Whites Hot - Seventh Heaven As Villagers Annihilated

And so to the Halton Stadium, home of Widnes FC and also Widnes Vikings RLFC. This afternoon sees the visit of Barnton FC for a North West Counties Premier Division fixture.

The home team was formed as The Dragons AFC in February 2003, concentrating on grassroots football. In 2012 they began a consultation process with Widnes Vikings RLFC to become part of the brand, and set up a first team that played one season in the West Cheshire League 3rd Division.

Widnes Vikings FC was admitted into the football pyramid and placed in the North West Counties Football League for the 2013/14 season. However, the club moved away from the Vikings brand in March 2014, becoming Widnes FC.

The Whites were promoted as champions of the First Division last May, and they are currently second in the Premier Division this time, on a 13 match unbeaten run.

The visitors, Barnton FC, from Townfield, was established in 1946 and became founder members of the Mid Cheshire League two years later. The Villagers won the league 11 times in total, including seven in a row from 1997 to 2003.

The league was renamed the Cheshire League in 2007 and Barnton were relegated to Division Two in 2009. Having been promoted as champions in 2013 , the Villagers then finished 5th in the top tier which was sufficient to gain election to the North West Counties Football League - their first ever season at Step 6; they did however represent England in the UEFA Regions League in 2004 playing Slovenian and Bosnian opposition.

In 2015/16 the club finished third and won the play off final 2-0 against Bacup Borough after extra time in front of a record crowd of 554 (yup I was there !). 17th last time but bottom by a country mile this campaign, one win, 9 points from 29 games and 107 goals conceded, in the 23 team league - relegation appears inevitable.

And so I set out on a dreadful afternoon, inevitably with rain teeming down - weather that has seen every other fixture in this division postponed because of waterlogging. Past a heated argument outside The Navigation then through Bowdon to Rostherne, 'Home of England's Finest Gardens'.

Onto the M56 then the M6 over Thelwall and into Woolston, site of the Tree of Lost Soles - a tree adorned with shoes and boots that the Council mysteriously chopped down in 2015. Through Warrington and The Hatter pub on Lovely Lane, into Bewsey and then to Fairclough Mill aka The Pink Eye at Sankey Bridges.

At Penketh there's The Teapod Tearooms before reaching Fiddlers Ferry Power Station, and the newly constructed fire station next to it - there's nothing like being prepared !! Then into Widnes, home of the Catalyst Science Discovery Centre and No More Kennels. We reach the Halton Select Security Stadium and the pub next door - The Cricketers Arms...... the rain has stopped and there's even a glimpse of sunshine.

The Halton Stadium is a 13,350 all seater stadium with 4 covered stands. The sign in the car park helpfully tells us Widnes FC - Use Turnstiles S1 & S2........ both of which are locked ! After a wander round the ground we enter via Stadium Fitness and I sneak a quick peek of the impressive Legends Bar and Marquee Suite.

Just half of the South Stand is open - more than enough to accommodate the crowd of 72. This in itself is a big improvement on the 47 for last week's home game with Padiham, with today's crowd bolstered by some away fans and the fact that there is no local non league football anywhere else, except St Helens which also has an all weather pitch. But 72 in a ground that holds 13,350 is just nonsensical !!

Widnes are in white shirts with black shorts, The Villagers in change orange and sky blue. Their shirts also feature the club badge which includes a narrowboat referencing the nearby Anderton Boat Lift.

The expected gulf in class is immediately apparent, and the Whites should have led within the first 15 seconds. But their front two, George Lomax and Ben Hodkinson are wasteful, miscuing a hatful of chances. Joint player manager Steve Akrigg plants two free headers from corners over the bar, and winger Danny Laverty fires wide. The Villagers' keeper Rob Cooke makes two smart stops but the breakthrough is a long time coming.

One of the features of the first period is Widnes left back Phil Doran's barnstorming runs but he is involved, bizarrely, in another way in the Whites opener on 38 minutes. He retrieves the ball from the empty Pat Price Stand opposite and takes the throw in from the sixth row. The referee orders him to retake it from the touch line. From this a simple ball over the top beats the offside trap and George Lomax lobs a hesitant Cooke.

Five minutes later Chris Lomax's slaloming run sees the ball ricochet to Hodkinson who sends Cooke the wrong way for 2-0. Barnton's only response is bang on half time with Jack Irlam's 30 yard free kick straight at Richie Mottram.

Not long into the second period Chris Lomax makes it three with a sumptuous finish, and soon after Laverty has the opportunity to make it four but Cooke stands up well in the one on one. Widnes then become sloppy with Villagers' sub Brandon Moores lobbing just over Mottram's bar and Chris Bandell hitting the side netting. Moores is then felled for a Barnton penalty with a cheeky young lad shouting from the stand 'I'll give you a fiver if you miss the pen'.... Irlam scores straight down the middle.

Irlam goes close again and the other joint player manager Kev Towey has seen enough, and brings himself on with a quarter of an hour to play. Within 30 seconds he has scored, heading the ball on to Laverty on the wing and finishing the cross with aplomb.

He then sets up fellow sub Jack Banister with two goals in a minute, the first a one two and run on goal before his shot deflects in, the second from an exquisite back heel. The scoring is completed in the final minute as Stuart Cook produces two outrageous drag backs, dumping defenders on the floor, before smashing in off the post.

 7-1 at the finish to Widnes, and another nail in the Villagers' coffin.....

Town Pay The Penalty As Admirals of The Bleat Avoid Another Trafalgar

And so to The Venue at Park Hall, the home of FC Oswestry Town, who share facilities with The New Saints, for the North West Counties Football League Division One clash with Nelson FC, 'The Admirals' - naturally !!

