Hit For Six - A Cavalier Approach To Defending...!

And so to the William Scholes Playing Fields, otherwise known as Scholes Park (named after a former Gatley resident and estate agent), for a Manchester League Division Two fixture between Cavaliers FC and Hindley Juniors FC.

Cavaliers, based in Gatley, are in their first season in Division Two of the Manchester League - and, as mentioned last week, it's been a torrid campaign. Defeats of 14-1 (Bolton United), 15-0 (Bolton Borough), 16-0 (AFC Monton) and 26-0 (Avenue FC) attracted press coverage and prompted a plea for new players. A largely new squad put up a valiant fight last Saturday at Hollinwood, losing 2-1 at the death - but it's still 11 games, 11 defeats, 8 goals for, 116 against.

The home venue is at the Athletics Track on Scholes Park.

Hindley has been the home of short lived clubs Hindley FC, 1891-92, Hindley Central, 1910-14, and Hindley Green Athletic, 1925-28, all in the Lancashire Combination.

Hindley Juniors FC, from the Harrison Playing Fields in Hindley, was established in 1991 and achieved Charter Standard Community Club status in 2003, joining the Manchester League Division Two in 2019. Two Covid stricken seasons saw 11 points from 12 games, 8th of 11, in 2020 and 5 points from 8 games, 9th of 11, in 2021. However this time seven wins and six defeats sees them sitting 7th of 15.

Storm Arwen has wreaked havoc with the street furniture, creating broken fences, uprooted and naked trees and a plethora of leaves and surface water. But still beyond Cheshire Clocks, Marvel Guitars, Barberian and House of Boba I reach Timperley village centre and the iconic Frank Sidebottom statue.

Thereafter it's Baguley, home of Wythenshawe Town, then Sharston, home of Wythenshawe Amateurs, before I arrive at Gatley - numberplates en route are PC13ANS (Pro Clean) and G14NT K (?). Honeybear Nursery, the Horse and Farrier and the old Tatton cinema - now a Co-op - precede a right turn, by the railway station, into Oakwood Avenue and then Beech Avenue, at the end of which is Scholes Park.

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

On a surface resembling hospital porridge Cavaliers are in all dark navy, so dark it clashes with the referee's black ('Ref can you put a bib on ?') - and, seven minutes in, after the first goal, he is persuaded to don a black tracksuit top with fluorescent lime patches to aid identification. Hindley are in all blue, with two players wearing a number 8 shirt - the referee finally notices after a quarter of an hour, forcing a shirt change.

A knifing wind, despite the bright sun, and freezing grass leads to an attendance of one (we know who you are !!), although a group of 4 subsequently congregate, huddling on the path outside the changing rooms. A raucous trio appear to be singing from inside the building, but anybody with any sense is watching the match from their car.... with the engine running - as I find out at the final whistle !!

The first period is totally dominated by Juniors, taking the lead on 7 minutes when a cross 'evades' an absent back line and is slotted home. An astonishing miss and some wayward shooting means the second only arrives on 34 minutes - a point blank header at the far post. The third Hindley goal comes a minute from half time, a messy corner scruffily converted and it's 3-0 at the interval - disjointed Cavaliers barely having charged forward.

The second half at least sees Cavaliers test Hindley's custodian, and captain, twice, but normal service is resumed on 64 with a stumbling, almost apologetic, finish for 4-0. Six minutes from time a driven cross results in an unfortunate own goal and then, with virtually the last kick, Juniors comfortably break through Cavaliers' shambolic back one for an easy finish to leave it 6-0 to the visitors at the death.

Wood You Believe It - Cavaliers Not Laughing... :-(

And so this afternoon to the Oasis Academy, Hollins Lane in Hollinwood for a Manchester League Division Two clash between Hollinwood and Cavaliers. The reverse fixture, earlier this season, saw Hollinwood triumph 8-0.

Hollinwood Football Club's history dates back to 1877, but the forebearer of the present football team started in the 1950s playing as a Sunday League side. However the club as it is known today moved to a Saturday team in 1962 in the Rochdale Alliance League.

In the mid 1960s the club transferred to the now defunct South East Lancashire League where Wood remained until it took a step up to the Manchester League in the early 1970s. The 2005/06 season saw Hollinwood gain promotion to the Manchester League Premier Division, and this was followed by winning the Manchester County FA Challenge Trophy the season after.

Relegated in 2011 after conceding 131 goals in 30 games, Wood were further demoted to Division Two in 2018, with a two point deduction seeing them one point short of safety. They have languished, largely at the bottom end, ever since but this time boast a mid table record of six wins and four losses.

The club's home originally was on School Road, but moved to Lime Lane in 1914, before decamping to Chapel Road Playing Fields on Grammar School Road nearly a century later. The club now play at Hollins Lane on the 3G surface at the Oasis Academy.

Cavaliers, from the Athletics Track at Scholes Park in Gatley, are a new club in their first season in Division Two of the Manchester League - and it's been a turbulent journey. Ten games, ten defeats, goals for 7, goals against 114 - including 14-1, 15-0, 16-0 and 26-0 defeats, the latter against Avenue FC, where the club fielded a side lacking a goalkeeper (clearly !!) and only one defender (also obviously !!) which attracted press coverage and prompted a plea for new players.

