Invading The Isle Of Axholme

Crowle Colts  0  Winterton Rangers  3

Friendly

The Central Midlands League has this ability to surprise, and this season it’s certainly not let us down!

When the announcement was made that they were planning to increase their Division One to a North and South section, effectively creating a new league, it was clear as the invite was widely extended that a number of new clubs would potentially take the plunge and become members.

You could second guess a little bit of what might happen, with the Midlands Regional Alliance being a prime target for plundering (might sound a bit harsh – open to debate!), and that did indeed come to fruition with Rowsley 86, Wirksworth Ivanhoe, Chesterfield Town and Shirebrook Rangers all making the move.

Obviously a number of Reserve and Development teams also made the jump, and we did see a completely new name in the form of Nottingham FC who moved up from junior football. Bakewell Town was not a major shock as they have obviously seen the progress of Tideswell United and thought it might be worth a punt, whereas Sutton Rovers from the Doncaster Senior League while not predictable, did come as a huge a surprise.

The Complex

What I didn’t see coming, although maybe it was a bit of naivety on my part, was two sides from the Scunthorpe League coming across, in the shape of Crowle Colts and Epworth Town Colts. On first hearing this news, I did wonder why? If both sides had eyes on Step 7 then surely being Scunthorpe based the Humber Premier or the Lincolnshire League would be better moves?

It does help to look at a map though, because in fairness I had absolutely no idea where either Crowle or Epworth was. Turns out they are not far from each other, and also they sit on the junction of the M18 and the M180, so arguably they are as much Doncaster as they are Scunthorpe? Put another way, Thorne is probably ten minutes away.

So, it started to make a bit more sense as to why what was effectively a Step 8 Central Midlands League North division would appeal, with the longest journeys being to Alfreton, Nottingham and Hucknall, but also derbies against each other, plus Sutton, Bentley, Harworth, Retford etc.

Parched Grass - And Some Dugouts

Facebook became the resource of choice for Crowle, and it just so happened that I stumbled upon the fact they had a couple of friendlies lined up. The first was against Gainsborough Trinity Reserves and I managed to convince Steve to go on a reconnaissance mission to check it out, his response was positive so with Winterton Rangers due to send a team down on a Tuesday night, it was time to head to the Isle of Axholme!

The Isle of Axholme is an area of land that sits betwixt Doncaster, Gainsborough and Scunthorpe. It earned the title ‘Isle’ due to the fact that the towns and villages that sit within it were built on raised land within marshland. Three small towns developed on the Isle, Haxey, Epworth and indeed Crowle.

Nowadays the Rivers Trent, Don and Idle plus various drainage channels are what separate the Isle from mainland UK, but as of yet, it hasn’t tried to claim any form of independence, but give it time, it’ll only take an influx of Groundhoppers in August and September before we get calls for a referendum!

Anyway, according to Steve, the local pub of choice was the Red Lion, and he was right, following a very steady run up the M18 and a reasonable delay trying to get over the railway line as two trains passed, it was a very welcome sight in the centre of Crowle.

It's Lincolnshire - It's Flat, And Parched 

The ground itself has a decent sized car park but on the basis I only arrived five minutes before kick-off it was full so I had to park on the grass verge outside. Once inside the ground it’s a large open expanse with the pitch almost in the very centre of it, complete with a Respect rope barrier down one side and the pop up dugouts on the other.

The dressing rooms and various other rooms (but no bar!) sat at the road side of the slightly out-of-town site and are probably about a hundred yards from the pitch. It’s a large venue with great facilities for a club with junior set up that Crowle has, but to go any further in senior football would be a challenge.

As for the game, well a mixed Winterton side took the lead in less than fifteen seconds, which was probably the second fastest goal I’ve ever seen. I once saw Stocksbridge Park Steel take the lead against Belper Town after just ten seconds, but the remarkable fact was that Belper actually kicked off!

