Grand Finale - Lions Fail To Get Over The Bridge !!

And so to Nethermoor Park in Guiseley, Leeds, for what was to be a Big Cat Derby Northern Premier League Premier Division match between Guiseley AFC, The Lions, and Prescot Cables FC, The Tigers, also affectionately known as the Pesky Bulls 🤪 But due to FA Cup commitments, Guiseley beating Scunthorpe United to reach the 4th Qualifying Round, I'm there a week earlier for an FA Trophy clash with Guiseley facing Bamber Bridge FC.

 Guiseley AFC, The Lions, was established in 1909 at Nethermoor, where they have played since inception. The club started in the Wharfedale League and was crowned as champions in 1912/13. Post World War One Guiseley moved to the Leeds League then the West Riding County Amateur League, winning three consecutive titles between 1933 and 1935, and a further championship in 1939.

After switching back to the Leeds League (now the West Yorkshire League) in 1960 the Lions won the title in their first season and again in 1964/65. Thereafter Guiseley joined the Yorkshire League in 1968 and became a founder member of the Northern Counties East League for the 1982/83 campaign.

As champions of the NCEL in 1990/91 the Lions ascended to the Northern Premier League Division One and that season won the FA Vase 3-1 at Bramall Lane, Sheffield, against Gresley Rovers after a 4-4 draw at Wembley. The following year the Magpies of Wimborne Town defeated Guiseley 5-3 in the Vase Final at Wembley.

After rising to the Premier Division Guiseley AFC was elevated to the Conference North in 2010 and following play off heartbreak in 2012, 2013 and 2014 (the latter a 120th minute extra time winner by Altrincham's Sam Heathcote) the Lions finally went up, at the fourth time of asking, beating Chorley 3-2 in the play off final in 2015. But life in the top tier was relatively short lived with bottom place and relegation to the National North in 2018 and further demotion, again bottom, to the Premier Division of the Northern Premier League in 2022. Tenth last time out, Guiseley currently sit fifth this term.

A Bamber Bridge club played in the late 19th century but the modern club was established in 1952. Brig joined the Preston & District League, merging with Walton-le-Dale in 1974 and playing at King George's Field.

In 1983 the club purchased a plot of derelict land at Irongate in the town with the first game played there in August 1987. The ground was renamed The Sir Tom Finney Stadium after Finney's death in 2014, and is now the SFC Stadium. Their record attendance was 2,300 at a pre Euro 96 warm up with eventual runners up Czech Republic - who won the friendly 9-1.

Back to back championships in 1986 and 1987 prefaced a league and cup double in 1990 and promotion to the North West Counties Football League Division Two. Winning the league saw Division One achieved two years later and a second successive promotion, as runners up, followed to the Northern Premier League Division One in 1993.

In 1995 Brig finished as runners up and was elevated to the Premier Division, which they duly won the following season. However Irongate failed ground grading criteria and Bamber were not promoted to the Football Conference, remaining in the Northern Premier League.

Bridge saw relegation in 2002, but achieved promotion back in 2004. Demoted once more the following season, it took until 2018 for Brig to return to the NPL Premier. Yet another play off failure in 2023 and a disappointing last campaign left Bamber 16th of 21 - this time they lie mid table in 12th, but with 3 wins and a draw from their last four outings 🤔. More concerningly Brig, community owned, are in desperate financial straits, and have recently set up a fund raiser for £30,000 to see out the season.

It's an early start as I go past the Old Cheshire Cheese and Sam & Nam Express on a sunny, cool and breezy morning - it turns out to be a gorgeous afternoon 😊 Numberplates today are H15 DTH, POW311S, 45 LP (33 LP would be more appropriate....) and three BJS removal vans displaying 'Saying Cheese in Leicester', 'Grinning Like A Cheshire Cat' and ' Coals To Newcastle' as I pass Stubborn Mule Tap & Shop.