FC Oswestry Town was formed in 2013 as a successor to Oswestry Lions, which had folded, and took the Lions' place in the Mercian Regional League Division One. The club finished third in their first season and was promoted to the Premier Division.

The following year Town won the Commander Ethelstone Cup, but the 2015/16 campaign saw the club win the quadruple - the Shropshire Challenge Cup, the Mercian Regional League Cup, retaining the Commander Ethelstone Cup and champions of the Mercian Regional League Premier Division.

Winning the latter title earnt the team promotion to the North West Counties Division One, and a 15th place finish in their debut season. 15th is where they currently sit this time too, despite losing 12 of their first 13 matches.

Nelson FC was founded in 1881, joining the Lancashire League in 1889 and becoming champions in 1896. The club folded during the 1898/99 season and was expelled by the Lancashire FA. Having rejoined the League in 1900, the club again closed down in 1916 with bailiffs called in.

Having reformed in 1918 and entered the Central League, the Admirals became founder members of the Football League Division 3 North in 1921. Promotion to Division 2 followed in 1923, and the side embarked on a Spanish preseason tour which saw them beat Real Madrid 4-2 !

Sadly the club was relegated after only one season, and against a backdrop of struggling form, falling attendances and growing debt (even a fund raising carnival lost £20 !) the team finished bottom of the League in 1931. They failed to win re-election and were replaced by Chester City. Having dropped into the Lancashire Combination the Admirals folded once more in August 1936 due to crippling debts.

Hastily reformed as Nelson Town the new club entered the local Nelson & Colne League in which they played up to the start of World War II. After a further reformation in 1946 and rejoining the Lancashire Combination, the Admirals were crowned champions in 1950 and again in 1952, the latter under the stewardship of Joe Fagan, who went on to manage Liverpool.

In 1971 the football club moved from its Seedhill base, home since 1905 and which also hosted the Nelson Admirals speedway team, to Victoria Park. Seedhill became a stock car racing venue, but was all but demolished when the M65 was built.

Nelson FC became a founder member of the North West Counties Football League in 1982 but was evicted in 1988 due to ground grading requirement failures. A four year sojourn in the West Lancashire League ended with readmittance to the NWCFL as Victoria Park, or Little Wembley as the locals christened it, was upgraded. The Admirals resigned from the league in 2010 but after a 12 month 'sabbatical' returned and were promoted to the Premier Division in 2014. Last time around only Cammell Laird finished below Nelson, prompting a return to Division One. This season the Admirals have fared even worse and currently sit rock bottom.

Setting out against a backdrop of gunmetal grey sky it's straight into roadworks, a lane closure and traffic chaos. Then past the giant carved wooden eagle at the dental practice on Manchester Road and through Altrincham town centre with its £16,000 4 metre monolith aka vanity project that tells us Altrincham has been a market town since 1290, complete with spelling mistake.....

On to the M56 with the rain teeming down and Stanlow refinery belching fumes and the wind turbines going like the blazes. Then the M53 which becomes the A55 and a turn onto the A483 before nine miles down the A5 - all surrounded by waterlogged fields.

Beyond Lion Quays, the Lord Moreton and over the Llangollen Canal, past Artillery Business Park and down Burma Road to The Venue at Park Hall. Disappointingly the former Grandad's Cafe advertising 'Ugly Staff, Beautiful Food' has closed :(

The Venue at Park Hall, in Whittington just outside Oswestry is a ten pin bowling and gym complex with a hospitality suite that leads through to a large balcony and seats overlooking the half way line. Next to it is a poor neighbour stand that covers the rest of the touchline, but the Black Hawk Laser Games behind it looks enticing....

At the far end is another stand that begins at the corner flag, continues behind the goal and then stops rather abruptly at the 18 yard line. Bizarrely, opposite the main stand, there is a further narrow mini grandstand that houses the press box on the second tier, the subs' benches on the first tier and the technical area on the ground and, er, that's it. The rest of the ground is flanked by trees - we are in the countryside after all !

Down to the main turnstile which is unmanned, and I find I'm still slim enough to squeeze through, fiver in hand. The crowd is later announced as 54 (plus one non-payer !!) with nine dotted round the ground and 46 on the balcony - 'it's just like being at the races' - which is presumably where I was supposed to pay !!

Town are in blue and white, the Admirals in change green and black, and the near linesman is wearing gloves...and glasses ! The rain, which caused all bar three of today's fixtures to be postponed, has abated as the match gets underway, following tannoy announcements about drinking, smoking and standing.

The first half is one of Nelson's persistent fouling and moaning to the referee. Town, by contrast, try to play football on the AstroTurf but misplaced passing and poor control scuppers much of their play, failing to take advantage of the rear Admirals' leaky offside trap.

Nonetheless Louis Moss is just wide with a drive and Sam Spridgeon's swirling chip drifts just beyond the post, after Admirals' keeper Marcel Wusiewicz makes a complete mess, twice, of stopping a straightforward effort.

Nelson take the lead on 24 minutes from Chris Turner's penalty for a dubious handball, just after Town's appeal for a spot kick is (incorrectly) turned down. Turner has a shot deflected wide, after a Town error caused by overplaying just outside their own area, as we reach the midpoint - and a half time draw of £1 to win a box of biscuits, an offer certainly good enough to refuse !!

A minute into the second half the Admirals win a corner and the inswinging delivery is cleared off the line - just. Five minutes later Oswestry equalise through Moss from a lovely one-two. Thereafter craft and guile, never much in evidence in the first period, are replaced by graft and bile and it's a frustrating watch. Nelson's strongarm tactics, flare ups and some fairly awful football are complemented by atrocious officiating.

