Turbines Failure - Blues' Revival Seals The Deal...!

And so to the Deva Stadium on Bumpers Lane in Chester for a National League North clash between Chester FC, The Seals, and Peterborough Sports FC, The Turbines.

Chester FC was founded in 2010 following the liquidation of Chester City and was placed in the Northern Premier League Division One North, after a successful appeal against restarting in the North West Counties. 

Three successive promotions propelled the Seals to the Conference in 2013, but after a reprieve in their first season due to Hereford United's expulsion, relegation to the Conference North eventually followed in 2018, where they remain after play off defeats to Altrincham (3-2 away in Covid 2020) and Brackley (0-1 at home last season).

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

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

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

Under new owner Stephen Vaughan they returned to the Football League after winning the Conference title in 2004, but following relegation back to the Conference in 2009, the club courted controversy and hit financial difficulties. 

These financial problems led to the 2009/10 season starting with a 25 point deduction, after the Inland Revenue revoked a proposed CVA.

Amidst increasing disquiet among fans City Fans United was formed in October 2009, and a month later staged an on field protest about Chester City's ownership leading to the abandonment of a home game against Eastbourne Borough, which they were leading 3-2.... Chester City FC was eventually wound up on 10 March 2010, a day after applying to join the Welsh Premier League. Preparations to form a phoenix club had already begun.... leading to Chester FC, sitting 17th this term with 3 wins and two draws from ten games.

Peterborough Sports FC, from Lincoln Road in Peterborough, was established in 1908 as Brotherhoods Engineering Works, a factory side for the company founded by Peter Brotherhood in 1867, and famed for designing and manufacturing the first steam turbine engine in the world. 

They joined the Northants League (which later became the United Counties League) for the 1919–20 season, winning the league in their first season, but left at the end of the 1922–23 campaign. 

Sports then transferred to Division Three of the Peterborough & District League, winning the title in the 1925–26 season - the club was dormant in 1929–30 and 1932–33, and dropped into Division Three North. Despite only finishing eleventh in 1936–37, the Turbines were elevated to Division Two for the 1937–38 season. And after World War II the club was placed in Division One, but was relegated after finishing bottom of the table in 1948–49 and further relegations followed in 1953 and 1964, to Division Three South, albeit they bounced back with promotion in the following season.

Another relegation at the end of the 1973–74 season saw Brotherhoods Engineering Works demoted to Division Three South for a second time, but returned to Division Two after winning the title in 1975–76. Relegated again in 1979–80, the club was elevated to Division Two at the first attempt as Division Three South champions, and gained promotion to Division One at the end of the 1982–83 season after finishing third. The 1987–88 season saw the club finish as Division One runners-up and step up to the Premier Division.

In 1999 the club changed its name to Bearings Direct FC, and then again in 2001 to Peterborough Sports. In 2006–07 they won the Premier Division, and in 2012–13 was promoted to Division One of the United Counties League after finishing third.

In 2016 Peterborough Sports were Division One champions, earning promotion to the Premier Division. The following season saw them win the league with 112 points, and moved on up to Division One South of the Northern Premier League.

In 2018 the club was transferred laterally to Division One Central of the Southern League and that season the Turbines finished as champions, engineering a move up to the Premier Division Central. They finished runners-up in 2022, qualifying for the promotion play-offs, and after beating Alvechurch in the semi-finals, the club defeated Coalville Town 2–0 in the final to rise to the National League North, finishing 14th in their inaugural campaign. 

However they are 23rd this time around with two wins, two draws and six defeats thus far and were dumped out of the FA Cup by lower league Needham Market on Tuesday - the Seals go to Hartlepool in the fourth qualifying round next weekend.

Past the Chapel Street war figurines at Altrincham, the boarded up Cheshire Midland in Hale, into the mid-Cheshire countryside on an unseasonably warm Saturday October afternoon. Flooded fields at Ashley, then Knutsford - home of Tatton Park - the Drill Field, former home of Northwich Victoria, now housing, and Delamere, 'The Forest Station', before we pull into Chester.

Then after K9 to 5 (dog grooming) and the Blue Coat Hospital it's on to the City Walls. Morgan's Mount, Pemberton's Parlour, the Water Tower, Water Gate and the racecourse - no races today with the last meet next weekend. Onwards to Chester Castle, the River Dee, the Roman Gardens, Newgate, the Eastgate Clock, Chester Cathedral and the Amphitheatre before I walk towards the football ground.