Past the now seemingly shuttered Zymologists Sourdough Bakery and then The Vintage Wireless Company takes me to the M60, with numberplates W8A UP (bagged !), BTO4STY - presumably a heating engineer - and, for your blocked drains, T22 URD..... The motorway bridges provide Extinction Rebellion Revolution graffiti, and then that Crystal Methodist pyramid, RedRock, the Ark chimney and Denton Rock.

Off at Junction 22 onto Hollins Road, beyond The Edge, Flabelos and Fluffy Pups Dog Grooming. The Oasis Academy secondary school is on the left, betwixt the old Devon and Heron mills, with the astroturf pitch for a (strange) 1430 kick off - and plenty of parking.

There's a separate entrance for the sports side, with a basketball court, and this leads to the changing rooms and at the top end a 'stand' with several assembly rows where 6 kids (out of a total attendance of 8 - the others a home player's mum and yours truly) congregate. However the youngsters prefer to play their own game on the adjoining tarmacked area and disappear as the wind and swirling rain arrive in the second half. The academic complex building is adjacent and opposite a splendid (1897) Victorian building occupied by Smart Kids.

At 2pm Cavaliers, in change maroon and white, are warming up, but the 2.30 kick off comes and goes with no sign of the home team and questions of 'have you got the kits ?' Eventually one Hollinwood player, in all blue, arrives, briefly, to limber up. The match finally gets underway at 1458.

In the first minute Cavaliers' Kevell Blake bursts through but fires wide - perhaps a sign that the away side's mostly new squad will put up more of a fight this time. However on 10 minutes a through ball leaves the Wood captain in space and he calmly lifts the ball over the onrushing keeper for a composed finish to put the home side one up.

But for the rest of the half Hollinwood are disappointing - disjointed and sloppy, mustering only long range efforts which are comfortably fielded. Cavaliers start to pose a threat and really should have equalised from a header at a corner.

So perhaps not surprising that on 40 minutes they win a clear penalty which Blake converts for parity. Bizarrely the referee blows for half time a minute later - a half time that lasts just over 3 minutes...

Nine minutes into the second period Cavaliers have a second goal controversially ruled out and then go close twice. Wood also have opportunities with the lone warmer up slicing wide and an open goal from a header at a corner directed hopelessly wide - the Cavaliers' defence seemingly playing a game of musical statues for which nobody has brought a boombox.

Increasingly desperate, Hollinwood force three great saves from the Cavaliers' stopper but it all changes in the 36th minute of the half. Wood's left winger, who is now playing as a centre forward, hopefully shoots from outside the area and the ball skids off the surface, through the keeper's hands, into the corner of the net.

Desperate defending at the other end, a breakaway that sees the winning goalscorer have a shot deflected onto the outside of the post, and the referee blows up on 41 minutes again at 1623 for a 2-1 home win. A strange afternoon...... maybe the floodlights were only paid for till half past four ??

Danns the Man - Levelling Up Comes With Penalties....

And so to November and the Moss Rose and a NWCFL Premier Division match between Macclesfield FC and Runcorn Town.

Macclesfield FC was founded on 13 October 2020 by local businessman Robert Smethurst as a phoenix club of the former Macclesfield Town FC, which was wound up on 16 September 2020.

The new club began their first competitive match in the North West Counties Football League in August 2021, with local legend Danny Whitaker appointed as manager and Robbie Savage taking up a Director of Football role. The Silkmen currently top the table with 39 points (12 wins and 3 draws) from 17 games. Coincidentally (or not !) BBC screened 'Making Macclesfield FC' last night, Bonfire Night, as the phoenix club rose from the ashes (and being shown on BBC1 on 13 November 2021).

The original Macclesfield FC was formed in 1874, playing at Moss Rose from 1891. Initially winning the Manchester League twice Macc became an inaugural member of the Cheshire County League at the start of the 1919/20 season, ultimately winning the league six times.

Renamed Macclesfield Town FC in 1946, the club was a founder member of the Northern Premier League in 1968, winning the league in its first two campaigns, as well as the FA Trophy in 1970, defeating Telford United 2-0 at Wembley. Macc were promoted to the Conference after winning their third Northern Premier League title in 1987.

Under manager Sammy McIlroy the Silkmen were champions of the Conference in 1993/94, but were not promoted as Moss Rose did not meet Football League criteria. A second FA Trophy success followed in 1996 with a 3-1 final victory over Northwich Victoria.

A second Conference title in 1996/97 saw promotion to the Football League, and second place in their first season elevated Macc to the old Second Division (now League One). Immediately relegated the Silkmen retained fourth tier status from 1999 to 2012 before being relegated to the Conference. Against all odds John Askey led the Silkmen back into the Football League as National League champions in 2017/18.

However amidst ongoing financial issues, with players regularly not being paid, a points deduction was activated on 11 August 2020. This meant Macc Town was relegated back to non league, the National League, and shortly after expelled.

The away team was established in 1967 as a founder member of the Runcorn Sunday League under the name of CKD, a works team from the 'D' Section at the local Castner Kellner plant. The club changed its name to Mond FC in 1970, representing the Mond Division of ICI which ran the Castner Kellner works.