So it's a shock when Tse Nan Yue, aka Curtis (??!!), scores with a sumptuous effort into the top corner for the home side with twenty to go. Town hit the outside of the post via a deflection but normal service swiftly resumes.

Oswestry's defending becomes ever more desperate and brainless but they look to have survived until the fourth minute of injury time when the Admirals win another contentious free kick. The ball is swung in and Sam Holt's looping header goes beyond Town's portly custodian and captain Louis Mackin, to level it at 2-2. Judging by the celebrations you would have thought Nelson has won the World Cup - or beaten Real Madrid !! Two minutes later the away team win a corner, and the referee blows for full time.

Next weekend sees the reverse fixture but with drainage problems and the current weather, the Admirals' Little Wembley is likely to be under water.....

Returning Hero Opens The Gate And Makes Hey...

And so to Squires Gate FC and School Road and The Brian Addison Stadium - named after club stalwart Brian Addison, who has progressed from player to linesman to manager to Secretary to Chairman and eventually to groundsman.... Today's visitors in the North West Counties are Abbey Hey.

The home club was formed in 1948 as Squires Gate British Legion, having accepted an offer from Blackpool Council to take a lease on a new ground on the site of a former tip. The Gate competed in the Blackpool & District Amateur League, changing their name to Squires Gate FC in 1953, and winning the League's First Division in 1955/56 and 1956/57.

Having spent one season in the Fylde District League the Gate moved to the newly reformed West Lancashire League in 1961. This proved a sterner challenge, with the side eventually promoted as Division 2 champions in 1980.

After much soul searching the club applied for membership of the North West Counties Football League and joined Division 2 for the 1991/92 season. In 2003 the Gate missed the runners up spot on goal difference, but were promoted to the top tier following the demise of champions Stand Athletic FC.

There they have remained ever since, reaching the FA Vase quarter final in the 2005/06 campaign. Calls for a merger between the 3 non league clubs situated within a 300 yard radius - Gate, Blackpool Mechanics (now AFC Blackpool) and Blackpool Wren Rovers - came to naught.

Abbey Hey FC hail from the Abbey Stadium, and not the one in Cambridge ! Their Abbey Stadium is to be found on Goredale Avenue in Gorton, M18. The visitors date back to 1902 when they formed as Abbey Hey WMC, but the club has disbanded and reformed on a number of occasions. The Red Rebels came into their own in the 1960s after it took in the players of the Admiralty Gunnery Engineering Department (AGED).

 

After numerous honours the club was successful in its application to the Manchester League and were promoted from the Second Division in their first season. In 1998 they moved from the Manchester League to the North West Counties and were promoted in that first season to their current level.

 

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

So with the sky a grey palette I set out and immediately hit traffic chaos. A roadsweeper, blocking one lane and creating more detritus than it is picking up, is followed by a broken down bus and then a lane closure. T & T Pound Plus and the dreadful 'ELCTRICAL. TOILETORIES' sign and Garvey's still advertising its New Year's Eve celebrations - all before the M60....

The Smart Motorway is now 'operative' although still sticking to a 50mph limit and with more workmen in evidence than during the entire overrunning project. Then the M61 and directly across from 'Incontinence Supplies At Internet Prices' a car with hazards on and its driver vomiting on the hard shoulder.

Past Botany Bay then onto the M6 before I join the M55 with signs screaming at me 'Free Entry at Ma Kelly's'. Off at Marton Fold then past Stan's Mowers and Hollyacres Luxury Cats Hotel, before I park once more at Spirit of Youth FC just beyond The Brian Addison Stadium.

Blackpool Wren Rovers and Squires Gate share the same car park - the Wrens at Coppull United today in the West Lancashire League. The Wrens' ground is to the left with a red door, Gate's to the right with a blue door.

Inside the near end supports a small covered bus shelter arrangement, next to which are the changing rooms named after another club stalwart, Wilf Carr. Outside a chalkboard announces the next home game is against Northwitch (sic) Vics. In the corner is the homely clubhouse and a covered area down the side, part standing, part bench seating.

The top end is open and the other side is the shared perimeter wall between the two grounds. Indeed there is even an interconnecting door to allow access to retrieve wayward ball kicked next door !! The tight covered standing area also has two of the narrowest ginnels where the dugouts and floodlight pylons conspire to minimise access - impossible for some of the more rotund fans to get through..... Beyond the Wrens' Bruce Park is The Shovels public house.

Gate are in two tone blue, the Red Rebels in red and black, and both sides have the club badge woven into their shirts - Gate on the back and Abbey down the front and side. The Red Rebels' keeper Ross Heywood wears a hideous orange and grey concoction. The match gets underway with decent away support, and an Abbey Hey Football Club flag behind the goal.

The first half is a scrappy, messy desultory affair. Gate have one shot worthy of the name - Dave Rossall straight at Heywood - and the major talking points are a lack of pumped up balls and a decapitated corner flag. Then things pick up; Ben Fletcher, in the home goal, at full stretch fingertips a volley onto the post, and shortly after on 35 minutes Red Rebels' captain Andy Smith heads in from a Robert Swallow corner.

1-0 to Abbey at the break, and rather more action from the gliders taking off from nearby Blackpool Airport than on the pitch.....

The Red Rebels continue where they left off, forcing Fletcher into three comfortable saves. Then, on the hour, Gate begin to play. Wing wizardry from Ryan Riley, back after six months out, produces a sublime cross for Gary Pett. His header brings a fantastic reaction save from Heywood but Scott Harries, who re-signed for Gate from Lancaster City in midweek, scores from the rebound, in the act of falling over.

