plymouth Parkway FC ensued and this was extended as the Stadium for Cornwall was scrapped. That deal was cut short in February this year due to incessant ground waterlogging problems and postponements.
More of the same as a subsequent groundshare at Taunton Town's Wordsworth Drive venue saw yet more waterlogging and zero 'home' fixtures played. The FA stepped in and the White Tigers agreed to play their remaining home games on the artificial pitch at New Meadow Park in Gloucester, 195 miles from Truro. The original Meadow Park was destroyed by flooding in 2007, almost as high as the crossbars, having previously been flooded in 1990 by severe snowfall and contaminated by the River Severn bursting its banks in 2000.

After many false starts the renovated TigerTurf New Meadow Park, the surface 3.5 metres above the old pitch, saw its first match played in December 2020. To end the season meant thirteen games in 28 days for the White Tigers - and not helped by the recent abandonment of the 'home' match against Eastbourne Borough due to serious player injury. Safety is now assured after their victory against Dover on Tuesday in front of 73 spectators - 15 from Dover; the Terras' clash their last home game this season, the 7th consecutive 'home' fixture in 13 days 😏

Truro will return home to the city next season at the new Truro Sports Hub at Langarth - but Cornish Pirates will remain at Mennaye Field in Penzance.

Weymouth was elected to join the Western League from the 1921-22 season, where they competed as well as continuing in the Dorset League. Following a Dorset League win that season, they followed it up in the 1922/23 season with a Western League title. The following year the club turned professional, and was elected to the Southern League for the first time - but debts, a recurrent theme, saw the club revert back to amateur status in 1928, moving back to the Western League where they won championships in 1937 and 1938 before folding for five years.

Football resumed after the Second World War in 1947 and the club soon achieved promotion back to the Southern League, and were champions in 1965 and 1966. The Terras moved to the Wessex Stadium in 1987 - now renamed the Bob Lucas Stadium in July 2010, in honour of the club president at the time.... and who died a month later...

Weymouth was a founding member of the Alliance Premier League in 1979, finishing runners up to Altrincham in its inaugural season. Relegation in 1989 to the Southern was followed by further demotion in 1991; a one season return to the Premier preceded 6 more seasons at the lower level, before promotion and then joining the newly formed Conference South in 2004 in the halcyon days of Ian Ridley's chairmanship and with Steve Claridge managing the team.

Promoted as champions in 2006 despite having 4 points deducted, the Terras were relegated in 2009 amidst financial turmoil, John Hollins and Bobby Gould having little effect in the dugout, and sank into the Southern Premier the following season. Notice of appointing administrators in October 2009 prefaced a Company Voluntary Arrangement in March 2010 with debts standing at £822,000. 

The club was taken over by lifelong fan Nigel Biddlecombe in February 2012, after George Rolls' controversial reign, epitomised by fielding their youth team in a 9-0 home defeat by Rushden with first team players unpaid - Biddlecombe currently still retains a minority shareholding. The Terras were promoted in 2019 and again in 2020 back to the National League Premier, but were relegated in 2022 and miraculously avoided back to back demotions to the Southern League on the last day of last season on goal difference, after winning their last three games - Dulwich Hamlet going down on goal difference 😒

This time, after a slow start, the Terras have achieved mid table mediocrity and safety, but surprisingly have parted company recently, with safety not assured at that point, with last season's saviour Bobby Wilkinson; Mark Molesley retaking the reins.

Manchester brings numberplates DOO8Y, BT04STY, POO10 and a van emblazoned in 'Cryptic Punks', then skyscrapers, graffiti 'We Are Comin', Taylor Swift, Blue Whale and a billboard 'Never Dread Mondays Again'. Then it's Stockport and its lustrous new bus interchange.