In 1973 there was a move to Saturday football in the form of Division 5 of the Warrington & District League. At the end of their first season Mond amalgamated with struggling Division 1 side ICI Weston, becoming Mond Rangers FC and 'securing' a four division promotion.

1984 saw a move to the West Cheshire League and there was another change to the club's name in 2005/06 - this time to Runcorn Town FC. After winning Division 2 a year later 'Town' was elevated to the North West Counties at the start of the 2010/11 campaign following a third place finish.

Promotion to the Premier League was achieved at the first attempt, and Town finished runners up in their first season at the higher level. However after 4th and 5th place finishes there followed two disappointing seasons and 2016/17 began with a new manager and squad, with not one player being retained. Thereafter Town finished third twice, the 2017/18 season beginning with 11 straight victories. Seventh in 2019, then two abandoned Covid ventures and Town now sit 19th (of 21) with 15 points from 18 games this time.

A short jaunt to Navigation Road past Healthy Mutts Premium Treats then the Stubborn Mule Brewery at Radium Works, and the first numberplate for today - 1ORD, subsequently followed by W3NDY and Y3 O YE and then Vanoffee - a mobile coffee van. Onto the train, alongside a girl sporting that many tattoos it's practically a gallery, and then via Skelton Junction it's past the grounds of Wythenshawe Town, Wythenshawe Amateurs, Cheadle Heath Nomads and Stockport County.

A change then the stopper to Macclesfield, with the signal box at Cheadle Hulme sponsored by MyHo Inspired Coworking. Then at Poynton a railway wagon transformed into a flowerbox with signage Poynton Collieries Lord Vernon.

That brings us to Macclesfield and the iconic Arighi Bianchi store; eschewing the Old Millstone and The Treacle Tap we head for the A523 Leek Road. Appropriately the rain starts as we come across 2 chippies side by side, Phil Morton Sewing Machines shop, Swindells Fireplaces and fingerposts to Sutton Langley and Wincle.

Then the Moss Rose, aka leasing.com stadium, and the ticket office where the gentleman ahead of us is returning an unused ticket - we gratefully take advantage (it has been paid forward !) so admission is halved to £5. We are directed beyond a rainswept open terrace and the artificial pitch to bar twenty seven, opened specially today for all spectators, and pre match entertainment is the Manchester derby and a pint of Camden Hells.

The bar stands above a new all seater covered stand spanning the whole of the touchline, opposite the old main stand - which only borders the half way line. Minimal terracing and 2 of the 3 exterior catering outlets make up the rest of that side, and behind is the Leek Road, countryside and hills. In front plenty of advertising hoardings, the most notable being Savages Mussels and Explore Macedonia, and to my right a packed covered terrace with flags featuring 'SK11 Silks On Tour' and 'Why Does A Love Kiss Stay In My Memory' (the Buddy Holly reference is lost on me - sorry !)

Macc are in blue and white, Runcorn in change pink and black, with The Last Post respectfully honoured by a huge crowd of 3,420. An early chance sees Town's keeper Adam Reid fumble a straightforward shot but Aaron Dwyer's shot from a tight angle is just beyond the far post.

Thereafter Macc's veteran Neil Danns has two decent opportunities and Max Bardsley-Rowe passes up a good effort; at the opposite end Runcorn captain Richie Foulkes has their best attempt deflected away. The half, characterised by the Silkmen's lack of ambition (frequently two attackers surrounded by six defenders), ends goallless with a smart stop by Reid from Keilan Adams.

The second period begins messily, frustratingly and soporifically - after one dreadful offside decision, a Macc touch to a Runcorn forward, my neighbour exclaims 'No one knows what the hell they are doing !' In fact the only constant is the weather as the rain comes sheeting down, obliterating the hills and communication tower.

Then, in keeping with the game, a wayward Silkmen cross beyond the goal is nodded back and Danns heads home to give Macc the lead on 59 minutes. The expectation now is the floodgates will open and the Silkmen will ease home, but Danns skies their next chance before Luis Morrison-Derbyshire hits the side netting eight minutes on.

From the goal kick the ball is inadvertently flicked on by a Macc defender, and, amidst screams for offside, Craig Cairns nonchalantly chips Liam Lovell to equalise. A stunned crowd then sees Lovell superbly save a Tony Davies' header from a corner two minutes later.

With ten minutes to go Runcorn win a corner and the delivery sees a hand raised and deflecting the ball - impossible to see who or which side is the offendant, but from the players' body language it seems to be a Runcorn arm. The referee deems otherwise and awards a penalty, which Foulkes scores to leave Runcorn 2-1 up.

Amidst widespread anger and disgust the Silkmen fail to weave any magic, and with Runcorn using tactical injuries and time wasting, the crowd starts to drift away before the 90 (and six minutes of stoppage time) are up. Then two of my predictions come true - the referee will use any opportunity to level things up and the early leavers will miss a final goal. But even I could not predict that the lashing rain would cease with five minutes left.....

And so it proves - 95 minutes and sub Scott McGowan overruns the ball in the penalty box and is 'felled' for another dubious penalty. Danns scores with aplomb and it finishes 2-2.

Seadogs Tipped Over The Sedge.... !!