Ten minutes later captain Mike Hall's free kick causes consternation in the Abbey defence. A goalmouth scramble leaves Harries to tap in from virtually on the goal line. Moments afterwards much merriment in the crowd as the linesman is painfully hit by a fiercely struck ball in a sensitive area - and adopts a 'wide' stance thereafter......

With five minutes to go Gate win a free kick in a promising position. Pett's 25 yard thunderbolt is still rising and still travelling as it hits the top corner for a stunning finish. 3-1 to the Gate and surely game over ? Maybe not as within 40 seconds Swallow flies down the wing, dances across the penalty box and curls into the bottom corner for a magnificent solo goal.

Sadly the Reds' Rebellion fizzles out and it finishes 3-2 to Squires Gate at the death.

Where's Wally ? James Suckers The Bloods As Seadogs Bite Back

And so on a cold, sunny January afternoon it's off to Butcher's Arms, the home of Droylsden FC, for this afternoon's visit of high flying Scarborough Athletic in the Evostik Northern Premier League Division One North.

Droylsden FC was originally formed in 1892 at the invitation of Joseph Cropper, the landlord of the Butcher's Arms, to play behind the pub. The club emerged out of World War One as the sole survivor of the village teams, as a member of the Manchester League and with colours of red and white - the inspiration for their nickname 'The Bloods'. The 1930s produced two Manchester League championships with record goalscorer Ernest Gillibrand plundering 275 goals in just 4 seasons (yes 4 seasons !!).

Spells in the Lancashire Combination and Cheshire League followed before the sale of the Butcher's Arms lease to Belle Vue FC, who renamed themselves Droylsden United. The Bloods were forced out to nearby Moorside Trotting Stadium aka 'Pork Park'. The town wasn't big enough to support two teams and eventually a merger was negotiated.

Two decades in the Lancashire Combination ended with a return to the Cheshire League, and Droylsden then became a founder member of the North West Counties in 1982. Gradually the club ascended to the Conference North, and spent one season in the Conference National in 2007/08.

Since then two second round FA Cup adventures have been the highlights. In 2008/09 the Bloods beat League 2 side Darlington 1-0 to set up a four game thriller with Chesterfield. Two matches were abandoned through fog and floodlight failure, there was a 2-2 draw and Droylsden then beat the Spireites 2-1 to earn a third round tie at Ipswich. Except it never happened as double goalscorer Sean Newton was found to be ineligible, and The Bloods were expelled from the competition.

Two years later Droylsden hosted a televised second round tie with Leyton Orient which was drawn. In the replay the Bloods were 2-0 up at Brisbane Road until two late goals drew Orient level, and the league side then went on the rampage in extra time to win 8-2.

Three relegations in six years see Droylsden at their current level. The last of these was the horrific 2013/14 campaign - one win all season, relegated in February and no playing budget whatsoever with the club battling to pay off a £280,000 VAT debt that threatened its very existence. To be fair to club owner, chairman and manager, the irascible Dave Pace, he refused to put the club into administration and vowed to pay it all back.

Scarborough Athletic FC was set up on 25 June 2007 by the Seadog Trust. This was five days after the liquidation of Scarborough FC - £2.5 million in debt and unable to sell the McCain Stadium to a housing developer due to a covenant restricting it to sporting activities.

The Seadogs joined the Northern Counties East League Division One, groundsharing at Bridlington Town's Queensgate stadium. Two seasons in they were crowned as champions and promoted to the Premier Division, with Brian France as manager. In their second season in the top flight France was struck in the face by a ball at Liversedge and suffered a brain haemorrhage - he never managed the club again.

In 2012/13 'Boro clinched the NCEL title and were promoted to the Northern Premier Division One South (bizarrely !!) under their magnificently named manager Rudy Funk. The Seadogs were moved laterally to Division One North after one season.

At the start of this campaign the club, after ten years at Bridlington, finally returned to the town at the new Flamingo Land Stadium at Weaponness. After play off defeat last time, the Seadogs currently lie third with attendances having nearly trebled.

It's Metrostink today, and a tram full of bleary eyed Manchester City fans on their way to the FA Cup tie with Burnley. A tram also held up by a disabled man's wheelchair becoming trapped halfway in the door.

Change at Cornbrook and Metrolink's decision to run single units produces cattle truck conditions. Through the city centre and past the modern apartments in New Islington before it's time to breathe again after most disembark at the Etihad. Then beyond the National Cycling Centre to Clayton Hall, home of Carp Fever, and the aptly named Cemetery Road - and yes there is a funeral directors just round the corner !!

This brings me into the town, past Droylsden Pigeon Corn Supplies and Dumplins Chicken Split Shop - the latter, like several other outlets, appearing to have closed. Butcher's Arms is a five minute stroll from the tram stop, just beyond The Beehive and The King's Head (formerly the Butcher's Arms).

Through two fine wrought iron gates is the grandstand, The William Pace Stand, and a Press Box that remains empty throughout the afternoon. Next to it is the impressive (and warm !) clubhouse whilst to the left is a tidy covered terrace, spoilt by copious amounts of pigeon droppings (I blame that Corn Supplies shop !!) and a strange Aardvark Concrete hoarding. Opposite is some wonky terracing, with the other end an open tarmacked area, bordered by houses.

The crowd of 334 is swelled by at least half supporting 'Boro, in good voice and with several flags ('Seadog Trucker On Tour'). The Bloods are in all red, the Seadogs in change all yellow.