Pollarding at Prestbury, Arighi Bianchi at Macclesfield and an orange canal at Kidsgrove follow. That takes me to the Hand with Chronos sculpture at Stoke on Trent station then Overclockers UK and Rafferty Chimneys before approaching Wellbeing Park (formerly of Stone Dominoes and Stone Old Alleynians) in Stone.

A flooded Stafford and then the National Brownfield Institute and the iconic Chubb Lock & Safe Company building at Wolverhampton come next. Onto the new shiny, metallic Birmingham New Street, the Bullring and the 2022 Commonwealth monuments - One Giant Step and Leaves of the Tree.

Alongside the canal, through Edgbaston Tunnel to the University and thence the Metalworks and the Bristol Pear at Selly Oak. Cadbury at Bourneville before King's Norton sidings with Philip and Henry coaches and a London Transport shunter.

Verdant countryside, including a solar farm and observatory leads me to Worcestershire Parkway station, in the back of beyond at Wychavon. Leafy Cheltenham Spa, 'The Home Of Jump Racing', and finally Parnaby Cyclones cranes outside Gloucester, with several brightly painted houses on its city streets.

In Gloucester, past Kingsholm to St Oswald's Priory and then the magnificent Cathedral. After that it's the Emperor Nerva bust and a stop at a pub - Robert Raikes's House; Raikes a Gloucester philanthropist and Sunday School advocate.

Afterwards comes the Museum of Gloucester and Greyfriars before reaching Gloucester Docks and Quays. Here I find the Soldiers of Gloucestershire regimental museum, the ancient tramroad and The Lord High Constable of England - a Wetherspoons pub.

Thereafter to the National Waterways Museum, Taffeta & Lace and The Old Gloucester Gaol, seemingly occupied now by Salvation Z and Vendetta.... Then via Soul n Seoul to The House of The Tailor of Gloucester - a Beatrix Potter shop.

Finally Llanthony Secunda Priory and we reach the TigerTurf on Sudmeadow Road, parking up through helpful stewarding. New Meadow Park is a 4,000 capacity stadium, with two all red and yellow seater stands housing 762 either side of the half way line, bisected by the clubhouse - both stands also host hospitality boxes. The top end features the T-End Stand behind which lie the rolling Gloucestershire hills and, nearer, through a gap in the fencing, part of the original Meadow Park pitch and old terracing. Across is the scoreboard side and club shop plus a shipping Container Bar. Crowds have been as low as 71, with the all ticket fixtures attracting 384 against Torquay and a bumper 1,238 versus champions, the Glovers of Yeovil Town. Tonight's attendance is 126 (70+ from Weymouth) and it's £11 in.

The White Tigers are naturally in all white and Weymouth in change yellow and blue. Thereafter follows a stereotypical end of season dead rubber with little to commend it.

Ezio Touray does put the ball in the net for the Terras on 12 minutes but it's disallowed for handball. Tom Bearwish is blocked on 25, but the chance of the half comes 10 minutes later - Dan Roberts and Touray combining but Touray doesn't get enough purchase on the ball and James Hamon saves. Ryan Kavanagh fires over for Truro a minute before the break - their first meaningful effort.

The second stanza is marginally better - Terras' keeper Gerard Benfield slices a clearance causing havoc. However he atones midway through the half with a fine save from the Tinmen's Matt Buse. Roberts' curling effort for Weymouth is beyond Hamon's far post shortly after.

But the real action comes in the final few minutes... the White Tigers' Josh Hinds goes down in the box with three to go, but no penalty is given. Then Touray should have done better with a half shot on 90 and finally Benfield preserves a point for the visitors, producing another good save from Truro substitute Rocky Neal in stoppage time.

But, in truth, a game that didn't deserve a goal.....

Blues' Seventh Heaven, Seven Yellows and Cavalier Defending.....

And so to the Rylands Recreation Club on Gorsey Lane in Orford, Warrington for a Manchester League Division Two game between Warrington Rylands 1906 Reserves and Cavaliers FC on Non League Day.