And so to the Clayborn Ground on Quaker Lane in Cleckheaton, on the border with Hightown in Liversedge - this afternoon an FA Trophy Third Round Qualifying clash between Liversedge FC and Scarborough Athletic.

Liversedge Football Club was founded in 1910 following the demise of the old Liversedge Rugby Club, starting in the Bradford League for three seasons and winning it in 1920/21. The Sedge was a founder member of the West Riding County Amateur League in 1922/23 and went on to be the most successful club in the league’s infancy, taking the league title three times in its first five seasons (1924, 1926 and 1927) and, later, again in 1965 and 1966.

The club was accepted into the Yorkshire League for 1972/73, and promotion to Yorkshire League Division One was achieved prior to the amalgamation of the Midland and Yorkshire Leagues to form the Northern Counties East League in 1982. 

 

Second in 2005/06 and League Cup winners, but promotion to the Northern Premier League was denied due to insufficient facilities - apparently no separate changing rooms for female referees !! Never relegated, Quaker Lane was flooded in October 2015 resulting in no home games for 4 months.

 

Following the last two seasons being curtailed dramatically by the coronavirus pandemic, Liversedge FC was promoted to the Northern Premier League Division One East due to finishing both the 2019/2020 and 2020/21 seasons in the top three of the table (based on a table using a Points Per Games calculation). They currently sit top with 11 wins and a draw from 12 league fixtures.

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 (it is now a Lidl supermarket....)

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, strangely, 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 Romanian manager Rudy Funk. The Seadogs were moved laterally to Division One North after one season.

 

In July 2017 the club, after ten years at Bridlington, finally returned to the town at the new Flamingo Land Stadium at Weaponness. After play off defeat in 2017 the Seadogs were promoted to the Premier Division as runners up the following year but, despite attendances having nearly trebled, have flattered to deceive ever since - this season six wins, three draws and six defeats.

 

As an extension of their youth team a nursery club Scarborough Town was established in 2008, initially competing in the Teesside League. The team moved up to the Wearside League and were champions in 2010 before folding in June 2013.

 

The original Scarborough FC was founded in 1879, moving to the Athletic Ground on Seamer Road in 1898 and staying there until dissolution. From the Midland League Scarborough became a founder member of the Northern Premier League in 1968, crowned as FA Trophy winners three times in 1973, 1976 and 1977 (beating Wigan Athletic, Stafford Rangers and Dagenham respectively) and runners up in 1975.

 

The Seadogs joined the Alliance Premier League on inception and were champions in 1987, becoming the first ever automatically promoted club to the Football League. 8 May 1999 saw the club relegated back to the Conference after goalkeeper Jimmy Glass scored for Carlisle deep into injury time to preserve their league status, and rendering the Seadogs' 1-1 home draw with Peterborough, already celebrated as survival, irrelevant. Thereafter in 2006 Scarborough were demoted due to 'financial instability'. The end was nigh....

After brinner, it's past Seven Heaven Kitchen, with numberplates today featuring B16 HOT, A B10WER and BR04DEN. Washway Road takes me to the M60 beyond the Bodhi Tree Buddhas at Utopia, Thai Massage at Po Thong and a Chinese takeaway at Panda Mama. Not forgetting the haunted Eyebrow Cottage....

 

Beyond Beyond (aka Chill Factore) on the M60 then the M62 and Saddleworth Moor, Scammonden and the M62 Summit - the highest motorway point in England. More lorry trailer advertising hoardings, predominantly Radiator Outlet but, yes, another CBD one. The weather changes from sunny spells to heavy rain, the thermometer ticks down from 14C to 9C and the motorway is closed on the opposite carriageway at Junction 23 due to a severe multivehicle accident.

 

Past Outlane Cricket Club next to the hard shoulder and off at J25 Hartshead Moor where the motorway closure has caused local gridlock so a hastily revised route is improvised.  Coal Pit Lane, then left at the Gray Ox to Windy Bank Lane onto the A649 and left at Casa Luli into Hightown Road. The ground is well hidden at the foot of Quaker Lane on the right, an inadequate unadopted alley with one car's width.

 

The return journey takes me back via Cleckheaton, past the local Wetherspoons - The Obediah Brooke, a 19th century local farmer - to rejoin at J26. Needless to say the car park is insufficient for a bumper crowd of 571 so I park on the adjoining housing estate, and it's £6 on the gate.

 

Clayborn features a clubhouse to the top West corner of the ground with a drinks terrace, covered seating at the North (The Stuart Silverwood Stand) and another bar - The Huntsman - and a small covered terracing stand to the West behind the goal - The Cowshed. The historic slope has now long since gone, but the North and West sides are elevated above the pitch, with the ground framed by new detached houses, trees and, to the South, a picturesque view of fields looking onto the outskirts of Mirfield.

Sedge are in white and blue stripes, Seadogs in red with white trim and it's a quiet start. That is until the 11th minute when the rhythm is fractured as a home free kick is only half cleared and Jack Stockdill shoots from the edge of the box; his shot hits the post and rolls in, and Liversedge lead 1-0.

For a brief period Sedge are dominant, incisive and threatening with Athletic spoiling the home attack with a series of fouls. However the Seadogs start to take advantage of Sedge's open defending, and on 20 minutes Nathan Cartman breaks through resulting in Michael Coulson's shot being cleared off the line.