The pitch is an absolute pudding and, along with an icy swirling wind, not conducive to good football. Nonetheless Droylsden's Luke Daly is able to waltz past 5 Scarborough players, all too easily, and smash the ball past Thomas Taylor to give the Bloods an early lead.

Droylsden's intricate passing plays the conditions better compared to the Seadogs' rather flat first half display. The Bloods' strike force of Sefton Gonzalez and Ciaran Kilheeney also poses a more potent threat than the visitors' much vaunted Mike Coulson and James Walshaw.

From a breakaway Kilheeney gets in a shot that Taylor parries but Gonzalez, with the ball behind him, can't keep his shot from clearing the crossbar. The Seadogs can only muster a Lewis Sugden shot wide and, after Bloods' keeper Richie Branagan spills a corner, Max Wright's chip is over.

Very early in the second half Gonzalez is withdrawn with an injury, and the Bloods set out to hold what they have, stifling the Seadogs and playing on the counter. Wright and Coulson shoot over, and Sam Hewitt hits the outside of the post as it becomes an afternoon of frustration for 'Boro.

Then Droylsden lose both full backs to injury and the dismembered defence is suddenly all at sea. But it's still not until the 76th minute when Walshaw is felled in the penalty area and Coulson drills the penalty home. Bloods’ owner Dave Pace becomes ever more animated…..

The home defence is sliced open immediately and Walshaw is through but Branagan smothers. Little matter as in the next break the defence is carved open again and this time Walshaw dinks the ball over Branagan – and the Seadogs lead with ten minutes to go. Four minutes later Coulson plays in Walshaw who finishes decisively for 3-1, the match and second place in the table.

Captain Pickering Mechs His Mark - Lions Wounded

And so to The Mechanics and a trip to Jepson Way for a North West Counties clash between AFC Blackpool and Stockport Town.

The home side was founded as Blackpool Metal Mechanics in 1947 before changing name to Blackpool Mechanics FC. Walter Jepson, after whom Jepson Way is named, was a founding member and long serving club secretary.

The Mechanics started out playing in local Fylde leagues but in 1959 took the decision to move up and join the West Lancashire League. After being crowned champions in 1960/61 and 1961/62 the club moved to the Lancashire Combination, with a best finish of runners up in 1975.

With the formation of the North West Counties Football League in 1982 they were placed in Division Three. The Mechanics were promoted as champions to Division Two in 1985/86 and enjoyed a solitary season in Division One in 1991/92.

In May 2005 Lytham St Annes FC, having resigned from the West Lancashire League, merged with the Mechanics. Then in May 2008 the club merged with Squires Gate Junior FC, with the club renamed AFC Blackpool. The nickname 'The Mechanics' or 'The Mechs' was retained, and the stadium was renamed as a nod to the club's heritage. The club badge curiously shows a squawking seagull…..

The Mechanics' best ever season saw them promoted as First Division champions in 2010/11 to rise to the Premier Division. After four seasons they were relegated to the First Division having finished bottom. Last time around was an underwhelming 19th (out of 22) but the current campaign sees the side just into the play off area after Thursday night's 2-1 win at Bacup Borough.

Stockport Town FC, 'The Lions', who play at Stockport Sports Village, was formed in February 2014 but their initial request to join the North West Counties in the Premier Division was refused in the summer of 2014. After a year of preparation (or in the wilderness) they were allowed to join Division One at the start of the 2015/16 season.

Previous tenants Stockport Sports, formerly Woodley Sports, who were playing in the Premier Division, were expelled from the league early in 2015 for postponing games, and amidst unpaid debts were liquidated. Conspiracy theories abounded.....

The Lions' first season saw them secure a play off berth, bowing out to losing finalists Bacup Borough. Last term was notable for manager Calum Sykes resigning just before Christmas and decamping to New Mills along with most of the first team. A 0-10 home reverse to City of Liverpool on New Year's Eve represented their nadir, but new manager Dave Wild steered them to 10th place with 9 victories in the 18 games over which he presided.

So on a bleak, grey Saturday afternoon it's past ELCTRICAL and TOILETORIES, then Jellytots & Dollymixtures to the M60 and the usual carnage on Barton Bridge. Off at the M61 and that 'Incontinence Supplies at Internet Prices' sign, beyond Botany Bay and then joining the M6 briefly and exiting on to the M55.

At the end of the M55 at Marton Fold it's a left into Midgeland Road, past Hollyacres Luxury Cats Hotel and then right onto School Road with two football clubs next to each other - Squires Gate, in the league above, and Blackpool Wren Rovers, in the league below. Straight over into Jepson Way where I park on the Spirit of Youth FC car park. The Mechanics is hidden just round the corner.

Inside a ground full of character - and four covered stands. Behind one goal at the top end an ancient fascia for some auto repair centre, bearing just the letters UTOS, affixed to rusted girders and above a three step terrace with corrugated sides and crush barriers.

To the left the main stand, set between the two dugouts, originally two full rows of orange and red seats but some now ripped out and abandoned on the walkway. Opposite a further two rows of seating in front of the clubhouse and changing rooms, with the 'Hospitality Suite' hemmed in the corner.

Behind the near goal a more basic covered terrace housing the AFC Blackpool ultras, the 'Tin Hut Brigade' and their many flags and drums. Beyond is the South Shore Cricket, Squash & Rugby Club, home to Blackpool Scorpions RLFC, and the runway of the reopened Blackpool Airport, primarily used by offshore helicopter operations and private planes. In the distance a mummuration of starlings and a bizarre sign 'Were you my 1964 Pleasure Beach Girl from St Georges Park ? Text Pete on...', apparently erected by a lovesick Lytham pensioner !!