A second goal followed but then the game kind of petered out a little after that. Winterton played the neater passing football, but Crowle had plenty of energy and worked hard to win the ball back and get forward, but without really troubling the visitors goalkeeper.

Water, We Need Water

A third goal came late in the game as Crowle tired and Winterton’s bit of quality shone through with a fine angled finish, but in fairness to the hosts, they never gave up and on the display they gave, they’ll be absolutely fine in the CMFL.

So, as the CMFL spreads it wings in differing and eclectic directions once again, I think they’ve got a good asset in Crowle, and if they are typical of the Scunthorpe League then it is obviously a pretty decent competition.

But, as I always say, the future of the CMFL is out of their hands to a large degree, the FA will decide what they will ultimately become and what the footprint looks like. In the meantime, they provide a route for ambitious clubs, and if that route is the catalyst that sees them develop, then whoever may inherit them in the future, will owe the league a degree of thanks.

Breaking The Rules

WLV Football  1  Sikh Hunters  5

Friendly

It was enough to make your stereotypical Groundhopper drop his potted meat sandwiches all over his train timetable.

We had the pre-season friendly that is clearly taboo as it’s not real football, on a plastic pitch which is frowned upon unless it’s minus fourteen Celsius and six inch deep in snow, with a cage round it which clearly means it’s not a football ground, and finally a University side which is effectively schools football and not actually proper!

It was the perfect storm, so it was safe to assume when myself and Steve set off for it, that as far as the neutral travelling contingent went, we were likely to be in the minority, of two, and we were right, but more on that later.

The Pesky Cage - It Should Be Banned!

WLV is an acronym for Wolverhampton, and is used in much of the branding for the University of Wolverhampton, hence the football team is called WLV Football. Like most, if not all University teams, they play in the BUSA Leagues, but also like one or two others, they’ve elected to branch into Saturday football and try their luck in the football pyramid.

Similar entities have included at various times Loughborough, Cardiff Metropolitan, Keele, Manchester Metropolitan, Northumbria, and of course the most famous, Team Bath, who made it as far as Conference South and the First Round Proper of the FA Cup.

Playing at the convenient Walsall Campus of the institution which sits just off the inner ring road (Broadway), it’s an easy place to get to, and in fairness it’s set in a smart area of the town. The ground is precisely as you would expect, a cage, albeit with access to view, a 4G surface and floodlights. The University buildings look modern, while car parking is ample and adjacent. It does the job absolutely fine.

It's Just Not Football

So, an application has been made and accepted for the Midland Football League, where they will play in the Third Division, which is effectively Step 8. Exotic venues such as Central Ajax, FC Shush and Coventry Plumbing await.

With an active and informative Twitter feed, the game against neighbours Sikh Hunters who ply their trade a couple of steps above, has been advertised for some time and on the day of the game was confirmed by both clubs, so it was all systems go.

Pre-match snifters were taken in the bar at the Metro Inn on the roundabout which joins Birmingham Road with Broadway, we sat outside, apparently we are now being told it’s not safe to sit outside because of the weather. I agree, it doesn’t take long for your lager to go all warm, so I’m going to do my drinking behind closed doors for the foreseeable future.

So what about the game?

In Fact - I Shouldn't Even Be Here

It was played very competitively, one or two yellow cards were shown and especially in the second period, things got a little feisty at times. So why people say pre-season friendlies are non-competitive rubbish is beyond me, this was as competitive as most games you would see at a decent level of football.

Sikh Hunters looked a very good side for long spells, they won the game 5-1, and towards the end of the game their superior fitness and quality shone through as WLV tired, but, after going a couple of goals down early on while being terrorised by a very handy Hunters front pairing, they did pull a goal back with a cracking finish and for periods they had the visitors on the back foot.

From an entertainment perspective, it was very watchable indeed, and both sides had some very good players on display. This is what I don’t get about artificial pitches, it allows the better footballers to play football without hindrances like bobbles, puddles and undulations, so how anyone can argue that the games are inferior is talking garbage. If you can’t play football on a modern day artificial, they you can’t play football, end of! Furthermore, it’s no advantage to the home side really, as most modern day players train on artificial surfaces anyway?