To the train at Navigation Road and beyond Human Appeal at Cheadle, into Stockport with its Hat Museum and the iconic vacant Co-op pyramid. Then the execrable Overdraught at Levenshulme and a chance meeting with Library John at Manchester Piccadilly 😀 

Across the city, bypassing the Victory Over Blindness statute, Scamp & Dude, Mint Velvet and Sixes Social Cricket, brings me to Victoria. The Leeds train takes me initially past Greengate Brewery then Malia and Arrow Mills at Rochdale.

Thence Platform One Gallery at Todmorden, the Lamp Room at Hebden Bridge and the Iron Man at Mytholmroyd - the station building celebrating its 150th anniversary this year. That brings me to Ryburn Valley at Sowerby Bridge and Eureka and Halifax Flour Society 1879.

The Bradford Alhambra, Build A Candle in New Pudsey and Strachan Furniture Makers at Bramley come before the end of rail journey two in Leeds. Versa Leeds Studios and strange street art announcing 'Seagulls Paint With Purpose' greet me there.

The third rail leg is the Ilkley train, past Kirkstall Forge and a congested Guiseley is first stop. Arriving at Guiseley station I come out onto a cobbled terrace street with familiar Yorkstone buildings around, before walking to the ground, just six or seven minutes walk from the station. I reach a real olde style ground on Otley Road after Shed Load of Vinyl, Pipe Dreams, Flippin' 'Eck, The Hoptimist tap and beer shop and The Potting Shed bar.

It is an impressive setup with a five a side pitch, cricket club, bowling club and children's playground all in the same complex, and Nethermoor Park includes cleaned up floodlight pylons, previously corroded and rusted to saturation point. £11 in, reduced from the normal £13, sees a crowd of 460 with a healthy knot of away supporters 😀 

Inside there is a restaurant and bar, behind which is the flight path to Leeds Bradford Airport as several jets land in nearby Yeadon. Opposite is the main stand, split into two covered seated areas, and bookended by the 1909 Suite, club shop, ticket office and Lions' Diner (clever !). The two ends support shallow terraces - the Wetherby Whaler Scoreboard End and the Railway End. Next to the hospitality area are two covered standing areas.

The Lions are in white and blue, sponsored by AGF, Brig in change yellow with black trim, sponsored by Jimibox. 

Bridge have the first chance which is blocked and then Lions' Barnsley loanee Feyi Afuape breaks away but sees his shot well saved by Brig's James Pradic. Will Longbottom hits the bar with a curling effort for Guiseley on 13 minutes; as near as it comes 🤔 

Joe Cracknell, the home keeper, is much the busier, tipping over from Jack Baxter and then clawing away two further Baxter efforts before the break. Afuape shoots wide with the Lions' best opportunity but it remains scoreless at half time.

The second period sees Bridge's central defenders, Alex Kenyon and Adam Dodd, stifle the home attack, as the Lions fail to roar. Dodd featured on BBC North West news in the past few days, having previously suffering cardiac arrest and being resuscitated by his now wife - he is now campaigning for greater CPR education.

For Brig veteran Simon Grand has a shot charged down before the defining moment arrives on 70 minutes. A rather hopeful long distance cross field ball by Liam Brockbank, derided by the two lads behind me, turns out to be the perfect delivery and 40 year old Grand ghosts in at the far post to head across Cracknell and into the net.

Cracknell defies Baxter again with another superb tip over before The Lions have one major chance to level matters on 82 minutes. A defensive error lets in Joe Ackroyd who touches the ball past Preston loanee Pradic, but he recovers to make a splendid last ditch save.

On 94 minutes Guiseley win a corner and Cracknell is sent up to the opposition box. A flashing header wide and that's it - 1-0 to Bamber Bridge and it leaves Guiseley Trophyless 🙄

Doubles All Round - Community United As Spoils Are Shared....

And so to Bank Holiday Monday and Pride Park in Great Wyrley for a North West Counties Division One South encounter between Wolverhampton Sporting Community FC, Wolves Sporting, and Sandbach United FC, the Ramblers.