The Mechanics are in all tangerine, the Lions in change all purple and the linesman on the near touchline is possibly the youngest I have seen - and the most frozen looking !! A scruffy first half ensues, spoiled by a bitter wind and a squally shower.

Town have the Lions' share of the play and chances. Aaron Dwyer takes advantage of a defensive howler but Mechs' keeper Callum Kirkland steers his shot into the side netting. The best opportunity sees George Blackwell's pinpoint cross met by an acrobatic volley from Ben Halfacre which thunders against the crossbar. The Mechanics can only muster a dangerous Ben Duffield cross which is fortuitously sliced wide by Town's Daryll Grant.

The second half is brighter and within five minutes Duffield latches onto a through ball to score assuredly beyond Lions' stopper Lewis Fielding. Seven minutes later Fielding saves one on one and the rebound from Mechs' skipper Danny Pickering is deflected high before looping in. Controversy rages as the Lions, pride affronted, furiously claim Duffield, virtually on the goal line and clearly offside, headed home. After an eternity the goal stands.

Jamie Hinchliffe pulls a goal back for the visitors from a corner but an equaliser never threatens. Duffield hits the post from another one on one, Kit Gregory shoots high and Conah Bishop goes close as the Mechanics win 2-1 to go fifth.

McDonald Is Rangers' Massiah - Mariners Sunk

And so to the FA Trophy Second Round Qualifying and a visit to Marston Road for the tie between Stafford Rangers and South Shields.

No one is able to prove conclusively when Rangers (Boro is their other nickname strangely) were actually formed, as early minute books were destroyed in the First World War. The club's formation year is recognised as 1876 because of an enquiry to the local Staffordshire Advertiser. The reply, published the following week, suggested the club was already up and running.

Initially playing friendlies and FA Cup ties, Rangers flitted between the Shropshire, Birmingham and North Staffordshire Leagues, moving to Marston Road in 1896 and winning the Birmingham Combination in 1913. The first 'Golden Era' came in the late 1920s, producing a Birmingham League title, twice runners up and two third place finishes.

The good times came to an abrupt end as the 1930s proved to be a constant battle for survival on and off the pitch. A shortage of players forced secretary RP Brown to play in one match - scoring the goal that earned Rangers their first away point of the season. Only a successful appeal for £100 to pay creditors enabled the club to continue.

Rangers resumed in the Birmingham Combination after World War II and then controversially moved to the Cheshire League in 1952. The 1960s were a struggle but the 1970s heralded the second 'Golden Era'.

The club was promoted to the Northern Premier League, and under Roy Chapman won the treble of the NPL, the FA Trophy - 3-0 against Barnet - and the Staffordshire Senior Cup in 1972. The FA Cup 4th Round was reached in 1975 and another FA Trophy final the following year, this time losing 3-2 after extra time to Scarborough. The returning Chapman secured a second FA Trophy success in 1979, beating Kettering Town 2-0.

Rangers were founder members of the Alliance Premier League, but after 4 seasons of toil were relegated back to the NPL in 1983. The club bounced back to win the NPL two years on but life was largely a fight against relegation, despite the six figure sum received for the transfer of Stan Collymore to Crystal Palace in December 1990.

Rangers were relegated from the Conference in 1995, and a second consecutive relegation followed, after only 2 points were gleaned from the first 19 games in the Southern Premier League. 2000 saw the team win the Dr Martens League Western Division.

Rangers qualified for the newly formed Conference North in 2004 and were promoted back to the first tier in 2006 after a penalties play off win against Droylsden. Life at the top only lasted two seasons before a return to the Conference North, and, despite appointing high profile managers Steve Bull, Tim Flowers and Matt Elliott, fortunes failed to improve.

Further relegations in 2011 and 2014 saw Rangers slip to the fourth tier of non league football. The Northern Premier League First Division South was captured at the end of the 2015/16 campaign, where they currently sit one division above this afternoon's visitors.

A few references have been found to the origins of a town football club playing in the 1870s, but the first recorded public appearance of a named South Shields AFC was in 1888. Several other local clubs flickered but it was the South Shields Adelaide Athletic club, set up in 1899, that went on to be elected to the Second Division of the Football League in 1919 as South Shields FC.

Lack of public support meant only the sale of its best players and FA Cup runs kept Shields in business. Inevitably, without money to bail the club out of impending bankruptcy, the only possible viable alternative to closure was to move. In 1930 the club left the town and moved to Gateshead, where it was welcomed.

A new club was established in 1936, nicknamed 'The Babes', before becoming 'The Mariners' in 1950 on its move from Horsley Hill to Simonside Hall. Shields played in several leagues until joining the Northern Premier League in 1968.

However 'insufficient' match attendances prompted the directors to sell Simonside Hall in 1974 with a view to returning to Horsley Hill. In a controversial and quite disastrous land fiasco both sites were transformed into housing sites. The club was penniless and homeless - and history repeated itself as the team went to Gateshead again, re-emerging as Gateshead United FC and taking Shields' place in the NPL.

A new club, South Shields Mariners FC, was formed immediately, based at the council's Jack Clark Park, and beginning a 17 year crusade for a home of its own. The club progressed through the Northern Alliance and Wearside League to the Northern League.

In 1992 the redundant and vandalised sports club and ground of Filtrona FC in Jarrow became available. It was purchased by club chairman John Rundle and the Mariners had a new home - Filtrona Park. Rundle was a volatile man, twice publicly threatening the club with closure, and (in)famously locking the gates at Filtrona Park ahead of a home match in 2006.