As for the cage, well as long as you can get inside it and watch without obstruction, what’s the problem? Is it any worse than a field in the middle of nowhere without even a rope around it? Not in my book it isn’t.

But what about WLV? I thought they showed enough in the game to suggest they’ll have a decent season, some of the players looked to have experience, and from a physical perspective they should be able to hold their own. Difficult as always to draw conclusions from one display, especially in pre-season, but the signs are pretty good. Sikh Hunters on the other hand looked a very tidy outfit, and having moved to new ground, they look a club very much on the up.

You Know What - I'm Just Going To Pretend It Didn't Happen

Other than what looked to be friends and family of the WLV players and some folk who’d travelled with the Hunters, Steve and I were probably the only neutrals. That may well continue to be the case going forward to a degree, especially within the travelling fraternity, you see too many idiosyncratic rules are being broken by clubs like WLV, but as those of us who know anything about non-league football will tell you, those rules are daft.

When it comes to watching football, the only rules that matter as those maintained and managed by the referee, the rest is just absolute cobblers!

Stonebridge Road

Ebbsfleet United  2  Gillingham  0

Friendly

It’s become a bit of a pre-season tradition now.

Book some tickety splits to London early doors for circa twenty quid, and then take my pick from the plethora of friendly games available in and around the Capital, the job is indeed a good-un!

A couple of years ago I saw Leyton Orient take on Gillingham at Brisbane Road, which took in some of the landmark boozers in the East End, including the Blind Beggar, while last season I managed to get to the quite wonderful home of Welling United to watch them play Charlton Athletic.

This time round the game that caught my eye was also in Kent, the fixture between Ebbsfleet United and Gillingham to be played at Stonebridge Road, ground porn at it’s very hardcore!

A Beauty!

It’s a long old day though, especially in the stifling heat we currently have. The 0643 choo-choo from Belper to Derby connected nicely for the Birmingham train and then also the two hours plus journey on the rattler from Brum to Euston. Arrival in London was at 1030, over fours since I left the house, but, it was bloody cheap!

I have a new favourite haunt when it comes to visiting London and that’s the area around London Bridge, which also happens to be an easy journey on the Northern Line from Euston. Once at London Bridge you’ve got the riverside pubs close to the Golden Hinde and Southwark Cathedral, while moments away is the quite brilliant Borough Market and all of the culinary treasures it contains.

After a latch lifter in the Olde Thameside Inn, it was off to the Wheatsheaf and the Market Porter just outside the entrance to Borough Market to watch the World go by for a couple of hours before heading back to London Bridge and the Gravesend bound train.

The New Meets The Old

Taking a route past Millwall’s ground, down through New Eltham, Sidcup and Dartford, the train meanders into Kent and around forty minutes later you’re exiting at Northfleet to embark on a five minute walk to Stonebridge Road.

Before describing the ground, what about the history of Ebbsfleet United? Well prior to 2007 the club were known as Gravesend & Northfleet, this following a post-war merger between Gravesend United and Northfleet United. For many years they were Southern League stalwarts, but with the formation of the Alliance Premier League in 1979-80 they became founder members.

A three year spell in non-league’s top flight came to an end and then they embarked on further long spells in the Southern League and then the Isthmian League before a league title in 2001-02 saw them back in the top flight again.

Seat Conversion

By the time the club changed their name to Ebbsfleet United, they’d completed five seasons in the league, but at the end of 2009-10 they were relegated to the National League South. That lasted one season before they bounced back, only for another relegation to come along in 2013-14. They did finally come back in 2017-18, and indeed surprised many last term by reaching the Play-Offs, only to lose to eventual winners Tranmere Rovers.

The FA Trophy was lifted at Wembley in 2008, while the FA Cup over the years has brought success, notably in 1995-96 when they reached the Third Round only to lose to Aston Villa at Villa Park.