Founded originally as Chubb Sports FC, the team lost their club and pitches when the Chubb Lock and Safety Factory closed down (were they locked out?) and the site was redeveloped for housing. The club refounded as Heath Town Rangers in 2001, joining the West Midlands (Regional) League in 2006 and was immediately promoted as Division 2 champions.

Rangers were further promoted, in third place, the following season to the Premier League. Then midway through the 2010/11 campaign Heath Town changed name once more to Wolverhampton Sporting Community FC and won the Premier Division in 2018, but finished bottom of the Midland League Premier the year after, returning to the West Midlands - before moving back to the Midland League One in 2021.

16th of 20 last time, Sporting was moved laterally, 'ridiculously', to the NWCFL Division One South in the close season despite an unsuccessful appeal. Sporting formerly played at the Cottage Ground, home of Wednesfield FC, but moved to Pride Park in Great Wyrley in 2014. 

Starting with five straight defeats this season Wolves seemingly turned the corner with three consecutive victories, before Saturday's four goal Tom Wakefield drubbing at Foley Meir sees them lie 14th of 18.

A recap from last week: Sandbach Albion, formerly known as Hays Junior FC, was founded in 1994. Sandbach Ramblers Youth Football Club was reformed in 1995 to provide access for schoolboy football for the youth of Sandbach and the surrounding area.
 
United originally competed in the Staffordshire County Senior League, before moving to the Cheshire League in 2011 where they were promoted to the Premier Division in 2014. The Ramblers were accepted into the North West Counties in 2016 and have consistently placed upper half, with two failed play off attempts.

United have thirteen points from eight league games this time, including a thrilling turnaround at home against the previously unbeaten Camels of Cammell Laird, coming back from 3-0 down to win 4-3, and a comfortable 4-1 away win at Allscott Heath. However a 5-2 home reverse to Cheadle Heath Nomads followed and sees them 8th but through in the FA Vase, 2-0, at Parkgate on Saturday.

Briefly held up by a traction engine and a succession of old London buses I pass Va Va Voom, Warhammer and The Starving Man as I head for the M6. Numberplates today are 111ME, PH11ZZR and M33 WET. 

Then it's Bank Holiday queues, stretching 2 miles down the A556 and seemingly caused by long tailbacks to enter Knutsford and Sandbach Services. Advertising hoardings offer Nitrous Competitions, Game Changing Cheese and Phantom...  There is also a Slam Transport lorry.

Eventually I pull onto the A5, Watling Street, and then the A34 to reach Great Wyrley. Pride Park is on narrow Hazel Lane, next to Puddleducks Nursery. The suburb also supports Ego @ Tumbledown Farm, Naturelle Aesthetics, Nu Era and Cucina Unica.

Because of the delays I arrive as the teams kick off at 3.02, and have to park on the lane. £7 in and a crowd of 75, with a goodly number of Ramblers fans.

Inside the near end houses two covered seated stands, one benches, the other seats and bisected by Wolfies Bar. To the left is a pathway, behind which is another car park and trees plus some bar tables and building spoil.

On the right are concrete terraces and path, and the far end is partially cordoned off on one side. However it is accessible from the other walkway and curiously hosts the old Away dugout - the Home dugout is behind it, facing away from the pitch. Three sides are surrounded by dense trees, it's almost a gladed forest.

Sporting are in amber and black, Sandbach in blue and white. Both teams immediately go on the attack in sunny, but breezy, conditions.

Sporting take the lead on 14 minutes; a cross finds Edgars Nikolajevs unmarked at the far post and he comfortably strokes home. Thereafter the Ramblers dominate - Ben Greenop is denied and Stan Tatters has an effort just over and another deflected wide.

So it's a real surprise when Wolves double their lead three minutes before half time. A prodigious Sam Cooksey goal kick is held up in the penalty area by Isaac Philips, and Nikolajevs sweeps in for his double; Sporting lead 2-0 at the break.