Eschewing The Cop Skatepark and Audacious Church, I skirt various retail and business parks to arrive on Bumpers Lane and Chester FC. Three all seater stands - the Gary Talbot (Main) Stand to my left, the Hipkiss Stand at the far end and the Swettenhams Chemists Community Stand on the right. I am stood on the Harry McNally North Terrace - £17 in, compared to £20 to sit, although there are modest reductions of £1 and £2 respectively if you book online. The crowd is 2,250 - including just 13 away supporters ☺

The Seals are in blue and black whilst the Turbines are in change fluorescent yellow and green. Chester start the stronger with Declan Weeks having a shot tipped over by Sports' keeper Peter Crook.

So it's a surprise on 18 minutes when full back Matt Tootle makes space on the left touchline and delivers a pinpoint cross for veteran player/ co-manager Michael Gash to head home and put Peterborough in front. That's doubled ten minutes later when Connor Johnson's pass is superbly diverted by Gash into the path of Josh McCammon who sweeps the ball beyond keeper Wyll Stanway - a beautifully engineered goal ☺

An almost immediate response is delivered five minutes later as a Tom Sparrow cross is despatched by Charlie Caton to halve the deficit. Caton then has two shots well blocked by Crook and captain George Glendon sees his deflected shot strike the top of the crossbar. Nonetheless the Turbines lead 2-1 at the break.

That all changes seven minutes into the second period as Caton is again thwarted by Crook but half time substitute Adam Thomas tucks away the rebound. Wave after wave of Seals' pressure sees Weeks' cross palmed away and on 71 minutes there are two goal line clearances within 30 seconds from Kieran Coates and Harrison Burke efforts.

A rare Sports foray results in Hugh Alban-Jones' strike defied by Stanway's outstretched boot, but normal service is soon resumed.... With six minutes to go Caton (twice) and Thomas are denied in an extraordinary goalmouth melee but the comeback is completed on 87 minutes as Reece Daly fires home a splendid 25 yarder into the top left corner to see Chester triumph 3-2.

Open Mikes Earn Their Stripes.... !!

And so to Ditton, on the outskirts of Widnes, and St Michaels Catholic Primary School, for a Cheshire League Division One clash between St Michaels DH FC and FC St Helens Reserves.

The Mikes, motto 'Fortis et Vici' (strong and I conquered), were established in 1966 - the DH is an abbreviated version of Ditton Hall, where a banished Jesuit community from Germany settled. Playing local league football, the Saints were Warrington and District Premier League champions in 2021/22.

Stepping up to the Cheshire League Division Two St Michaels finished runners up in their inaugural season and were promoted to Division One. 

This season they have started with three victories, away at Vulcan (2-1) and at home to the not so mighty Atoms of Daten (4-0) and Bollington (3-0), a disappointing 3-3 home draw to Sandbach Reserves, having been three up at the break, and a right thumping at Golborne Sports (1-6), followed by last weekend's 3-1 reverse at Styal. 

The Saints currently sit 11th of 16, but with games in hand.

FC St Helens, 'The Stripes', was established in 2014 in the heart of the town, originally as St Helens Town's reserve side. Their motto is 'Simul Nos Firmiories' - Together We Are Strong...

The club started in the West Cheshire League, before moving to the Cheshire League Division Two in 2015 and achieving promotions to Division One in 2016 and the Premier in 2018. 

As champions in 2021/22 The Stripes were promoted to the NWCFL Division One North, replacing, ironically, former FA Vase winners St Helens Town, who finished bottom and were relegated. They finished third in their first NWCFL season.

The Reserves side joined the Cheshire League Reserve 2 Division and achieved promotion to Reserve League 1 in 2016/17. 

As runners up in 2022 the Stripes' Reserves were elevated to Division Two and a 4th place finish last time out was sufficient to see a further move up the league to Division One - four wins, a draw and two defeats, and an abandonment (due to alleged racial abuse) thus far this season leaves them fifth - but having played more games than their rivals.

But not to St Michaels Primary School - the pitch 'touch and go' after the incessant rain - and a late switch of grounds to Windleshaw Sports Club in St Helens. A strange journey featuring a horse drawn hearse, with plenty of 'manure' on the road afterwards, and a lime green tuk tuk parked across a driveway in Altrincham. 

Numberplates LM04 YUE, a limousine, LU51LLE and PU11EYY feature today, as do roadworks on Dunham Road and dreadful driving - exiting the retail park apparently enables you to use both forward lanes, and a roadhog trying to overtake in single file traffic at a red light. Plus a van with trailer advertising Hot Products Cock Oil....