At the end of the 2012/13 season South Shields were relegated from Northern League Division One, and forced to move to Eden Park, Peterlee after their lease expired. Two seasons with average attendances of 69 and 70 meant the club faced a huge challenge to survive.

After being taken over by new chairman Geoff Thompson in the summer of 2015 he subsequently bought Filtrona Park, now renamed Mariners Park, and the club moved back. Under the captaincy of ex Sunderland and Middlesbrough midfielder Julio Arca the Mariners won Northern League Division Two title in 2015/16.

Last season saw a famous quadruple - the Northern League Division One title, after a 32 game winning streak, the Durham Challenge Cup, the Northern League Challenge Cup and a 4-0 victory in the FA Vase at Wembley against Cleethorpes Town. Average attendances increased to 1,226.

This season Shields are joint top of the NPL Division One North, with eleven wins and one defeat, and three games in hand. Darlington and York City, two steps higher, were both knocked out of the FA Cup.

And so on a bright, chilly morning it's the Metrolink into the city centre. After yesterday's 'tram kiss', a minor two tram crash that naturally caused major disruption across the network - and was initially blamed on signalling issues and an RTA - today's journey is less eventful and about an hour and a quarter shorter..... Just the swans at Watch House Cruising Club and a lone heron at Pomona Wharf before arrival at Piccadilly.

Then a Cross Country train and the Hat Museum at Stockport, the iconic Arighi Bianchi at Stockport and the famous Hand with Chronos at Stoke on Trent station. Into Stafford, through Victoria Gardens by the River Sow and onto Tenterbanks, past the Broad Eye Windmill and up to Gaol Road, home of HMP Stafford.

Then up Marston Road beyond Saladmaster, 'We Change Life', and the entrance to the stadium is actually on Astonfields Road. Inside is the impressive all seater Stan Robinson Stand - for £2 extra. Across the way covered terracing and to the left the Social End, which houses the Social Club. Bizarrely there is no access from inside so the gates have to be flung open for you to leave the ground to enjoy that half time pint......

Beyond the Social Club is the Astonfields Industrial Park and the Bake 'n' Butty Cafe. Up top is the Shed End, and it's a Shed End with no roof !! Instead it is festooned in South Shields flags and banners, as the Mariners are roared on by a tremendous support of over half the crowd of 955, notwithstanding the near 400 mile round trip.

Rangers are in black and white, Shields in claret and blue, and black armbands, and for the second week running there is a badger mascot..... Before we start there is an impeccably observed minute's silence in honour of Armistice Day and 10 year old Mariners’ season ticket holder Jak Fada who tragically died in the week. The tenth minute is a minute of applause from all four sides of the ground.

By that time we have had a riproaring start to the game. Gavin Cogdon, Shields’ combative centre forward bursts through and shoots just over, and then two goals. On 6 minutes Shields’ Robert Briggs gets goalside of his man and dinks an exquisite lob into the opposite corner beyond Rangers keeper Brad Caswell. Two minute later an incisive move down the left ends with Josh Craddock's cutback and Massiah McDonald swivels to fire home the equaliser.

Strike partner Dan Westwood goes close for Rangers, and McDonald has another chance he will prefer to forget. But it's the Mariners, attractive on the eye with some wonderful passing and movement, who begin to take hold of the game - all orchestrated by Arca and his sublime left foot.

Rangers survive but have three mighty scares in the five minutes to half time. Michael Richardson tricks the full back by the corner flag, cuts in and shoots. Caswell saves at the near post, the ball goes back to Richardson who lays it off for Barrie Smith and his strike is turned aside at the far post by a recovering Caswell. Briggs' gorgeous volley from Carl Finnigan's wonderfully cushioned pass is just too high and Cogdon is marginally adrift for the Mariners.

The second half picks up where the first left off. McDonald puts a free header wide, and Finnigan picks off a back pass that sold Caswell short, the keeper then slipping, but his chip fails to hit the target. There is then a temporary lull before Rangers build up a head of steam.

Sub Richard Gregory sees his header denied by a magnificent point blank one handed save from the Mariners’ Liam Connell. From the subsequent corner Rangers have two shots kicked off the line. Gregory then has another effort diverted wide, and Alex Fletcher just clears the bar with his twenty yarder.

Eleven minutes to go and McDonald receives the ball near the corner of the penalty area, shielded by two Mariners defenders. Skilfully he moves inside and fires across Connell into the far corner and Rangers lead. Arca responds, ghosting past three men and unleashing a left foot strike destined for the top corner, but Caswell saves well.

Shortly after the Mariners ship another goal. Fine wing play on the left and the ball delivered on a plate for McDonald to stroke home the third and his hat trick. Still time for Finnigan to have two chances cleared off the line but it finishes 3-1 to Rangers, in The Coming of The Massiah !!

Garnett Is Mickleover's Gem As Sports Spoil Celtic's Day

And so to Staly Vegas, the mill town of Stalybridge, the place that held 2 Guinness Book of Records entries - the longest and shortest pub names in the UK ! The Old Thirteenth Cheshire Astley Volunteer Rifleman Corps Inn and The Q Inn still flourish in the town centre, but I'm off to Bower Fold for Stalybridge Celtic against Mickleover Sports in the Evo Stik Northern Premier.

The home side was formed in 1909 by Herber Rhodes, a local businessman and philanthropist, although an amateur club 'Celtic' was established in 1906. Rhodes spent a chunk of his fortune on developing Bower Fold; he also played for the team and designed the strip, basing it on the colours used by his racehorses.

The Celts played for two seasons in the Lancashire & Cheshire Amateur League and turned professional before joining the Lancashire Combination, where they were 2nd Division champions. After a year in the Central League Celtic's ambition of Football League status forced them to join the Southern League (!), travelling by train to every away match.