Four minutes into the second half Wolves' winger Mason Williams fires one from distance and it smacks against the crossbar. Cruelly, within 60 seconds, Sandbach's Joe Bevan is played in and he shoots across Cooksey to make it 2-1.

It then becomes the Cooksey show as he pulls off a number of outstanding saves, denying Greenop and Bevan on several occasions. At the other end, on 71 minutes, Philips shoots and the Ramblers' keeper Monty Parkes diverts it onto the post, then desperately clutches the ball as it threatens to spin in.

However Sandbach's pressure finally tells with six minutes to play - Bevan latching onto a rebound and smashing the ball into the home net for his double. They have chances to win it, but the final act of drama is saved for injury time - Sporting having a goal disallowed for a marginal  offside - and this hugely entertaining clash ends 2-2.

Bad Monners - Ramblers Walk Away With It !!

And so to The Giant Studio Stadium and Allscott Sports & Social Club on Shawbirch Road for a North West Counties Division One South clash between Allscott Heath FC and Sandbach United FC.

The Monners (somebody who has lived their entire life in the same town or suburb) was formed as Atlas FC in 2010, changing name to Allscott in 2011, then to Allscott Heath in 2019. 

After a spell in the Mercian League, Heath joined the West Midlands (Regional) League in 2016, succeeding as champions in 2023 and rising to Midland League Division 1. Runners up last season but missing out as play off losers, Allscott moved laterally to the NWCFL Division One South for this campaign. The Monners currently sit 6th with 10 points from 6 games.

Sandbach United was established in 2004 when Sandbach Ramblers and Sandbach Albion joined forces in their quest to improve football facilities in Sandbach. The club badge reflects the union, featuring R and A in its design.

 

Sandbach Albion, formerly known as Hays Junior FC, was founded in 1994. Sandbach Ramblers Youth Football Club was reformed in 1995 to provide access for schoolboy football for the youth of Sandbach and the surrounding area.

 

United originally competed in the Staffordshire County Senior League, before moving to the Cheshire League in 2011 where they were promoted to the Premier Division in 2014. The Ramblers were accepted into the North West Counties in 2016 and have consistently placed upper half, with two failed play off attempts. One place below Allscott in 7th the Ramblers also have ten points from six league games this time. This includes a thrilling comeback at home on Tuesday against the previously unbeaten Camels of Cammell Laird, coming back from 3-0 down to win 4-3.

Past Ouvra Deli and Kanchi Foods then numberplates DE1 8OYZ (J Davidson), AM1 8EAU, PH11ZZR and Vanoffee - unsurprisingly a mobile coffee outlet. And another BJS home delivery van - this one 'Lighting Up Blackpool'....

A very similar route to last week's trip to Shawbury. So to the  M6 and Sica Jenga graffiti and a hoarding advertising Tough CAD  - indestructible plans.

Off at a gloomy Trentham and the journey becomes one of incessant tractors and caravans... At Ashley there's Romany Rise and duck & quail eggs before I'm at Loggerheads again...

Then Almington Quarry, Dorothy Clive Garden and Market Drayton. Here I find Fordhall Organic Farm and a promise...'Gypsy/ Traveller Site Coming Soon' - I bet the residents can't wait 😀 

To Tern Hill Hall, Cold Hatton - it's a lovely summer's day by the way - Waters Upton and horrific roadworks at Crudgington 😳 Onto The Ugly Duckling at Long Lane before turning at the Shawbirch roundabout.

That brings me to The Pheasant at Admaston and shortly after into Allscott  - the cricket, bowling and sports clubs on the right. £6 admission and a crowd of 92 assembles.

The near end holds the car park (no problem today) and a large new build residential estate. The far side has the required 50 seat covered stand, in green, and behind is the cricket club, with a match in progress.

Opposite are the changing rooms and the bar, with benches and a function room alongside. At the top, which is closed off, more football pitches and mature trees.