Brilliant sunshine gives way to a brief flurry of drizzle and a rainbow as Scarborough start to dominate. Luca Colville's fizzer is going in but Kieran Weledji adds a final touch into the net and is deemed offside, and then home stopper Jon Stewart comes up with two super saves from Coulson and Ryan Watson, one with his hands and the other with his feet.

At the other end Nicky Walker cuts in from the right and strikes the near post, before teeing up Stockdill whose effort is blocked. A breathless first half ends with Sedge a goal to the good.

Five minutes after the break a challenge in the Liversedge box sees Coulson, not for the first time, tumble to the turf (with an alacrity suggesting 'a weed and feed addiction') and he is booked for simulation. Three minutes on and a Sedge cross sees capless, hapless Seadogs' keeper Michael Ingham blinded by the sun and in the ensuing shenanigans an attempted defensive clearance is struck straight at Paul Walker and into the net.

Paul Walker should have made it 3-0 shortly after but his air shot produces a defensive deflection that casually loops just wide. At the other end Stewart performs more heroics in keeping out efforts from Colville and Bradley Plant.

End to end now with Liversedge sitting off and soaking up Seadogs' pressure - the home side fashion a chance for Ben Atkinson, who creates space and shoots across Ingham but just beyond the far post. However their next opportunity on 74 minutes sees Joe Walton bully his opponent off the ball and in a two on one he squares for Atkinson, who composes himself and then fires into the corner for 3-0.

Then the piece de resistance: with 9 minutes to play the ball finds Nicky Walker's feet, he bamboozles the full back and shoots left footed from outside the box and the ball hits the inside of the opposite post before going in. Not so much a peach as a full tropical fruit salad....

Aside from a wholly unnecessary melee at the death that's it - a 4-0 'giantkilling' with the man of the match being the underdogs' goalkeeper. The 100+ disgruntled Scarborough fans, 'you're all just walking' are met with home cries of 'See you next season'... and on this showing that's highly likely !

 

Reds Alert - It's A Wrench But Lions Pay The Penalty ....

And so to another trip to Staffordshire, this time to Evans Park off Riverway in Stafford, for a NWCFL Division One South clash between Stafford Town and Stockport Town.

The home club was founded in 1976 by Gordon Evans as Stafford FC at Burton Manor Sports & Social Club and joined the Midland Combination Division Two for the 1977/78 season, winning the league at their second attempt.

The Reds changed their name to Stafford Town in 1981, became a nursery side for Stafford Rangers and left the Midland Combination the following year before entering local football in 1984. Town became a founder member of the Staffordshire Senior League, staying there until 1993 and playing two seasons under the banner of Stafford MSHD following a merger with Sunday League team MSHD.

Town joined the West Midlands Regional League for the 1993/94 season and immediately won Division One, earning promotion to the Premier Division. As champions of the Premier Division the Reds were promoted to the Midland Football Alliance but were relegated back to the West Midlands Regional Alliance Division One, getting back into the Premier Division in 2009/10 as runners up. After moving from Burton Manor to Stafford Cricket Club and finally Rowley Park, the club settled at Evans Park (named after Town's founder) on Riverway in March 2010 - 3G was added in 2016.

The club was transferred to the Midland Football Combination Premier Division at the beginning of the 2012/13 season but fell foul of a restructure of steps 5 and 6 in 2018 and was demoted to the Staffordshire Senior League Premier. The following campaign saw a top 5 finish, and a League Cup success beating Leek CSOB, which prompted a return to the Midland Football League Division One ahead of 2019/20.

After finishing rock bottom at abandonment of that season, and a disappointing curtailed COVID-19 2020/21, the club was moved sideways to the North West Counties Division One South, where they lie 9th with seven wins and seven defeats thus far.

Stockport Town, The Lions, and their brief seven year history featured in the last report from their convincing win at the Badgers of Brocton - since then they have played Alsager at home in the league (lost 1-3) and Cammell Laird away in the Cheshire Senior Cup, losing 2-1, and currently sit 14th of 20.

Before the M6 it's past Waterworx Custom Detailing, Gymfinity and Stamford Grange Luxury Retirement Apartments before the first registration plate H100VES - a Manor Elite Horsebox. Then Bowdon Pumpkins and the motorway, a combination of numberplates GE55 WOT, and yes, ridiculously, J5 8ACH, interspersed with a campervan emblazoned with Martha and the Vandwellers... Not forgetting those lorry skirt advertising hoardings - Borehole Solutions with its Geothermal Drilling, Nuie Heat & Plumb and Quadz... plus those advocating CBD !!

Off at Junction 14 to the A34 and Erwin Hymer Centre Travelworld and into Stafford beyond Anatolian Palace, Vivere and HMP Stafford, turning at Lammascote and bypassing Honeybuds Day Nursery. Then into Riversway Sports Complex with its interminable entrance road and vicious speed bumps, leaving the Schumacher karting track and Flip Out trampoline area behind me.

Finally to Frank Allen Way and the John Horvath Car Park, more than adequate for today's crowd of 64. Stafford Hockey & Cricket Club is to my left with the Brian Westhead Pavilion, and I pay £5 to sit in the Keith Mottershead Stand with its 204 seats.