Into Warrington and out on the A57 , the Pink Eye building, Crosfields ARLFC, Snoutwood Trotters (!), then Trigger Pond, Christmas Tree Farm and Bargyloo Farm.

That brings me to Bold Heath, Thatto Heath, Clock Face - its rugby league side Clock Face Miners ☺ Then Sherdley Manor, the Dream sculpture up in the hills, Arthur Fleischmann's 'The Miner' at Cannington roundabout, and via The Glass Horse to central St Helens. To Denton's Green and Tennis Street leads to Windleshaw Sports Club. There is ample parking for a crowd of 21.

So not....

Windleshaw Sports Club ground is tree lined, a storage area next to the bar and outside seating and a very plush rest home adjacent with first floor balcony. At the top end is a playing field and a minuscule covered area, with a new 50 seat stand on the opposite side now operational.

So instead...

St Michaels are in change grey and black, sponsored by G Sinclair Electrical Services, and FC St Helens Reserves, sponsored by TD Construction Testing, are in red and white stripes. What follows in the autumnal sunshine is a very open and entertaining match.

After St Michaels have a goal ruled out on 7 minutes, they take the lead just before the quarter hour - a farcical own goal resulting from a back pass, a bobble on the penalty area mud bath and an air shot from the keeper. No matter as the Stripes equalise four minutes later from a defensive error with an almost apologetic scuffed finish that creeps inside the post - the same post they hit on 21 from a lob.

Thereafter a slight lull until injury time when St Helens have an effort palmed over and then the Mikes retake the lead, a deflected cross tucked away. St Michaels then spurn three glorious chances in the remainder of stoppage time, but still lead 2-1 at the interval.

The second period is breathless, with the action started 10 minutes in when the Stripes' keeper, who is not having the greatest of games, drops a straightforward cross, leading to a tap in. 70 seconds later it's 4-1 to the Mikes, a fine team move ending with the ball calmly slotted home.

But St Helens fight back and on 61 score from a cushioned header across the Mikes' custodian. However it's 5-2 to the away side three minutes on; a wonderful centre forward's goal, twisting and turning, beating three defenders before rolling the ball beyond the hapless netman.

There are no more goals, despite the home goalkeeper being substituted with 20 minutes to play - replaced between the sticks by the Stripes' captain. Mikes do hit the frame of the goal and so it finishes 5-2 to the visitors - their scorers Ryan Hunter with two, Ben Mahoney, Matt Williamson and that comedic own goal..... and St Michaels move up to fifth, overtaking FC St Helens Reserves on goal difference.

Red Card Sees Visitors' Hopes Go South - Rampant Rovers Zak Attack !!

And so to Keighley for a North West Counties Division One North match between Route One Rovers and South Liverpool.

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

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

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

Rovers have started with a 5-2 home victory over Ashton Town, coming from two goals down, and then a 3-0 win at a reincarnated Shelley. But defeats at Ashton Athletic (2-3) and at home to Ilkley - 3-4, after conceding two injury time goals, have been followed by a 1-0 win at Daisy Hill and Monday's remarkable 4-3 home triumph over Holker Old Boys, after being 3-1 down with 5 minutes to go, leaving Rovers fourth - 30 goals in their first six NWCFL games !!

South Liverpool, now based in Aigburth, 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 in 1921. 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 their 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 in 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 and 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 finished 13th of 19 in their first season at the higher level, and 10th of 18 last term. An opening day defeat this time at Bacup has been followed by three victories, an abandonment at Darwen, due to a sexist comment directed at a young female assistant referee, now under FA investigation, and a 2-1 home win against Daisy Hill on Wednesday - that means South Liverpool currently sit one place below Rovers.

So after the Navigation - its portico erected in 1780 and reconstructed in 1937 - it's a drizzly start turning to a pleasant sunny summer's day that brings me onto Manchester Road and I come across numberplates 2YYY, W4XCD and M11EYE plus a van advertising Dog Meats Bone ☺

Beyond the Sale Postal & Telegraph Office dating back to 1911, Style Junky and Soul Star Holistics to the M60, and Beyond (the latest incarnation of Chill Factore !) and then the M66, into Hyndburn, 'Home of Accrington Pals', and onto the M65 and signs for Shuttlewoof Hall. The end of the motorway brings me to Vivary Way and Colne. As ever the traffic is a nightmare.....