The Monners are in green and black, sponsored by Y-our Network Group,  whilst the Ramblers are in blue and white, sponsored by Planet Environmental.

Sandbach, prompted by Stanley Tatters, immediately take control. Joe Bevan shoots wide when he should have done better and then hits the underside of the bar.

However third time lucky and on 27 minutes he bursts through and confidently hits home. Ben Greenop doubles the lead three minutes later; his rather apologetic shot dumbfounding unsighted home keeper Bayden Ngo-Zulu.

That becomes three ten minutes before half time. Left back Taylor Kennerley swings in a ball from right wing which misses everyone and nestles in the corner of the net.

3-0 to the Ramblers at the break, Allscott barely raising a whimper.

The Monners are allowed to be better in the second period, with Sandbach not displaying the same level of urgency. Heath's Eric Mensah goes close and then has an effort cleared off the line.

United waste a four on two, and Allscott take advantage. Sub Harry Morris, with a delicious lob over away custodian Andrew Jones, at least gives the Monners a consolation with seven minutes left.

Greenop heads badly wide but the last laugh is with the Ramblers. With the final move of the match they break and the ball falls to sub Sam Lynch and his shot is deflected, looping over Ngo-Zulu.

The 92 minutes are up and Sandbach come away with a deserved 4-1 win 😀 United go sixth, Heath fall to eleventh.

Shaw Buried - (T)humped By The Camels.... !!

And so to the new Shawbury United Community Sports & Recreational Centre for an inaugural home North West Counties Division One South fixture between Shawbury United and Cammell Laird 1907.

Shawbury United FC was established in 1992, playing in the Shrewsbury & Shropshire Alliance Division Two. Swiftly rising through the divisions, United joined the West Midlands (Regional) League in 1999. Division One North champions in their first season, Shawbury moved up to the Premier League. Their motto is Sawes Beries - relating to a Domesday Book entry from 1085.

Promoted as winners in 2016 to the Midland League, United suffered relegation two years later, and rejoined the Midland League in 2021, finishing 10th last time in Midland One. The club was moved laterally to NWCFL Division One South in the close season. 

Previously groundsharing at the Butler Sports Centre at Wem Town FC, United 'temporarily' moved to Ludlow Town FC, 40 miles away in 2017. Shawbury then came closer to home at the 4G pitch at the New Meadow, owned by Shrewsbury Town FC, in Shrewsbury in 2023.

Planning permission was granted in 2014 for a new ground off the A53 in Shawbury, using land donated by Gerald Verdino in 2020 - but it has taken a decade to make progress from just a ploughed farmer's field to the new Sports Centre. Four away fixtures thus far have garnered only one point - and an 8-0 shellacking at New Mills last Saturday... plus a 3-1 derby loss at Foley Meir on Wednesday 😒

Cammell Laird's, 'The Camels', history dates back to 1899 when a team from the Upper Boilers shop at Laird Bros played in Birkenhead Park, before switching to rugby. Cammell Laird Institute AFC was established in 1907, playing in the West Cheshire League at Prenton Park in Tranmere.

After World War I the Cammell Laird company faced cutbacks due to reduced government spending on ships and the football team was taken back in house. In 1922 a team was entered into the Birkenhead & Wirral League under the name of Kirklands FC coinciding with the move to their current ground, now the KRCT Stadium in Rock Ferry, from two previous homes - Birkenhead Park and Bebington Oval.

The side was disbanded at the outbreak of World War II and reformed in 1946 as Cammell Laird AFC. The Lairds rejoined the Birkenhead & Wirral League before moving up to the West Cheshire League, where they were 19 time champions, including 15 titles in 20 seasons between 1975 and 1994.

The Shipyarders joined the North West Counties in 2004 and back to back promotions took them to the Northern Premier League Division One North. A sideways move to Division One South a season later brought promotion to the Premier Division as runners up, but the Camels were relegated at the end of their 

first campaign after failing ground grading criteria.