Rylands FC was formed in 1906 as a local wire manufacturer works team. In its early days the club played in the Liverpool County Combination, before joining the Warrington & District League, where they won successive Premier Division Championships from 1955 to 1959.

Steady progress prompted the club to look to higher levels and Rylands moved to the Mid Cheshire (now Cheshire) League in 1969. Championships followed in 1981 and 1984, but thereafter the club suffered barren times.

In 2008 the club amalgamated with Crosfields to form a new club, Crosfields/ Rylands FC. Prior to the start of the 2012/13 season the club reverted back to Rylands FC, with the backing of a new sponsor, Triple S Sports & Entertainment Group – led by former Rylands player Paul Stretford.

Stretford, Wayne Rooney’s agent, now owns the club. It was his investment in ground improvements that saw the club promoted in 2018 to the North West Counties Division One South, notwithstanding an 11^th place finish, out of 15, in the Cheshire League. However the club adapted well and won the league, despite having three points deducted, scoring 111 goals with 28 victories from 38 games to move up to the North West Counties Premier.

The club changed name to Warrington Rylands 1906 FC in 2020 to publicise their location and attract additional support. FA Vase winners in 2021, beating Binfield 3-2 at Wembley, The Blues joined the Northern Premier League for the 2021/22 season and won the Division One West title that term.

Tenth in their inaugural campaign in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, Rylands have mounted a sustained promotion bid this time round. However the loss of star forward Adama Sidibeh to St Johnstone in the January transfer window and the defection of manager Michael Clegg to promotion rivals Macclesfield, shortly after penning a new two year deal at Rylands, has seen the club's form stutter - however they still sit second, unbeaten away all season, but twelve points adrift of leaders Radcliffe.

The Reserves joined the Mid Cheshire League Division Two in 1975, for one season, and then two seasons between 1981 and 1983. Another one season sojourn in 1987/88 was followed by a lengthier stay from 1989 to 2003, before they moved to the League's Reserve Division.

Rylands Reserves reappeared in the Cheshire League Division Two in 2018 before becoming Warrington Rylands 1906 Reserves in 2020. The Blues' Reserves disappeared in 2021, and have now resurfaced in 2023/24 in the Manchester League Division Two and currently lie 7th of 15.

Cavaliers FC, a new club from the Athletics Track at William Scholes Park in Gatley, had their first season in Division Two of the Manchester League in 2021/22 - and it was a turbulent journey. One win at home against Breightmet United (2-1; I was there !!), one draw against AFC Burnley and 24 defeats and a goal difference of -217 left them bottom. This included a 26-0 defeat at home to Avenue FC, where the club fielded a side lacking a goalkeeper (clearly !!) and only one defender (also obviously !!) which attracted national press coverage and prompted a plea for new players. It also produced sponsorship from SpecSavers and an offer of coaching from Jimmy Bullard...

Season two produced one victory, 3-2 away at Breightmet, which was later expunged with United resigning from the league. Goal difference was -148 and Cavaliers finished 12th of 12. 

This season more of the same - bottom, no points, 16 straight league defeats, a goal difference of -101, including 17-0 and 17-1 annihilations and most recently 14-0 and 15-0 shellackings at Baguley and Leigh Genesis. That said, last Saturday's home match against Macclesfield Reserves saw Cavaliers lead three times but heartbreakingly, and controversially (their goalkeeper, allegedly, virtually unconscious in the six yard area), lose 4-3 to what proved to be the last kick of the game.

Past a brothel masquerading as The Railway public house - licence revoked this week - then Altrincham Town Hall, Built Anno Dom 1900, Extended Anno Dom 1930, the Altrincham Charter paving slabs 1290-1990, the Altrincham Market Trader bust and the water colour artist Helen M.E. Allingham's blue plaque, sees me encounter numberplates HE10 WAG, O ER1C and E10 ELO. Beyond signs for the Lymm May Queen, Watch Hill Castle then the M56, the North Cheshire Motorway, and onwards to Thelwall Viaduct and Juniper Farm into Woolston, Paddington (yes really !!), a Warrington Male Voice Choir billboard and then finally Orford.

