Robins Reliant, Billinge Bilge...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Terras' Firmer Defence Leaves White Tigers Toothless...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

---

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bucks Briefly Fizz But Quakers Get Their Oats......

 And so to the 3,281 capacity Blackwell Meadows in Darlington for a Conference North clash between Darlington FC and Buxton FC.

The original Darlington FC was founded in 1883, after an outcry that there was no local football representation. The Quakers, a nod to the religious movement that had a significant influence on the town, played at Feethams and won the Durham Challenge Cup in 1885. The club badge is in the form of a shield, diagonally split to a white right upper showing a Quaker's hat, and a lower left red depicting George Stephenson's Locomotion No.1, the steam locomotive that hauled the first train on the Stockton & Darlington Railway in 1825.

Darlo was a founder member of the Northern League in 1889, and was admitted to the Third Division North in the Football League in 1921, via the North Eastern League. As champions in 1925 the Quakers were promoted to the Second Division, but it was short lived with relegation back following two years later.

Thereafter Darlington largely resided in the League's lowest tier, placed in Division Four after the League's reorganisation in 1958. Promotion in 1966 lasted a solitary season, and another promotion in 1985 barely fared better - two seasons of Division Three football this time before relegation...

Two years on Darlo was relegated to the Conference, but successive championships, under manager Brian Little, saw the Quakers move up to the third level in 1991. However they were immediately relegated to the redesignated Division Three.

Safe cracker, smuggler and tax cheat George Reynolds took over as chairman in 1999 and built his own vanity project - the £20m 25,000 capacity Reynolds Arena in 2003; Feethams was demolished in 2006 shortly after an arson attack and was eventually redeveloped. Unsuccessful attempts to sign Paul Gascoigne and Faustino Asprilla prefaced the club falling into administration six months later mainly due to the financial costs of running the Arena - Reynolds relinquished control soon after.

After going into administration once more in February 2009 League status was lost again in 2010. Despite winning a dreadful FA Trophy Final at Wembley in 2011 with a 120th minute strike from Chris Senior against Mansfield Town, the Quakers entered administration for the third time during the 2011/12 season. Relegation was confirmed later that term but worse was to follow as a Creditors' Voluntary Arrangement could not be agreed and Darlington FC was bankrupted and expelled from the Football Association, before being formally wound up.

A fan owned phoenix club Darlington 1883 was immediately set up and was placed in the Northern League Division One, playing at Bishop Auckland's Heritage Park for four seasons. Champions in their first season (2012/13) with 122 points and 145 goals, the Quakers saw further promotions in 2015 from the Northern Premier League North to the NPL Premier and then to the Conference North, now the National North, in the following year, 2016. Unable to compete in that season's play offs, having finished 5th, due to ground grading issues (a lack of seats - since upgraded with an additional 294 seats to avoid a recurrence) Darlo still remain in the National North.

In 2017 the FA approved the club's name change back to Darlington FC - the club had moved to share Blackwell Meadows with Darlington RFC in the town, with their first home game back on 26 December 2016 against FC Halifax Town resulting in a 3-2 win. Mid table subsequently, this season has been a struggle, languishing next to bottom, despite last weekend's 4-0 win at near neighbours South Shields, who had two players sent off - all the goals coming in the last 18 minutes. This was followed by a 2-0 away defeat at Boston; the Quakers have only two home league wins all season, and recently appointed their third manager this season in Steve Watson - Alun Armstrong and Josh Gowling having been sacked.

Buxton FC was established in the autumn of 1877 as an offshoot of the local cricket club. They originally played at The Park (still the cricket club ground), later moving to Cote Lane, London Road and Green Lane before settling at the (Tarmac) Silverlands Stadium in 1884. Silverlands was originally a field owned by Frank Drewry, the club's first captain, and remains the highest football ground in England, with main stand seats imported from the old Maine Road. The Bucks joined the Combination in 1891, finishing bottom in 1896 and withdrawing in 1899 when they switched to the Manchester League.

The Manchester League was disbanded in 1912; Buxton rejoined the re-established Manchester League in 1920. After winning the league in 1931/32 the Bucks transferred to the Cheshire County League, finally winning the title in 1972/73 which prompted promotion to the Northern Premier League.

They were demoted to Division One in 1997 and were relegated again the following season to the Premier Division of the Northern Counties East League (?). Successive promotions in 2006 and 2007 saw Buxton back in the Northern Premier League, and, as champions, move up to the National League North at the end of the 2021/22 campaign. A creditable 11th last time, but their second season has proved more slightly more problematic - however they currently sit 13th after three successive league victories - 3-0 at the Nash (Curzon Ashton) and at home in the last week 3-1 versus the Puritans of Banbury United and 2-0 against the Tigers of Gloucester City.