The club disbanded at the end of the 2013/14 season, and a new club, Cammell Laird 1907 FC, went into the North West Counties Division One, earning automatic promotion at the first attempt. However the 2017 season produced only three league wins, all after relegation was confirmed, and a bottom placing with a goal difference of -100...... and the Lairds still remain in the bottom rung of the NWCFL - Division One South, consistently finishing below middle.

But maybe things might be changing this time - 3 wins and a draw from their first four fixtures....currently sitting second, with 10 points compared to United's one, after a 5-1 dismantling of Runcorn Town on Tuesday 🙄

Amidst drizzle then rain which eventually turns into sunny spells and a strong breeze, I espy numberplates SON1C, M4NCS, PH11ZLE, and a shop offering Golden Stitches Proffesional Tailoring (maybe not)....

Beyond Two Four Nine and Avec Cookers then onto the M6 with signs for Yuletide at Tatton and Jerico. I pass a BJS home delivery van emblazoned with 'Taking our time in Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantisiliogogogoch' - yes really !!

Off at Junction 15 and past the Mainwaring Arms in Whitmore, then at Baldwin's Gate the Block House at the Sheet Anchor. And there's a sign for Dolphin Discounts - Guns ! 🤔

Through Hungersheath and then the legendary Loggerheads before I approach Market Drayton, dominated by the Muller factory. Over the Shropshire Union Canal, then Hodnet and signs for the West Midlands Shooting Ground - another gun shop !!

That brings me to Shawbury and the Elephant and Castle pub - the other boozer in the village is the Fox and Hounds. Shawbury also hosts CraftNutter Supplies, Green Daisy and The Gourmet Brownie Co with the ground on Carradine Road.

Strangely the app sends me home a different way via Prees, Willeymoor Lock Tavern and skirting Whitchurch. Thereafter Cholmondeley Castle, Peckforton, Tarporley and joining the A556 at Sandiway.

The sports centre is in a lovely rural setting with a large car park, comfortably accommodating today's bumper crowd of 191. This includes 20+ Cammell Laird fans and a lone banner 'I Wanna Follow You Everywhere'; admission is £6, cash only.

Inside there are two 40 seater covered stands - the changing rooms in between them - floodlights, a warm up pitch and a clubhouse and bar. A tarmac walkway surrounds a parched pitch with an industrial estate up top and the car park and the village at the other end.

Opposite is RAF Shawbury, now a training facility only. However I count four gliders coming in to land during the course of the match.

Shawbury are in black and white stripes, sponsored by Black Country Aggregates, whilst the Shipyarders are in royal blue, sponsored by Alpha Taxis. Both sides carve out early opportunities, but to no avail.

Then, on the quarter hour, a moment to forget for United's Brendon Price - his father directly in front of me at the turnstile on entry. Price is presented with an open goal but horribly shanks the sitter badly wide; he is substituted before half time....

For the Lairds James Eaton hits the bar direct from a corner on 37 and then fluffs a better chance moments later. Five minutes before the break home captain Joe Care needlessly swipes at a cross on the 18 yard line and the ball loops over home keeper Ash Rawlins for a bizarre own goal. Truly a lack of care... and the Camels lead 1-0 at the interval.

The second half begins cagily, the cross wind and surface causing problems. That said Rawlins makes an astonishing save from Conor Doyle on 57 minutes to keep it at one.

No matter as the Lairds double their lead on 73 - Matty Beamon heading in from a corner. Shawbury finally test the away custodian with ten minutes left - William Ebbrell beating away sub Josh Brown's close range effort.

The Camels' substitute, Jack Darlington, then takes centre stage. His introduction sees an injection of pace on the left wing and he is denied in a one on one by Rawlins with six left to play.

However in the third of nine and a half minutes of injury time he breaks through again and comfortably slots home. Lairds finish 3-0 victors and stay second; this could be a long, hard season for United, who seem almost devoid of any attacking menace.....

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 😀