The Blues, naturally, are in blue, and Cavaliers are in change maroon, now sponsored by Kwik Fit. Just beyond the French Polishers, Rylands Recreation Club is adjacent to the first team's ground, The Hive Arena, with another football pitch and train lines to one side and a tatty, closed pavilion at the end of Arnold Clark Park, also home to Rylands Sharks ARLFC. A crowd of 19 assembles in a biting wind with spiteful rain and the match is underway at 1.58pm.

The first half sees Rylands miss numerous chances - a drive just past the post, a header over and a hideous one on one miss amongst others. Cavaliers have one opportunity, a free kick tipped over the bar before the Blues 'score' on 42 minutes, incorrectly ruled out for offside and we reach half time scoreless but with four bookings - one after a disgraceful gesture from Cavaliers' manager Ben Gage, brandishing an imaginary card; the referee, who has a poor game, indulges him and yellow cards the Rylands 'assailant'.

The second period is a different affair - the Blues have the wind and Cavaliers defend abjectly. Four minutes in Rylands lead with a low drive from the edge of the penalty box from Joel Eccleston.

That lead is doubled on 52 minutes as Ste Hughes takes advantage of a blocked shot to pot home. 43 seconds later Cavaliers lose possession from the kick off and Adam Lawton scores from distance to make it 3-0. It becomes 4 on 58 minutes as a blocked clearance leads to a break and Ethan Mercer takes advantage.

Cavaliers create two efforts, one a routine stop, the other a decent block after some atrocious home defending. The seventh yellow card of the game is shown soon after for simulation and the Blues go down to 10 from the resultant sin binning for dissent.

No matter as Rylands are awarded a penalty on 67 minutes. It's turned aside and there is an even better save from the follow up, but Mercer tucks away the second rebound, as Cavaliers stand and watch.

Hughes gets his second on 74 minutes with a scuffed finish and in the final moments Kyle Pendlebury makes it 7-0 from a rebound, the initial shot having been stopped.

---

Iron Work Seals A Share Of The Spoils.....

And so to March, Jack Brownsword Way and the Glanford Stadium, formerly The Sands Venue Stadium and now The Attis Arena, for a National League North encounter between Scunthorpe United FC and Chester FC.

Scunthorpe United FC was formed in 1899, and, after merging with local rivals North Lindsey United, becoming Scunthorpe & Lindsey United, turning professional in 1912 joining the Midland League. Crowned Midland League champions in the 1926/27 and 1938/39 seasons, the Iron, a nod to the local steelworks, was elected into the Football League in 1950, ahead of Workington and Wigan Athletic, after numerous failed attempts.

Promotion was secured as champions from Division Three North to the Second Division in 1958. After six seasons United was relegated back to the lowest tier and aside from sporadic one season promotion ventures to the Third Division in 1972, 1983 and 1999, stagnated in the basement division for 34 of 37 campaigns. The club moved from the central Old Show Ground, in the wake of the Bradford City fire - the ground too expensive to upgrade and sold to Safeway, then Sainsburys - to the new purpose built Glanford Park in 1988, and was famous in counting Ray Clemence, Kevin Keegan and Ian Botham as former players.

Brian Laws steered Scunthorpe out of the bottom division in 2004/05 and his successor Nigel Adkins led the club to the Division One title, and the Championship in 2006/07. But it was only for one season; however victory in the 2009 play offs, beating Millwall 3-2 at Wembley, saw the Iron back in the Championship. Relegations in 2011 and 2013 meant Scunny was again playing fourth tier football, and despite immediate promotion in 2013/14 after two unsuccessful play off bids United was relegated to Division Two in 2019.