Alongside is a cafe and the rest of the stadium consists of a walkway enclosed by immaculately trimmed hedges, the West Coast mainline thrumming in the background. The sun beats down as I notice there are no dugouts - the substitutes sit in the front few rows of the stand.

The Reds are in all red (hardly surprising !) with a flash of white, and can name only 4 subs, the Lions in all yellow.

Within the first minute Stafford's Kyle Ashman's deflected shot produces a decent penalty shout - the first of many contentious decisions. But thereafter it's all Lions, playing the tidier football and creating opportunities.

Wealth Dasilva-Olajide links up with Limpitshi Bongwanga ('Henry') whose effort is blocked, and the former also has a shot saved. Then Matt Grimshaw, all alone from a corner, sends a free header wide of an open goal and back towards the corner flag for an incredible miss.

Leandro Tanswell Vargas plays in Henry for another smart stop, and then Will Calligan has two efforts saved, one beaten out by Reds' keeper Samuel Amedu, the other a fine instinctive reaction save. In response Stafford can only muster two disappointing shots from Tom Duffy and Ashman as we reach the break goalless.

The match resumes its turmoil after the interval and ten minutes in there is a coming together between the Reds' Ryan Taylor and Lions' Jamie Wrench. Taylor stumbles in the box and the referee, as reliable as a political manifesto this afternoon, points to the penalty spot. Harry Bowers sends Josh Schofield the wrong way and Stafford lead 1-0.

Thereafter resilient home defending and more strange and wrong refereeing decisions frustrate Stockport - and exasperate everyone in the ground. The Lions are reduced to long shots, one of which from Calligan sails onto the cricket pitch 'He made such a hash of it that it should have come with a fried egg' !!

For the Reds Josh Oultram plays a one two and his effort just passes the post beyond a statuesque Schofield. Then the Lions get their chance; a dreadful pass from Amedu reaches Stockport sub Max Dickov in the penalty area and with the whole of the goal to aim at he smashes the ball against the underside of the bar.

On 79 minutes, and after yet more incredible officiating, Grimshaw is booked and sinbinned for dissent. Stafford fashion only one further opportunity, Nathan Scott's shot tipped over by Schofield, but the Reds hold on for a solitary goal victory.

Pride As Lions Roar - Badgers Up Sett !!!

And so to the southern outskirts of Stafford and the Silkmore Lane Sports Ground where Brocton host Stockport Town in a NWCFL Division One South clash. The home side is looking to get back on track after a 4-1 mauling by Stafford Town in El Staffico on Tuesday...

Brocton FC was formed in 1937 when Arthur Mayer, landlord of the Chetwynd Arms pub in Brocton village donated the original match ball and, more importantly, provided the field beside his pub as the club's pitch.

The Badgers (naturally !) competed in the Rugeley and District League (champions in 1947) and then the Cannock Chase League, winning six titles, the last in 1978.

Between 1979 and 1991, the club stepped up to the Staffordshire County League (South) before gaining a much prized place in the Staffordshire Senior League (at one point called the Midland League). This necessitated a move to Rowley Park Stadium in Stafford away from 'The Chet'.

In 2003 an application to the Midlands Football Combination was successful, the club having moved to Cannock Stadium the season before. After a year, however, Cannock Stadium was no longer available (it was shortly to be demolished and sold for housing) so a further move was made to the Coppice Colliery ground of Heath Hayes for a 4 year period by which time Brocton had secured a 30 year lease on a former sports field belonging to Staffordshire Police at Silkmore Lane in Stafford and had developed it to a standard suitable for the Midland Combination.

In 2013/14 Brocton, under manager John Berks, were the last winners of the Midland Combination League before this competition merged with the Midland Alliance to form the Midland League, with the Badgers promoted to membership of the Midland League Premier Division at step 5. But three years later relegation to Division 1 beckoned, and coronavirus scuppered the 2019/20 promotion bid with the season declared null and void.

In May 2021, following league restructuring, the Badgers were placed into the North West Counties Football League Division One South, where they currently sit 14th (of 19) with 13 points from 13 games...but one place above Stockport who are 3 points behind but with a game in hand.

Stockport Town FC, 'The Lions', 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... 2019/20 saw Town in 9th place when the season was abandoned, notwithstanding Robbie Savage stepping out of retirement to make a 10-minute cameo appearance against now defunct FC Oswestry Town.

And last season saw only seven league fixtures fulfilled; the highlight being an FA cup giant-killing at Skelmersdale.

Against a sky like tarmac, the M6 beckons with today's numberplates en route being V17NYL (a flooring company), MU51CKS (the world renowned Forsyths Music Shop) and the truly execrable DJ 53XEE... It's not long before I'm assaulted by lorry trailers next to the motorway - this time Three Wrens Gin, Orange County CBD, Halloween Spooktacular at Trentham and the Lady Boys of Bangkok... Sadly after a fatal lorry collision and bridge reconstruction THE PIES graffiti is no more but Jenga remains - obviously built better !!

Off at Junction 13, through Acton Gate and then onto the A449 to Rickerscote Road which leads into Silkmore Road - the ground entrance down an alley between two houses. £5 secures me entrance at the gate, from the car, and I drive in - with a crowd of 54 no problems of being hemmed in !