Numberplates V15A SR, UR57 EPS (The Stair Shop) and V15 CSS feature en route, then past Chaos Karts, UA92 and Castlefield Viaduct into Manchester. Thereafter the Lower Turks Head, Mamucium and Victoria Tap - Torrside Brewing's I'm Spartacus on hand.

The train is diverted via Brighouse due to engineering works at Huddersfield and we pass Greengate Brewery in Middleton and then Malia and Arrow Mills. Amidst waterlogged fields, through Walsden, splitting from the Calder Valley line at Sowerby Bridge we reach Brighouse, and a hoarding in honour of William Booth's ministry work there - before he founded the Salvation Army.

Fellows Research Centre then Mirfield and Ravensthorpe brings me to Dewsbury and the former Machell & Bros building - Shoddy and Mungo manufacturers. Thereafter Leeds, Widdsigns, Versa Leeds Studios and #LoveOfLeeds. Power stations spewing out fumes follow me to York and the National Railway Museum, with a variety of preserved locomotives outside.

Kilburn White Horse leads up to Northallerton, then it's the Reynolds (now Darlington) Arena on my right - now home to Darlington Mowden Park RC - before I arrive in Darlo. The station has a very impressive, award winning clock tower and a piano on the platform for customers to play - a first !!

A whistle stop tour of Darlo takes in North Road, the home of Head of Steam Railway Museum. The town also hosts the Edwardian theatre The Darlington Hippodrome, the Hullabaloo, the Golden Cock, the Darlington Flyer, the Old English Gentleman, Jamia Mosque & Islamic Society, then Houndgate by the banks of the River Skerne and, next to the ground, The Tin Shed Sports Club, in honour of the North Terrace at Feethams. 

There is also a Joseph Peel statue, the Wandering Duck - which has wandered too far as it's closed - and some lovely architecture including Sloan's Billiard Room and Macy Brown's Cocktail Bar.

The town is also home to two Wetherspoons pubs - The Tanners Hall, once the location of Darlington's Skin Market, and The William Stead, former editor of the Northern Echo (the youngest editor in the country at age 22) and who died on the Titanic. The Northern Echo's and sister publication Darlington & Stockton Times' former site is across the road and opposite is the William Stead Memorial Stone by Darlington Library and Cluedini. Outside the town is David Mach's Brick Train Sculpture:

£15 in, the Quakers in white and black and the Bucks wearing all dark blue and white. Blackwell Meadows is just off the A167 and houses The West End notionally for the away support, very few today in a crowd of 1,224 and so little interest that there is no Away Supporters Coach. Rugby pitches are behind the West and South sides.

Opposite is the East Stand - nicknamed the Tin Shed in honour of its Feethams' forerunner, and strictly home fans only. There is also the North Side with a pavilion and clock and some seating. That leaves a strictly all ticket all seater South Stand across the way.

It's all Darlington as the Quakers start strongly. Cedric Main hits the side netting and Jarrett Rivers heads just wide in the first ten minutes. Then Ben Hedley has two shots straight at Buxton keeper Joe Young. And within 60 seconds of his second effort disaster strikes on 35 minutes....

Buxton have done very little and another aimless long ball is headed back to, and beyond, marooned home custodian Matty Young by Scott Barrow for an own goal. The Bucks briefly pep up and Jake Hull has a shot well saved with his follow up header tipped over the bar - Buxton lead 1-0 at the break 🙄 

The second period sees the Bucks content to play on the counter and protect their advantage. The Quakers, meanwhile, labour to create chances, their only one of note a Hayden Lindley shot blocked on the line by Max Hunt on 51 minutes.

That is until the introduction of home substitute Andrew Nelson midway through the half. Within three minutes he backflicks on a corner and Mitchell Curry equalises from a yard. Then with nine minutes left a clearance reaches Nelson on the edge of the box and he rifles the ball into the bottom corner; Darlo lead 2-1.

Despite the introduction of Buxton talisman Diego de Girolamo, the Quakers are untroubled and take the three points  - but remain next to bottom.

Such A Shayme - Fax Fail To Call The Shots....

And so to the start of February, amidst drizzle then sun and an icy wind, and the Shay Stadium and a National League Premier encounter between FC Halifax Town and Aldershot Town FC.