Worse was to follow with back to back demotions in 2022 and 2023 to the National League, then the National League North. Amidst threats of entering administration, winding up petitions and ground disputes, owner Peter Swann sold up to David Hilton in January 2023. Eight months later Hilton's chequered criminal past and growing fan dissent saw the club sold to local businesswoman Michelle Harness.

Currently the Iron lie second, but 10 points adrift of leaders Tamworth and six points clear of Chester.

Chester FC was founded in 2010 following the liquidation of Chester City and was placed in the Northern Premier League Division One North, after a successful appeal against restarting in the North West Counties. Three successive promotions propelled the Seals to the Conference in 2013, but after a reprieve in their first season due to Hereford United's expulsion, relegation to the Conference North eventually followed in 2018, where they remain after play off defeats to Altrincham (3-2 away in Covid 2020) and Brackley (0-1 at home last season).

The original Chester FC was founded as an amalgamation of Chester Rovers and Old King's Scholars FC in August 1885. Playing at Faulkner Street the Blues moved briefly to The Old Showground and then Whipcord Lane before settling at Sealand Road in 1906 where they stayed until 1991. Then after two seasons at Macclesfield's Moss Rose ground, City returned home to the Deva Stadium on the Sealand Industrial Estate, which partially straddles the Welsh border.

The Seals entered the Combination five years from inception, and, after promotion to the Lancashire Combination in 1910 and three Cheshire League titles, joined the Football League at the start of the 1931/32 season, in place of Nelson FC. The club changed its name to Chester City FC in 1983. 

The Blues were predominantly fourth tier Football League members but occasionally played at the third level (1975-1982, 1986-1993 and 1994-1995), until 2000 when the club was relegated to the Football Conference under the chaotic ownership of American Terry Smith, who installed himself as manager and steered the Seals to four wins in four months.....

Under new owner Stephen Vaughan they returned to the Football League after winning the Conference title in 2004, but following relegation back to the Conference in 2009, the club courted controversy and hit financial difficulties. These financial problems led to the 2009/10 season starting with a 25 point deduction, after the Inland Revenue revoked a proposed CVA.

Amidst increasing disquiet among fans City Fans United was formed in October 2009, and a month later staged an on field protest about Chester City's ownership leading to the abandonment of a home game against Eastbourne Borough, which they were leading 3-2.... Chester City FC was eventually wound up on 10 March 2010, a day after applying to join the Welsh Premier League. Preparations to form a phoenix club had already begun.... leading to Chester FC, sitting 4th, briefly 3rd, this term after a remarkable change in form that has seen 48 points garnered from 26 games starting with the 3-2 win over the Turbines of Peterborough Sports, when they lay 17th.

 

Amidst driving rain I encounter numberplates B16 HOT, PR17ATE and JD O1L. Then a J Davidson Scrap Metals lorry emblazoned with Only Fools and Horses and plate DE18 OYZ, past Wow Chau Yow and a van advertising Tipsy Bar Events. Finally I'm on the tram at US Four, a workman drinking Canti Prosecco at eleven in the morning and next to the Kings Ransom, temporarily closed for refurbishment. Then Emirates Old Trafford, J Parker Bulb & Plant and Pomona Island, into Manchester and Knott Mill Station, Gong Cha and the Manchester Curve.

Via Piccadilly, it's beyond Longsight railway depot, a regenerated Stockport - soon to host Viaduct Park - and into Davenport, Hazel Grove and Chinley. Snow topped hills before a Freightliner between Edale and Hope, and the Hope Valley Line meanders through Bamford, Hathersage, Grindleford and Dore & Totley, the latter in a state of disrepair.

Flooded fields greet me prior to The Sheaf Bank, Olive Grove depot and Sheffield, as we edge past the English Pewter Company and Sheffield Forgemasters before reaching Meadowhall. Next is the abandoned old Rotherham station, Millmoor and Swinton, Mexborough and Conisborough.