Inside, as the rain pelts down, the clubhouse is in the top left corner and next to me are two stands, one a covered terrace, the other a 100 seater. All four sides are tree lined with hedges in lovely surroundings set in a residential area with new builds mixed with older houses - a warm up area faces the stands, behind a hoarding advertising Liz Ashfield Andy Faulkner Stamp Dealers ... truly a first ☺

I sit next to the Badgers' laconic announcer, and directly behind the wife of Lions' manager, Matt Jansen. The Badgers, 'A Team Built On Community Spirit', are in green and white (rather than black and white !), Stockport in change all yellow, with mascot, manager's son, Freddie, and only able to name three academy teenagers and Jansen, who turns 44 this month, as substitutes.

Stockport create the early openings - Geffry Ehote, Max Greenhalgh and Kieran Kennedy pass up presentable chances and there is little from Brocton - Cam Osborne firing straight at Josh Schofield. Osborne is later substituted after breaking a finger in an innocuous challenge.

On 18 minutes Leandro Tanswell Vargas (Leo) threads the ball through a sea of legs, as the Lions appeal for a penalty, and Stockport lead. Four minutes later Limpitshi Bongwanga (Henry to his team mates !) doubles the advantage with a firm header. Aside from Jamie Walsh's deflected effort for the Lions, and ever worsening weather conditions, that's it to the break which sees Stockport two up.

The second half sees Brocton as disjointed as a plate of spaghetti, barely conjuring up a meaningless opportunity, let alone a meaningful one. After a bad miss from Henry, Leo cuts inside and his deflected shot goes over the Badgers' keeper Tony Allsopp on 69 for 3-0. Henry rifles home eight minutes later to make it four, whilst the Badgers' best effort, in the embers of the game, is a sharp shot blocked by one of their own men....

Just time for Lions' sub Thomas Beckett ('I thought he was dead') to waste two glorious chances - but credit to Allsopp who also produces a wonderful save from Walsh. It finishes 4-0 to Stockport, but it should have been double figures and hat tricks for Leo and Henry... The announcer proclaims the final score as 'Brocton 0 Stockport Town 2', is roundly ridiculed, corrects himself, and assures us he has actually been watching the game....

Panthers Pounce... But See Hope Of Three Points Go South....

And so to Jericho Lane in the Otterspool area of Aigburth in Liverpool for a North West Counties Division One North clash between South Liverpool and Atherton LR. It's one of a handful of NWCFL games going ahead on FA Vase day - South Liverpool receiving a walkover as AFC St Helens Town 'weren't accepted into the competition'....

South Liverpool date back from the 1890s - their first incarnation coming from a club changing its name from African Royal, moving to the Dingle, and eventually relocating to become New Brighton AFC. The Rakers were dissolved in 1983, having been Football League members from 1923 to 1951.

The second coming of The South came about in 1935 with the club playing at Holly Park in Garston, and enjoying trophy joy as Lancashire Combination champions in 1937, 1938 and 1939. The club made 10 applications to join the Football League, all unsuccessful, but won the Welsh Cup in 1939, beating Cardiff City 2-1....

The Cheshire County League followed in 1951 and subsequently the club played the first ever match under 'permanent' floodlights against a Nigeria XI (who were reputedly barefoot !) - a game covered by Kenneth Wolstenholme (until it was all over !) on the BBC, with a crowd of 13,007.

Then in 1967 Ferenc Puskas guested for the club in a fundraising friendly, attracting a crowd of 10,000 before South were invited to join the new Northern Premier League a year later. Jimmy Case and John Aldridge both cut their teeth at Holly Park before moving onto better things..

South struggled against wealthier, better supported clubs but in 1983/84 enjoyed their best post war season as they annexed the NPL League Cup, the Lancashire Challenge Trophy and the Liverpool Senior Cup. South’s success was not built upon and whilst two more Liverpool Senior Cup wins followed along with the NPL Presidents Cup, Holly Park was lost (burnt down) in 1989 and the limited company was liquidated in 1991. Holly Park was later converted to the impressive Liverpool South Parkway station.

South supporters had already formed a committee to take over the football club and in 1992 the phoenix club, a merger with Cheshire Lines FC, joined the Liverpool County Combination, groundsharing with Bootle rent free in exchange for Holly Park's floodlights - the clubs separating two years later. A nomadic existence was then South’s main issue but at the dawn of the Millennium they secured a home at the North Field, Jericho Lane, Otterspool. The County Combination joined forces with the I Zingari League in 2006 to form the Liverpool County Premier League.

South were consistent top half finishers in the Liverpool Combination / Liverpool County Premier League and won the George Mahon Cup at Goodison Park in May 2009. In 2011 South took the decision to switch to the West Cheshire League and immediately won two consecutive divisional titles to move up to the top division in 2014. The First Division was won in 2015, retained in 2016 when two cups were added, making it a triple winning season. Further title success was achieved in 2018.

2019 saw South’s home ground move 200 yards to the Jericho Hub complete with floodlights, cover and stand. After the cancellation of the 2019/20 season South stepped up and took the abbreviated league title in 2021, achieving promotion to the North West Counties League for 2021/22, thirty years after semi pro status had been lost. South currently sit 7th with 14 points from 9 games.