The re-naming of the club in 2007 was principally to form a link with the growing profile of the new town Ebbsfleet Valley on the Thames Gateway. Ebbsfleet International Railway Station had been built to service the HS1 line which links St Pancras with Ashford International and beyond into Europe. Ebbsfleet by the way is actually a river!

But what about Stonebridge Road?

The Vast Terrace

As you wander down the hill from the station a mass of red hits you, alongside the contrast between the old and the modern. Along the Stonebridge  Road side of the ground, a brand new stand incorporating offices and a first floor function suite sits where there was once an old covered terrace. This new facility has had a mixed response from connoisseurs of football stadia but I quite liked its neat lines and modern design. The ground, by the way, is now called the Kuflink Stadium.

Once through the turnstiles that sit alongside the new stand, you essentially enter behind the goal where the old clubhouse remains (I did venture into the new function suite before entering the ground, and very smart it is too). What was a vast covered terrace sits behind the goal, but that has now had seats installed, albeit the seats are a structure in themselves that have been put on top of the terraces, as opposed to seats being bolted to the terrace steps.

Moving round to the side opposite the new stand, sits a fantastic old wooden seated stand, that used to have the dressing rooms underneath, along with a bar and some offices that are still in use. A new portakabin style sponsors lounge sits next to the stand but then as you carry on to behind the West goal you arrive at a vast open terrace that has had new barriers installed.

View From The Terraces

The floodlights are four corner pylons, but the new single pole style as opposed to the more traditional framework design, but with a huge electricity pylons behind the ground they kind of get lost a little in the landscape.

It’s an absolute beauty of a ground, and if ever a non-league ground should encapsulate the heady days of the Sixties and early Seventies, then Stonebridge Road would be it. Ok, so progression and commercialism has seen a very modern facility have to blend in, but I think it achieves that very well. It would however be a shame if the whole ground were to be re-developed as some of the character would undoubtedly be lost.

Pylons

What about the game? In front of a crowd of just over a thousand, Ebbsfleet edged a close first half and went in one goal to the good thanks to a close range effort from Sean Shields in the 35^th minute.

Moments after the second half started it was 2-0 thanks to a simply brilliant strike from Ebou Adams, who with his back to goal managed to somehow produce a back heeled volley from just inside the penalty area following a lofted cross. The effort gave the goalkeeper no chance whatsoever, and was a quite superb piece of improvisation from Adams.

After that the hosts pretty much had the game under control, and deservedly came away with a victory that will give them great confidence for their league campaign which starts with an intriguing fixture against relegated Chesterfield.

The journey back was relatively painless and I managed a couple of swift ones in the Royal George at Euston before embarking on a marathon journey which involved two trains and a bus, but, it was all worthwhile, because there aren’t many grounds left like Stonebridge Road. If you've not been there yet, I strongly suggest you pay it a visit, you won't be disappointed. 

The Wavy Roof Design

Look For The Positives

Celtic  3  FC Alashkart  0

UEFA Champions League – 1^st Qualifying Round

I look for the positives in everything I do, so when it was revealed that I would no longer be working for the boss I’d been with for five years, who I had a great relationship with, I had to get my head round the fact the whole ‘Getting To Know You’ process was going to have to start all over again.

Not only that, the new gaffer was based in Glasgow, so that meant my monthly regional meetings were no longer going to be in Liverpool, Stoke or Manchester, they were going to be North of the border.

Ok, it’s a ballache of a journey, but I love travelling, and at the same time, the whole World of Scottish football was about to open up to me, as long as I planned it correctly. Remember those words about planning it correctly!

Hail, Hail, The Celts Are Here!

The first meeting was scheduled for the Thursday, and that meant travelling up on the Wednesday, and as I’m a proper tight sod, even when it comes to the companies money, I did the old tickety split trick and set up a journey that involved a change at Crewe.

That change at Crewe gave me just over ten minutes to get from one platform to another to get the train to Glasgow, but what it also meant was I’d get into my destination at just after 5pm and because of that, I’d be able to take my pick of pre-season friendlies, and the one that jumped out was Johnstone Burgh v Irvine Victoria.