Having finally negotiated my way through I come across the Morris Dancers pub (already offering Christmas Day lunch at £49.99...), Hedge Hogg, the Hartley Homes, Wycoller Country Park (no cars allowed in the village of Wycoller) and The Atom Panopticon. Then the sprawling village of Cowling, past the football club (no game today - they start at Skipton in a fortnight), before arriving at the sign for Glusburn & Cross Hills (coming t'other way the sign has the names reversed), home of Funky Monkey, The Old White Bear and dominated by the Cirteq factory, part of the Titgemeyer Group. There follows a lengthy wait at Kildwick Level Crossing....

Past Zolsha and right at The Trawlerman onto the A629, Silsden to the left and Steeton to the right, The Doris Wells Memorial Field still visible from the road. Then left into the outskirts of Keighley with Cougar Park behind the Texaco garage immediately on the left and the Marley Stadium further down. I park next to a scrap metal merchants on a rundown, litter strewn side street and wend my way into Keighley, following a different route via Cliffe Castle and Ghosijah Masjid, 'Verily Our Time Is Appointed', - the impressive Markazi Jamia Masjid mosque is in the town centre. Then The Livery Rooms (Wetherspoons), Sham Syrian Shawarma, a Persian takeaway, The Kindred Bizzare, the Boltmakers Arms, Taylors on the Green and the market, featuring Arctic Storm Clothing. 

Onto Chic n Tique, Grind n Groove records and the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway - 75078 again on duty for the £14 return 25 minute journey to Oxenhope. My final destination, after Pineoakio Furniture, is the Keighley Bus Museum - in the middle of nowhere on the River Technology Park.

Eventually to the Marley Activities & Coaching Centre where Route One are in grey and white, South in red and black. £5 in, a crowd of 105 including a healthy away contingent, some of whom have travelled on the team bus, and inside at the top end are two shelters - the Varley Boilers covered stand, the other one unsponsored, and nearside the Keighley Kia & Mazda seated stand in front of the clubhouse - which is closed.....

The ground is sited on an industrial estate, the A650 at one end, picturesque views of the countryside, the National Trust's East Riddlesden rising into the hills on my left and surrounded by council football pitches - local games yet to commence.

Route One have an early chance and South respond with a fizzer over the bar from a corner. But on 7 minutes it really is Route One as a long ball produces a flicked header on, and Mohammed Husnain outmuscles his marker and shoots across South's keeper Lucas Allan to put Rovers ahead. 

James Cottrell has South's best chance with a volley on 37 minutes and Rovers hit the post in injury time. Two good footballing sides, cancelling each other out, and guilty of overplaying and imperfect passing leaves it 1-0 to the hosts at the break.

In the second half South start better with sub Lewis Williams proving to be a lively threat. But the game pivots in the 57th minute as the speedy Husnain again outstrips his marker, and in a tangle of legs, is brought down whilst bearing through on goal. Cottrell is deemed to be last man and is red carded to home megaphone taunts of 'Early showers, early showers'.....

That megaphone is back in use, along with an air raid siren and a drummer, five minutes later as a one two beyond a static defence leaves Zak Khan to double the lead through Allan's legs. Rovers then hit the post from a deflected shot midway through the half.

The match finishes with two further goals; with four minutes to go Khan's first effort is saved by Allan, but the ball is recycled and Khan rams it home. Then at the start of injury time Khan has his hat trick, bursting forward and then a beautiful curling finish from 25 yards into the bottom right corner leaves Route One triumphant at 4-0.

Town Get The Lowe Down - Shakers Benefit From 'Home' Advantage !!!!

And so to the FA Cup Extra Preliminary Road and a tie between Uttoxeter Town FC against Bury FC. But not to the Oldfields Sports and Social Club in Uttoxeter - and its charming three dugouts with cushioned benches carrying the names of some family members of 'Deano'. Instead the FA have switched the match to Gigg Lane in Bury for 'safety reasons'.

Uttoxeter Town FC was formed in 1972 when they split from Uttoxeter Amateurs after a disagreement on the club's location. Town joined the North Premier Division of the Staffordshire County League, but in the late 1970s the club switched to Sunday league football.

About 30 years later the club reverted back to Saturday football and rejoined the Staffordshire County Senior League. The 2012–13 season saw Uttoxeter win Division One of the league. For the 2014–15 season Town became one of the founding members of the Midland Football League, but only for one term, dropping back to the Staffordshire League for financial reasons.

The club entered the FA Vase in 2015 for the first time, progressing to the third round before being eliminated by Coleshill Town - they were beaten by the same side in the second round the following year. The prize money they earned from their Vase exploits enabled them to overcome their financial issues and they rejoined Division One of the Midland League in 2016.