FC Halifax Town was established in 2008, replacing the old Halifax Town AFC which went into administration in the 2007/08 season, owing over £800,000 to HMRC and reputedly £2m in the red.

The Shaymen were initially placed in the Northern Premier League Division One North, and, after a season of bedding in, achieved back to back promotions to reach the Conference North in 2011, spearheaded by the goals of a young Jamie Vardy. Despite play off heartache the following season, defeated by The Holy Blues of Gainsborough Trinity, Fax went up the following year to the Conference National via the play offs after beating Guiseley in the final.

Halifax won the FA Trophy in 2016, beating Grimsby Town 1-0 at Wembley, but saw relegation back to the Conference North in the process. Immediately promoted back, the Shaymen returned to non league's top tier the season after as champions 🏆. 

Since then there has been a play off flirtation in 2021/22 - beaten by Chesterfield - and another FA Trophy success last term, defeating Gateshead 1-0. This campaign sees the Shaymen sit 10th in the Conference Premier after a disappointing recent run - but knocked out of the Trophy by Altrincham at the first time of asking on penalties 😳

And so to the start of February, amidst drizzle then sun and an icy wind, and the Shay Stadium and a National League Premier encounter between FC Halifax Town and Aldershot Town FC.

FC Halifax Town was established in 2008, replacing the old Halifax Town AFC which went into administration in the 2007/08 season, owing over £800,000 to HMRC and reputedly £2m in the red.

The Shaymen were initially placed in the Northern Premier League Division One North, and, after a season of bedding in, achieved back to back promotions to reach the Conference North in 2011, spearheaded by the goals of a young Jamie Vardy. Despite play off heartache the following season, defeated by The Holy Blues of Gainsborough Trinity, Fax went up the following year to the Conference National via the play offs after beating Guiseley in the final.

Halifax won the FA Trophy in 2016, beating Grimsby Town 1-0 at Wembley, but saw relegation back to the Conference North in the process. Immediately promoted back, the Shaymen returned to non league's top tier the season after as champions 🏆. 

Since then there has been a play off flirtation in 2021/22 - beaten by Chesterfield - and another FA Trophy success last term, defeating Gateshead 1-0. This campaign sees the Shaymen sit 10th in the Conference Premier after a disappointing recent run - but knocked out of the Trophy by Altrincham at the first time of asking on penalties 😳

The original Shaymen, Halifax Town AFC, was formed on 24 May 1911 at the Saddle Hotel, and commenced playing in the Yorkshire Combination and the Midland League. The club was a founder member of the Football League Division Three North in 1921, where they stayed until 1958 when the league was restructured and Town joined the new Third Division.

Relegation to Division 4 in 1963 was followed by promotion back in 1968/69 and then a further demotion in 1976. Their most famous victory was against Manchester City in the FA Cup - a 1-0 win in 1980 on a mudbath, and credit being taken by a barmy hypnotist called Romark - real name Ronald Markham - for his work with the players 😆 However the Shaymen lost their League status in 1993, but won the Conference title in 1997/98; it was a short lived stay as Town went back to the Conference in 2002, having finished bottom of the League.

In 2008 the club was placed into administration but failed to get a Company Voluntary Arrangement and was wound up in May 2008.

Aldershot Town FC is another phoenix club - the Shots, playing at the Recreation Ground ('The Rec'), were established in the spring of 1992, taking over from the debt ridden Fourth Division wound up Aldershot FC.

Initially placed in the Isthmian Third Division, Town won the league in their debut season and then were crowned as Division Two champions the following year. Shots won the First Division in 1997/98 and then the Premier in 2003 to gain a place in the Conference.

There they remained for five seasons before ascending, as champions, to the Football League at the end of the 2007/08 campaign. In perfect symmetry five years in led to Aldershot being relegated back to the Conference and entering administration in May 2013 with debts of £1m.

August 2013 saw the club taken over by a consortium led by former chairman Shahid Azeem. The play offs were reached in 2017 and 2018 but the Shots were 'relegated' in 2019 in 21st position - reprieved as Gateshead were forcibly demoted due to financial shenanigans. The last two seasons have seen Town scrape to survival but this time they look comfortable in 7th after a last gasp 3-3 equaliser on Tuesday at Wealdstone; however they suffered a humiliating 6-1 defeat at the hands of Conference North bottom placed Bishop's Stortford in the FA Trophy - this in stark contrast to FA Cup giantkillings at Swindon (7-4) and Stockport County (1-0).