I could check in, drop bags, have a couple of pints and still make the 7pm kick off in the small town to the West of Paisley. The theory was fantastic, but….

The Crowds Gather

A train fire outside Derby meant that the Crewe train had some delays, and to cut a long story short I arrived in Crewe just as the Glasgow train also arrived, but, despite a sprint over the bridge, I was agonisingly seconds too late, pressing the button on the train didn't work, the shites would not let me on!

I had dropped one, if I’d got the earlier train this wouldn’t have been an issue, but a tight connection did for me. I now had two issues, the first being the next train was an hour later and that completely spannered my football plans, the second issue was the fact I had an invalid ticket, and despite my protestations to customer services, I had to fork out for a new one. The £92 will be claimed on expenses, but for me it was the principal, anyway, I will be sending in a letter of complaint demanding some compensation.

In a bit of as huff I sat in the bar at Crewe station and pondered my options over a pint, and due to kick off times and trains it was looking a bit bleak. I then checked the Celtic website and saw tickets were available, as were connections on trains to the ground, assuming we were on time.

Paradise

A match ticket was secured online, and with collection at the ground sorted, it was just a case of making sure the train arrived on time, getting to the hotel, checking in, and both buying a ticket and getting to the platform for an outbound train to Celtic, all in the space if fifteen minutes!

To cut a long story short, I managed it with a few minutes to spare, but I had a sweat on, and it was managed despite the hotel giving me a key to a room that was already occupied! Once on the Dalmarnock bound train I could finally relax.

I’ve been to Celtic once before, with Mrs H when we had a break between Christmas and New Year a couple of seasons ago. We saw them beat Ross County, it was a great experience, but I got the feeling for a run of the mill SPL game, the atmosphere was a bit muted.

On a gorgeous night, with hundreds of others I wandered up from Dalmarnock to Paradise to collect my tickets, with the lone piper playing at the side of the road. There was a buzz about the place, but also a sense of inevitability as Celtic were already 3-0 up from the first leg in Armenia against the national champions.

Celtic Park, or Parkhead, or Paradise, depending on what you like to call it, is a fantastic stadium, but from a location point of view it feels like you are in the middle of nowhere. With just a smattering of retail and business units around it, it doesn’t feel like you are at one of the great traditional football grounds because you would ordinarily expect to see houses, roads, pubs and takeaways, I get it with a new build, but not at a stadium that’s been around since day one!

But, as a stadium it’s tremendous, and other than the South Stand it’s a huge two-tier bowl that oozes of the clubs phenomenal history.

Tickets were not readily available, I bought one of the last few, but because the game was included in the season ticket package, it may have been a sell-out, but it certainly wasn’t full, principally because a proportion of the season ticket holders chose not to bother.

Sat above the Green Brigade, who make all the noise at Paradise, I had a tremendous view of proceedings, and if I’m honest, the game was a bit of a non-event.

Hose Pipe Ban?

Celtic took the lead early doors through the very impressive Moussa Dembele, only to see Jozo Simunovic receive a red card moments later for a challenge that Roy Keane would have been proud of! Dembele then scored a second from the penalty spot before James Forrest finished off a superb counter attacking move to make it 3-0.

The second half saw no more goals, and in fairness with a 6-0 aggregate score and a next round tie against Rosenborg in the bag, you can understand Celtic taking the foot off the gas.

The journey back was a simple one, and over a pint in the Crystal Palace on Jamaica Street it was the chance to reflect on an experience that certainly wasn’t planned, but one I was glad I’d embarked on.

Scotland is clearly going to be a whole new experience for me on so many levels, and writing this on the train back from a meeting that was curtailed early doors so we could all enjoy a few pints in the sun, I think this is without doubt a positive move! Clearly I was never going to argue with that philosophy, but at the same time, a new World is going to open up from a football perspective, assuming the dates fall right.