In 2021 Uttoxeter gained promotion to the Premier Division based on their results in the Covid abandoned 2019/20 and 2020/21 seasons. However last time finishing 19th of 20 seemed to prompt demotion and a lateral move to the North West Counties Division One South, but after a failed appeal the club was reprieved of relegation and a move to the NWCFL as Winsford United took voluntary relegation. Their Midland Football League Premier campaign commences next Saturday at home to Darlaston Town.

The 'away' side, Bury FC, was covered, comprehensively, in depth last week. Since the 5-1 walloping of Glossop North End on the opening day, the Shakers won 3-1 at Colne on Tuesday - Colne another club saved by their supporters after turbulent times and reckless previous ownership. Sound familiar ?

Amidst the remnants of Storm Antoni en route a Chapter 8 Traffic Managment van (yes really !!), another vehicle advertising 'For Dogs Sake', and numberplates R4CYS, ROM4N and JP11LOW. Then to Metrosh*t, crowded by fans going to the friendly between Manchester United and Lens (the Reds winning 3-1 but Onana chipped from the half way line) and two cricket Hundreds matches - both subsequently abandoned.

Past a barge titled 'It'll Do', Watch House Cruising Club and graffiti announcing 'No Problemo' brings me to the city centre. The Anthologist, The Alchemist, Nudo Sushi Box and then the Robert Owen statue - founder of the Co-operative movement.

An inquisitive fox at Abraham Moss, Mezzepotamia restaurant at Besses o' th' Barn, Cocklestorm and to Bury. Bury is the birthplace of Robert Peel, twice Prime Minister and founder of the Metropolitan Police Service - and commemorated by a statue and a freehouse.... Sadly the Shakers' mascot, Peeler, is off duty today....

The town centre provides Compendium Escape Rooms, Cup o' Rosie, The Big Fandango, Jacket Inn, Willy's Underwear and Bricks & Motor Insurance. I pay another visit to the East Lancs Railway - 2 steam engines in residence, one dressed up as Thomas the Tank Engine, and outside is the Bury Suicide Remembrance Stone.

Down past Bury Athletic Club to Gigg Lane; so not to Oldfields....

Instead to the Shakers......

£10 in again and this time I'm in the Les Hart (South) Stand, the Neville Neville (North) Stand is also partially open, but both The Len Johnrose (Manchester Road) and Arthur Ashworth (Cemetery End) stands are closed. Town are in yellow and blue, sponsored by Peter J Douglas, and Bury in all white with a crowd of 2,903 against a backdrop of grey sky and drizzle. There is a solitary Uttoxeter Town flag, proudly waved....

The much changed Shakers struggle to find their rhythm, and minnows Uttoxeter take the lead on 11 minutes with Mikey Conlon's deflected shot looping over Jack Atkinson. Ben Price has an opportunity to make it two but plants his header over the bar, whilst Bury's Connor Comber has a shot that rebounds off the chest of Town keeper Charlie Wood.

The 23rd minute changes the course of the game and is a tale of both number 9s. Uttoxeter's Paul Hughes has his effort saved and the counterattack sees a superb crossfield ball, expertly taken in his stride by Benito Lowe, and his first touch finish levels the match up.

Thereafter Abs Obasoto and Louis Gilboy, twice, go close and Comber shoots over the bar. But the Shakers lead 2-1 at the break, with right back Sean Higgins heading down a cross into the roof of the net.

The interval sees the heavens open and no change as Bury dominate. Wood makes a phenomenal save from Comber's header and Obasoto shoots wildly over the bar. At the other end Hughes has a header saved, before Wood comes up with another stunning stop from Comber's drive.

Eventually the pressure tells.... On 72 minutes Lowe outmuscles his marker on the by line and smashes the ball into opposite corner from an acute angle to make it 3-1. Uttoxeter then benefit from the openness of the tie - Eric Graves' shot sees a good block from Atkinson, and Conlon, from distance, fires narrowly over.

But the Shakers finish strongly with Gilboy's effort saved by Wood at the near post. Then in the 94th minute left back Gaz Peet is fouled in the box and Comber finally has his goal, scoring from the spot to finish matters at 4-1 to the 'away' side.

Losers and Shakers - Hillmen Buryed !!!

And so to Gigg Lane in Bury for a North West Counties Football League Premier Division match between Bury FC and Glossop North End AFC, replicating a 1900 Division One fixture, on the opening day of this season - July 29 2023.