The original Shots, Aldershot FC, was established in 1926 when local sports journalist Jack White persuaded council officials that the garrison town needed a professional football club. Aldershot joined the Southern League and was crowned as champions in 1929/30.

The Shots were elected to the Football League Division Three South in 1932, replacing Thames, and had to seek re-election in 1937. 1958 saw Aldershot become a founder member of the new Fourth Division - and another re-election vote was successful at the end of that season.

Promoted in 1972/73 and relegated in 1976, the Shots became the first ever winners of the Football League play offs, beating Wolves 3-0 on aggregate, for promotion to Division Three in 1987. Their stay lasted only two years however, relegated to the bottom tier again.

Amidst a growing financial crisis the club was wound up in the High Court on 31 July 1990, but this was lifted on 7 August as property developer Spencer Trethewy paid £200,000 to save the club. But it soon emerged that Trethewy had insufficient financial wherewithal to keep the club running, and he was dismissed from the board on 1 November 1990.

Trethewy was subsequently convicted of fraud in 1994, sentenced to a 2 year prison term. He then changed his name by deed poll to Spencer Day and is currently manager of Farnborough FC.

The financial problems continued to beset Aldershot and they became the first club to resign from the Football League in over 30 years on 25 March 1992. Their last game was a 2-0 defeat against Cardiff City at Ninian Park, and the club's results were expunged for that season. Cue the phoenix and Aldershot Town FC...

Numberplates BA66ERS and J1NXX feature as the tram takes me into Manchester past the Taylor Swift mannequin, the Portico Library AD 1806 and the Blue Whale Asian Supermarket. Then Insomnia Cookies, Hanging Ditch and the new Victoria Tap at a station still advertising trips to Scotland, Ireland, Belgium and, er, Goole...

Beyond Newton Heath Traincare Centre, Arrow Mill just outside Rochdale leads to Kindness in the hillside at Todmorden and the Lamp Room and dominoes at Hebden Bridge. Then Halifax, 'Calderdale Culturedale', and Eureka - the National Children's Museum, the Quality Street factory and the Halifax Flour Society 1879.

In the compact town centre are the Square Chapel Arts Centre, Calderdale Industrial Museum, Escaporium, the Piece Hall, a cloth hall since 1779, and the Town Hall where 'Man Prospecteth'. Then Halifax Minster, Inn-Cognito and The Three Pigeons pub with its 1930s Art Deco interior.

To The Shay, the all covered home of FC Halifax Town and Halifax Panthers RLFC, with a capacity of 14,081, 5,830 standing - the ground is bounded by Shay Syke for the Main (East) Stand which houses segregated seating and Hunger Hill with a closed North Terrace - just ten flags on the bare steps today. The Skircoat (West) Stand, missing a few seats is also closed - the A629 Huddersfield Road above it, but the South Terrace is open. £21 in and a crowd of 1,928 - 192 away.

The Shaymen are in predominantly dark blue with light blue and white on their sleeves, and the Shots are in change white and pale blue stripes with black shorts. 

The Shaymen start strongly with Adan George stabbing wide inside the first 120 seconds, but the Shots respond and Lorent Tolaj heads over on 9 minutes when he should have done better. Fax's Jamie Cooke has a shot blocked then Tolaj scuffs wide and has another effort well saved by Sam Johnson.

On 26 minutes the deadlock is broken - an unconvincing punch by Shots' Dutch keeper Jordi Van Stappershoef lands at the feet of Max Wright and his 25 yard sumptuous effort into the top right corner puts Halifax ahead.

There is almost an immediate response - Jack Barham, after a jinking run a minute later, is denied by a smart save from Johnson. George nearly doubles the lead but shoots over the bar after his initial effort is parried. The Shaymen lead 1-0 at the break.

The second half sees an immediate response from Aldershot as Tolaj sweeps home from a Ryan Glover cross three minutes in. Thereafter Cooke has an effort saved, Barham is just wide for the Shots and Halifax's Belize international Angelo Cappello's daring shot narrowly misses.

But on 69 minutes Aldershot substitute Kwame Thomas arrives late at the back post to volley home decisively, and the Shots lead. It's very nearly 3-1 as Barham has a good strike beaten away by Johnson. 

Aside from sub Jack Jenkins' mazy run, with four minutes to go, culminating in a smart save from Van Stappershoef and Luke Summerfield's 95th minute free kick which shaves the post, Aldershot comfortably hang on. Indeed Thomas should have put the game to bed, breaking from his own half, dancing past Johnson, but a heavy touch allows the shotstopper to recover and scramble the ball away.