Atherton Laburnum Rovers FC was founded in 1956 as Laburnum Rovers, an Under 14s side to play in the Briarcroft Junior League. 'The Laburnums' were named after the Laburnum Playing Fields where they first played; it is not clear where their other nickname, 'The Panthers', emanates from.

The club expanded to senior level, starting in the Leigh & District League, and after moving to Hagfold Playing Fields, became members of the Bolton Combination in 1961. Ground facilities prevented promotion so a farmer's field was found at Greendale and, despite a footpath criss-crossing and duck ponds on either side, a football pitch was created. The move to the new ground occurred in June 1966, and after winning the Bolton Combination Division Two, the Laburnums were promoted and new changing rooms were erected - a major improvement on the old air raid shelters previously in use !

The Panthers joined the Cheshire County League in 1980, with the league stipulating the team changed its name to include that of the town - and Atherton Laburnum Rovers was born. The ground was renamed Crilly Park in honour of chairman Jack Crilly, who had died suddenly.

LR were also founder members of the North West Counties in 1982 and, as champions in 1993 and 1995, were promoted to the Unibond Northern Premier League, the latter a stay that lasted three seasons culminating in relegation after financial problems. Thereafter there was a flurry of managers - 6 in 2 years at one point - and the intervening years saw two relegations, one promotion and two Bolton Hospital Cup successes.

2015/16 represented the nadir for Rovers, finishing next to bottom in the lower division with only 4 wins and 18 points all season – fortunately there was no relegation. 20^th and 18^th both out of 22 in the last two full campaigns shows progress has been limited….. although 31 points from 29 games in 2019/20 was rather better. Only three fixtures were completed last time, and Rovers currently have 7 points from 8 games.

Past the Armenian Grill House ( est 2020 - but still to open: 'Coming Soon' ), Buff Nail & Beauty, with Ronaldo's second coming queues in the opposite direction, and glorious floral colour at Denzell Gardens sees pockets of drizzle. This in direct contrast to the previous two days when the weather has not been so much foul as utterly deranged, the sky gushing like a burst water pipe, with roads becoming swirling eddies and fields turning into lakes.

Another motorway bonanza - the M56, M6 (still struggling from the fatal crash at The PIES bridge) and the M62 - now fully reopened after 19 pigs escaped onto the carriageway this morning. Beyond the Dream sculpture and Sutton Manor Woods at St Helens, with curious bridge graffiti of 'End Speciesism' and 'Free Julian Assange'. En route are numberplates 4PPY, 111 OB (an ill old boy ?) and a very odd 380 EBO .....

The M62 finishes at junction 4, in a  failed attempt to reach Liverpool city centre; left at The Rocket and a circuitous (calamitous ??) route takes me via Sefton Park and Penny Lane... But I reach the outskirts of Aigburth, passing Hair We Are, Grilla - Meat On A Spit and Pose and Pout, before hitting Jericho Lane and the Community Football & Fitness Hub.

Opposite is the glorious vista of Otterspool Promenade, looking onto the River Mersey - at the hub plenty of parking, the requirement to obtain a QR code and £5 admission for a match that is tweeted with a crowd of 126, but curiously downgraded to 125 later. Who is that missing man ??

Inside a small seated stand behind the goal, only three sides open, a walkway and a covered area opposite the dugouts, and surrounded by small sized pitches. Another sullen sky spasmodically allowing sunshine greets the game, with South in white shirts, black shorts and red socks and the Laburnums in yellow and blue.

South Liverpool have 'not got out of bed' as Rovers conjure up 4 chances in the first five minutes - Justeace Holness going close twice. The home side rouse and Alex Woodcock forces a smart save from away custodian Josep Genestar aka 'Pepe'. Thereafter it's a half (and match) dominated by bewildering officiating, seemingly based on guesswork...

Keiron Dale, for the visitors, is injured and leaves the pitch to avoid playing South onside, then walks back on and collapses and is booked. Thereafter South's keeper, Oli Farebrother, strays outside his box, cleans out the onrushing forward and handles the ball - and also, mystifyingly, gets a yellow - the whole ground expecting a red.

'Ref, get a grip' and 'Book the linesman' are two of the more printable comments, as (particularly the away) supporters laugh at some of the decisions made. But with just over five minutes to go before the break Luke Nicholls scuffs home a volley that loops lazily into the far corner and Rovers lead. Woodcock immediately forces a fine save from Pepe, and Stephen Doyle's free kick is marginally wide - but Atherton lead 1-0 at the interval. 

The second period is all South, as Paul Bathgate slashes one over the bar (and into the drink !) and then a wayward back pass allows in Owen Hough but his shot is too close to Pepe, who pulls off a brilliant save from the follow up. No matter as on 54 minutes Louis Gorman is impeded at a free kick and a rather debatable penalty is given, which Stephen Doyle smashes into the roof of the net for parity.

The Laburnums, far from wilting, play themselves back into the game and the final half hour is end to end, as both sides look to nick the three points. South are defied by some quality defending and keeping, and a poor final ball too often, whilst Rovers, more on the break, come closer though Travis Boyles - Farebrother pulling off some fine saves. But ultimately it finishes as a 1-1 draw, but an entertaining one at that - complete with comedy officials ☺