Bury AFC was formed in 2019 following the expulsion of Bury FC from the English Football League. Created and managed entirely by volunteers with the slogan "By the fans, for the fans" the club was owned by a Community Benefit Society, the Shakers Community Trust, and the Board elected by its members. The Shakers joined the NWCFL in 2020, playing at the Neuven Stadium in Radcliffe, and led the table with 5 wins, one draw and one defeat before the season was written off due to Covid.

The following season Bury AFC was crowned as champions with 89 points from 36 matches - with only one defeat - and promoted to the Premier Division for the 2022/23 campaign. Last term a further promotion bid, not helped by fixture congestion and relocating late season home fixtures to Seel Park in Mossley, came off the rails at the tail end with the Shakers finishing fourth.

The original Bury FC was established and headquartered at Gigg Lane from 1885 from land bequeathed by the Earl of Derby. The Shakers (so named after a pep talk for the 1892 Lancashire Cup Final against Everton - 'shake them up !') were founder members of the Lancashire League in 1889, and were crowned champions in the 1890–91 and 1891–92 seasons, before being elected to The Football League in 1894.

Bury were champions of the Second Division in 1894–95 and won their test match (an ancient version of the play offs ?) to secure promotion to the First Division. They remained in the top flight for 17 seasons, winning the FA Cup in 1900 with a 4–0 victory over Southampton and again in 1903 with a 6–0 win over Derby County, still a record equalling victory. After relegation to the Second Division at the end of the 1911–12 season, Bury secured promotion in 1923–24, before losing their top-flight status in 1928–29, never to return.

After relegation to the third tier in 1957 the club was promoted in 1961 but then spiralled downwards to the Fourth Division. Stan Ternent took them back up to the Second Division, with successive promotions in 1996 and 1997 for a brief two season foray.

Thereafter, fluctuating between Leagues One and Two, alleged gross overspending by previous owner Stewart Day and then 'incompetence' from new incumbent Steve Dale saw the Shakers placed into administration in 2019 and expulsion from the league. Bury FC existed as a dormant shell with the phoenix AFC club splitting local opinion.

In February 2022 Bury fans' group Est 1885 purchased the ground at Gigg Lane and the trading name and assets of Bury FC. October 2022 saw a vote regarding the potential amalgamation of the two clubs fail to meet the 66% threshold. However in May 2023 a second poll from both societies approved the merger, and the club has now adopted the Bury FC name following FA approval in June and has reverted to playing home games at Gigg Lane for this coming season.

And so to Gigg Lane in Bury for a North West Counties Football League Premier Division match between Bury FC and Glossop North End AFC, replicating a 1900 Division One fixture, on the opening day of this season - July 29 2023.

Bury AFC was formed in 2019 following the expulsion of Bury FC from the English Football League. Created and managed entirely by volunteers with the slogan "By the fans, for the fans" the club was owned by a Community Benefit Society, the Shakers Community Trust, and the Board elected by its members. The Shakers joined the NWCFL in 2020, playing at the Neuven Stadium in Radcliffe, and led the table with 5 wins, one draw and one defeat before the season was written off due to Covid.

The following season Bury AFC was crowned as champions with 89 points from 36 matches - with only one defeat - and promoted to the Premier Division for the 2022/23 campaign. Last term a further promotion bid, not helped by fixture congestion and relocating late season home fixtures to Seel Park in Mossley, came off the rails at the tail end with the Shakers finishing fourth.

The original Bury FC was established and headquartered at Gigg Lane from 1885 from land bequeathed by the Earl of Derby. The Shakers (so named after a pep talk for the 1892 Lancashire Cup Final against Everton - 'shake them up !') were founder members of the Lancashire League in 1889, and were crowned champions in the 1890–91 and 1891–92 seasons, before being elected to The Football League in 1894.

Bury were champions of the Second Division in 1894–95 and won their test match (an ancient version of the play offs ?) to secure promotion to the First Division. They remained in the top flight for 17 seasons, winning the FA Cup in 1900 with a 4–0 victory over Southampton and again in 1903 with a 6–0 win over Derby County, still a record equalling victory. After relegation to the Second Division at the end of the 1911–12 season, Bury secured promotion in 1923–24, before losing their top-flight status in 1928–29, never to return.

After relegation to the third tier in 1957 the club was promoted in 1961 but then spiralled downwards to the Fourth Division. Stan Ternent took them back up to the Second Division, with successive promotions in 1996 and 1997 for a brief two season foray.