There followed a pause commonly known as the First World War. In the aftermath 'Bridge rejoined the Central League, becoming founder members of The Football League Third Division (North) at the end of the 1920/21 campaign. The club resigned after 2 seasons, citing the 'fact' that they could not attract sufficient support to justify a League side - despite an average attendance of 5,480 !! Today's crowd is 258......

Celtic reverted to the Cheshire County League, remaining members for 60 years but only winning the title once in 1980. Founder members of the North West Counties Football League in 1982, the Celts were champions in 1984 and 1987 - which took them to the Northern Premier League.

After winning the league title in 1992 Stalybridge spent 6 seasons in the Conference and were promoted back in 2001, but lasted a solitary campaign. The restructure of Step 2 in non league saw Celtic join the Conference North in 2004 where they stayed, after two last day escapes in 2015 and 2016, until relegation last time out.

Mickleover Sports FC, from the Don Amott Arena (Don Amott is the current club chairman) was founded in 1948 as Mickleover Old Boys. They played in the Derby & District Senior League for 44 years, making them the longest serving club in the league.

Following development of new facilities, Sports successfully applied to join the Central Midlands Football League in 1993 and two years later they gained promotion to the Supreme Division. They were crowned as CMFL champions in 1998/99, in a season that saw their first venture into the FA Vase. Winning 3-0 at eventual finalists Bedlington Terriers with 14 minutes left, the home side's floodlights suspiciously failed. Sports lost 2-0 in a replay after an FA inquiry.

Mickleover were promoted to the Northern Counties East League, which was won in 2003, and then became Premier Division champions in 2008/09. The step up to the Northern Premier Division 1 South was significant but a run of 16 consecutive wins catapulted Sports to the top of the table and the title.

Their first season in the Premier was all about consolidation despite a tendency to gift points to opposing clubs. This included an incredible 6-6 home draw with Nantwich Town, with Sports 6-3 up with 6 minutes to go. The following term saw Sports relegated for the first time, and a year later they narrowly avoided consecutive demotions after using 53 players during the season. Play off defeat to the Nailers, Belper Town, in 2014 was used as a springboard to winning the division as champions a year on. Sports have survived in the Premier the past two seasons....but only just first time around !!

And so it's past Scissorhand, Skullfades and Tan 'n' Tonic to the now mercifully closed T & T Pound Plus. Presumably sold out of 'HOUSE HOLD. STATIONARY. TOILETORIES. ELCTRICAL' ..... Then onto the M60 where the signs show a speed limit of 20 mph due to 'Oncoming Vehicle' - odd.... Past the Co-op Pyramid and its Crystal Methodist and then off at Denton Rock.

The M67 to the end, then gridlock at a roundabout advertising Big Baps Butty Van, before I turn left into Mottram in Longdendale. Up then down the hill with Bower Fold on the left, next to the Hawthorn Gallery, fine art dealers. The ground is almost entirely surrounded by trees and nestles in the foothills.

Inside the ground has four covered stands. At the Town End is the Joe Jackson Stand - terracing with the Social Club at the rear. To the right is The Lord Tom Pendry Stand, all seated and opened in 2004. At the top end is the Lockwood & Greenwood Stand, again terracing and on the left the main all seater stand, which I will call the Alkie Stand after the advertising hoarding for Alkie Limited at the front…. The club mascot Bower Badger makes a brief appearance in a ground befitting a club higher up the non league pyramid.

Celtic are in blue and white, Sports in all red. Sports, kicking down the slope towards the Town End, start well in the bright sun. On 5 minutes a raking pass inside the full back lets in Andy Dales and he is wiped out by hesitant Celtic keeper Joe Slinn. Player manager John McGrath takes the penalty and sends Slinn the wrong way from the spot.

Rain and a biting wind take over, as do Celtic as they try to break down a resolute and well organised Sports back line. Liam Dickinson's deft sidefoot grazes the post and Matty Wolfenden's header drifts just wide.

Connor Hughes' long range strike is smothered weakly by Sports' keeper Lewis King, and Dickinson's close range rebound is deflected over. King then touches another Hughes shot on to the top of the bar. Sports are content to hold and counter attack, which they do to devastating effect just before the interval. A swift break down the right sees the ball played in to lone frontman Evan Garnett whose shot hits the inside of the post, but Dales mops up. Sports lead 2-0 at the break in a half where Celtic had all the chances.

The second period sees the Lockwood & Greenwood stand housing two spectators - and one steward. Celtic substitute Greg Wilkinson tries an audacious 40 yard lob which is tipped over by a backpedalling King, and Wolfenden's outrageous turn is not matched by a snatched shot wide.

Another Sports counter attack and another goal. Wonderful wing wizardry and pace takes Garnett down the flank and to the by line where he cuts the ball across, and Wilkinson slides in for an own goal. There is more Celtic pressure, more defensive blocks and King saves and an open goal miss from Dickinson.

Twenty minutes from the end Garnett gets in front of his man by the corner flag and dinks the ball to McGrath. He plays in Dales who slots home through Slinn's legs to make it 4-0 for the away side. King makes two more decent stops before a long ball causes confusion between Ross Killock and Slinn. Killock diverts the ball wide of Slinn, and Garnett walks the ball into an empty net for a richly deserved goal.

Oli Roberts hits the Sports' bar in injury time - and leaves the word 'surreal' on the home spectators' lips as they leave the ground. Celtic, having created more than a dozen good chances, beaten 5-0 by a side that had 4 attempts on goal.... ☺