Frenchgate, snowploughs and GB Freight are on show at Doncaster, leading to Kirk Sandall and Hatfield & Stainforth. Heavy Yorkshire industry gives way to the Lincolnshire Fens and wind turbines as we bypass Crowle and Althorpe and its Wharf, with the South Soak Drain running alongside.

That brings me to Scunthorpe, home of The Honest Lawyer (really !!), the Wetherspoons offering that is the Blue Bell Inn, the North Lincolnshire Museum, Baitus Salaam Mosque and the old Circus Funtasia site. Past Scunthorpe General Hospital and then left at the Berkeley, named after the baronet Sir Berkeley Sheffield, and the Old Farmhouse Wacky Warehouse to the retail park incorporating Glanford Park.

Scunthorpe are in claret and blue, Chester change yellow with black trim - Scunny Bunny briefly in evidence. £15 in, reduced from £20 for Community Day, and the stadium is made up of 4 sponsored stands - the nearest the Britcon (North) terraced stand, flanked on the left by the Mortz Property Services (East) Stand and on the right by the Vertikal (West) Main Stand and opposite the AMS (South) Stand, the latter for away fans.

Kick off is pushed back 15 minutes in glorious sunshine, but with standing water on the touchlines; proceedings eventually get underway at 3.17, with flares emanating from the away end. This a consequence of huge queues outside the ground - Community Day and a concerted effort to break the highest ever Conference North attendance: it is successful with a crowd of 7,511 (1,142 away) which gains national headlines.

It's all Iron to begin with as on 6 minutes Liam McAlinden has a shot smuggled away by City keeper Wyll Stanway. Five minutes later Danny Whitehall directs his effort just beyond the post.

On 20 minutes United's Jacob Butterfield flashes wide, before the Seals start to impose themselves. Ben Tollitt has a free kick that evades everyone, narrowly missing the goal and on the half hour he drives forward, shapes to shoot across Iron keeper Ross Fitzsimons and then alters his body shape, wrongfooting Fitzsimons and scoring at the near post.

Scunthorpe can only manage a Whitehall attempt straight at Stanway. So Chester lead 1-0 at the break and the Iron, after a bright start, have faded and lost their way.

The second period begins in the same fashion as the first with the home side in the ascendancy. Kian Scales sees his shot parried away for a corner and Will Evans tries his luck too from range, but Stanway comfortably saves. Eventually the pressure tells and on the hour McAlinden, with a beautifully deft header from a Dion Sembie-Ferris cross, beyond Stanway, equalises for the Iron.

It lasts only four minutes: George Glendon bursting through for Chester and brought down by Tom Pugh's wild, last ditch tackle. Everyone stops, waiting for the penalty to be given - that is except Glendon who gets up and calmly strokes home to put the Seals 2-1 up.

Matters get worse for Scunny three minutes later. McAlinden is shown a red card for a dangerous challenge on Harrison Burke, and the Iron are down to ten. Then there is an extraordinary incident on 77 minutes. A fracas just outside the Chester box so nearly degenerates into a brawl and ends up with 6 players being booked - 4 Chester, 2 Scunthorpe - including both goalkeepers.....

With seven minutes to go Butterfield produces a sublime piece of skill and a wonderful finish into the bottom corner to draw matters level at 2-2. Cue flares from the home end and a pitch invasion.

Ten minutes of added time and the Iron go for the win. Sub Danny Elliott is close two minutes in, Whitehall has a penalty shout on 95 and then, in the 99th minute, Stanway makes a mess of a cross cum shot from Sembie-Ferris and the ball breaks to fellow sub Alfie Beestin and he thrashes against the bar.

A chaotic, breathless match finishes at 5.17 with honours even, both sides unchanged in league position. As for the trip home best not go there - although I do learn that Scunthorpe have only scored 4 equalisers all season, and 2 of them were today 😊