Thereafter, fluctuating between Leagues One and Two, alleged gross overspending by previous owner Stewart Day and then 'incompetence' from new incumbent Steve Dale saw the Shakers placed into administration in 2019 and expulsion from the league. Bury FC existed as a dormant shell with the phoenix AFC club splitting local opinion.

In February 2022 Bury fans' group Est 1885 purchased the ground at Gigg Lane and the trading name and assets of Bury FC. October 2022 saw a vote regarding the potential amalgamation of the two clubs fail to meet the 66% threshold. However in May 2023 a second poll from both societies approved the merger, and the club has now adopted the Bury FC name following FA approval in June and has reverted to playing home games at Gigg Lane for this coming season.

And so to Gigg Lane in Bury for a North West Counties Football League Premier Division match between Bury FC and Glossop North End AFC, replicating a 1900 Division One fixture, on the opening day of this season - July 29 2023.

Bury AFC was formed in 2019 following the expulsion of Bury FC from the English Football League. Created and managed entirely by volunteers with the slogan "By the fans, for the fans" the club was owned by a Community Benefit Society, the Shakers Community Trust, and the Board elected by its members. The Shakers joined the NWCFL in 2020, playing at the Neuven Stadium in Radcliffe, and led the table with 5 wins, one draw and one defeat before the season was written off due to Covid.

The following season Bury AFC was crowned as champions with 89 points from 36 matches - with only one defeat - and promoted to the Premier Division for the 2022/23 campaign. Last term a further promotion bid, not helped by fixture congestion and relocating late season home fixtures to Seel Park in Mossley, came off the rails at the tail end with the Shakers finishing fourth.

The original Bury FC was established and headquartered at Gigg Lane from 1885 from land bequeathed by the Earl of Derby. The Shakers (so named after a pep talk for the 1892 Lancashire Cup Final against Everton - 'shake them up !') were founder members of the Lancashire League in 1889, and were crowned champions in the 1890–91 and 1891–92 seasons, before being elected to The Football League in 1894.

Bury were champions of the Second Division in 1894–95 and won their test match (an ancient version of the play offs ?) to secure promotion to the First Division. They remained in the top flight for 17 seasons, winning the FA Cup in 1900 with a 4–0 victory over Southampton and again in 1903 with a 6–0 win over Derby County, still a record equalling victory. After relegation to the Second Division at the end of the 1911–12 season, Bury secured promotion in 1923–24, before losing their top-flight status in 1928–29, never to return.

After relegation to the third tier in 1957 the club was promoted in 1961 but then spiralled downwards to the Fourth Division. Stan Ternent took them back up to the Second Division, with successive promotions in 1996 and 1997 for a brief two season foray.

Thereafter, fluctuating between Leagues One and Two, alleged gross overspending by previous owner Stewart Day and then 'incompetence' from new incumbent Steve Dale saw the Shakers placed into administration in 2019 and expulsion from the league. Bury FC existed as a dormant shell with the phoenix AFC club splitting local opinion.

In February 2022 Bury fans' group Est 1885 purchased the ground at Gigg Lane and the trading name and assets of Bury FC. October 2022 saw a vote regarding the potential amalgamation of the two clubs fail to meet the 66% threshold. However in May 2023 a second poll from both societies approved the merger, and the club has now adopted the Bury FC name following FA approval in June and has reverted to playing home games at Gigg Lane for this coming season.

 

Glossop North End AFC was founded in 1886, joining the North Cheshire League in 1890 before moving to the Combination in 1894 and turning professional. The Hillmen then played in the Midland League for two seasons before being elected to the Second Division of the Football League in 1898.

 

In their inaugural League season GNE finished as runners up to Manchester City and earnt promotion to the First Division. In so doing Glossop became the smallest town to support a Football League club, although this has now been supplanted by Rushden & Diamonds and Fleetwood Town. However Glossop remains the smallest town whose team has played in the English top flight.

 

The club changed name to Glossop AFC to avoid any confusion with Preston North End, but their brief stay in the First Division lasted only the one season. It was followed by 15 seasons in the Second Division as perennial strugglers with the side finishing bottom and failing to gain re-election before the War intervened.

 

Glossop AFC was reformed towards the end of the War by Oswald Partington, spending one season in the Lancashire Combination then joining the Manchester League. The Peakites won the Manchester League in 1927/28 and moved to their current ground in Surrey Street in 1955 largely due to the beneficence of Club President Arnold Goldthorpe - and 68 years later the stadium is still named in his honour.

 

The club became a founder member of the Cheshire County League for the 1978/79 campaign, and, after promotion to Division 1 in 1981, was a founding member of the North West Counties Football League in 1982. The team almost folded in 1990 after the chairman sold the ground to the local council and left the club with large debts.

 

Two years later the Hillmen were promoted to Division One and reinstated the suffix to become Glossop North End once more. Some cup success arrived in the intervening years, but GNE had to battle to avoid relegation for several seasons.

 

In the 2008/09 season they reached the final of the FA Vase where they lost 2-0 to Whitley Bay at Wembley Stadium. But better was to come, with the 2014/15 season the most successful in the club's history - winning the North West Counties Premier to gain promotion to the Northern Premier League, and again reaching the FA Vase final at Wembley losing 2-1 to North Shields after extra time.

However after two encouraging NPL campaigns, including a failed play off attempt, the Peakites began to struggle. This culminated in 18th of 20 last time out (one place lower than the previous season) and a 3-0 play off home defeat to Ashington, prefacing a return to the North West Counties.

To Metrostink and past The Diva Den, an Excellerate van and numberplates en route, GO06BYE, S4CK U, L4DY P. Then the Walton Perk coffee barge, UA92 but no Taylor Swift mannequin as I reach the National Trust's impressive Castlefield Viaduct garden.

The city centre abounds with skyscrapers, and MegaCon attendees in fancy dress, but the hour long tram journey goes straight through. The Lower Turk's Head is on my right and a lime green Mohican joins at Shude Hill. Then the sprawling H Marcel Guest paint factory, into Besses o' th' Barn and panoramic views as I reach Radcliffe, Pioneer Mills and ultimately Bury.

Bury is home to the East Lancs Railway, Transport Museum, the award winning Market plus Mill Gate and Rock shopping centres. I find the Jolly Roger chippy, The Blind Tiger bar and Geek Retreat on my travels. Down Market Street, bypassing Bury College and J Rawson & Sons Monumental Masons brings me to the cemetery and Gigg Lane.

£10 for my ticket and a huge crowd of 5,451 assembles, causing kick off to be delayed by 15 minutes to 3.15pm (a throwback to older times ?) - despite the turnstiles being open at 1.30pm and the club asking supporters to turn up early. The weather is changeable - cloudy with sunny spells but three sharp rain showers during the match.

Gigg Lane is all seater - the far Manchester Road end, The Len Johnrose Stand (West Stand), not open today but festooned in flags including 'Beardyman Lives On' !! The Les Hart Stand (South Stand) is packed to its 3,200 capacity and features a Bohairmia advertising hoarding.

I'm in the Cemetery End (East Stand) - again appropriate for Bury FC - and is full with 2,100 spectators. The overflow and hospitality is catered for in the main Neville Neville (North) Stand.

Bury are in white and blue, sponsored by Eyelevel Sunglasses and Glossop are in change orange and black, sponsored by Prosthetic Records. The home side fittingly come on to the pitch to Thin Lizzy's 'The Boys Are Back In Town' and the dreadlocked referee commences proceedings just after quarter past three.

I doesn't take long for the carnival atmosphere to change to ecstasy - 5 minutes and 23 seconds to be exact !! Shakers' centre forward Benito Lowe outmuscling his defender, twisting and turning, and then curling a glorious strike beyond Glossop's keeper Harvey Giles.

Five minutes on a rapid move down the left wing sees Sajj Alhassan chopped down in the box. Lowe sends Giles the wrong way from the penalty spot to make it 2-0.

Lowe is booked midway through the half and has two further long range strikes well over, before Darius Palma's effort is palmed out and Lowe's rebound is smuggled off the line. No matter as the Shakers go three up on 28 minutes; a corner missed by everyone landing at an unmarked Andrew Briggs three yards out who can't miss - and doesn't !

GNE cannot cope with Bury's forward line and its pace - Chris Rowney with a swerving effort just over and Alhassan wide, but the Peakites start to create chances and Jack Atkinson tips one on to the top of the bar just before the interval. The Shakers lead 3-0 at the break.

The second period starts off quietly until left back Jordi Nsaka unleashes a sumptuous drive across Giles on 57 minutes to make it 4-0. Cue a plethora of substitutions and on 70 minutes Atkinson makes a real mess of a Glossop free kick, spilling the ball into the path of Hillmen substitute Bevan Burey, and he scores, at the second attempt, from two yards.

The scoring finishes with two minutes left - Bury's Jack Lenehan given the freedom of the park to waltz through and curl home to leave the final score 5-1 to the Shakers.