Positives, always look for the positives, and inevitably, you’ll find them!

More Hose Pipes

Polska

United Worksop  1  Peterborough Polonia  1

Friendly

“If people from Poland are called Poles, then why are people from Holland not called Holes?”

It was a very good question posed by the brilliant entertainer Billy Flywheel at a Sportsman Dinner we attended at Belper Town Football Club, and despite being very good friends with a Dutchman, I’ve still not yet found a plausible answer.

Poles started to move to the UK during the Second World War and over the course of time large, close knit communities could be found in most major towns and cities, but the enlargement of the European Union in 2004 and the relaxing of restrictions for the new ‘accession states’ that were predominantly Eastern European saw a huge influx of Poles, to the point where as a community they were the single largest foreign born in the UK.

Poland v Poland

Over a million Poles are now understood to live and work in the UK, so, it was clearly only a matter of time before the communities started to form their own sporting organisations, and football was obviously very high on the agenda.

United Worksop Football Club first fell onto my radar at the back end of last season when I was browsing the Midland Amateur Alliance league tables, they were a second tier side but doing pretty well, indeed they finished the season as runners up. I then spotted on social media that they had been through a ground grading process and were looking forward to life in an as yet unnamed new league.

View From The Bank

Obviously being the curious type I had a dig around and very quickly found out that this was a team with Polish roots, and on the basis that the bulk of their Facebook page was written in Polish, it was proving a bit tricky to glean any more information. However, with a bit of perseverance I discovered that they were based at the Manton Sports Club in Worksop, and the new league that they were going to join was the Sheffield County Senior League.

As luck would have it, the pre-season fixtures appeared on Twitter and it was the home game with fellow Polish outfit, Peterborough Polonia, that caught my attention, it became a ‘must see’ opportunity and was quickly in the diary.

The Bank

Requests on social media before the game to double check venues and kick off times were met enthusiastically and appeared to be very welcomed, so on another day straight from the Mediterranean, it was time to head to Manton.

Manton is a former mining village that is essentially part of Worksop, set on the East side of the town on the road to Retford. Very much working class in its origins, the Social Club at the Sports Ground provides a real snapshot of the community. Groups of men of all ages gathered on a Saturday lunchtime to watch the horse racing and take advantage of the subsidised beer prices. But, as the barman told me, when the clock strikes four they all leave as one to go home, week in, week out. It’s tradition, and it’s probably been that way since the pit was in existence.

The complex itself is huge, and was once mooted as a possible new venue for Worksop Town during one of their various periods of homelessness. A large car park meets you upon entering, while all of the facilities are directly in front of you, including the huge Social Club.

Parched Manton

To the right is a massive expanse of sports fields, and the pitch being used by United was at the far end, probably getting on for over 300 yards away. A parched playing surface could be observed from an elevated level behind the goal that backs onto the Retford Road, and that was where I took up my position to watch an encounter that intrigued me.

Peterborough Polonia ply their trade in the Peterborough & District League, and for this season they find themselves on the top flight which is Step 7. United Worksop are essentially Step 9 so it was going to be interesting to see how the two sides matched up.

In fairness, United were the slightly better team, and deservedly took the lead in the first half that was played in sweltering heat. Peterborough pulled a goal back in the second period to equalise and despite a spell of pressure from the visitors, including hitting the woodwork, the Nottinghamshire side, who had a goal disallowed just about had the edge.

It was difficult to assess from a standard perspective with it being pre-season and numerous substitutes, but there looked to be no reason why United wouldn’t be at the very least competitive this season, and quite possibly even look to make a swift move to the next step. The County Senior League can be uncompromising and tough, so it will be learning curve for the players, but they certainly looked to be able to handle themselves, as well as being a more than competent outfit, as last seasons success would suggest.

They are certainly a friendly club, and also one to keep an eye on, which I will be doing as the season develops, but one thing is pretty sure in the 2018-19 season, I very much doubt I’ll find out why people from Holland aren’t called ‘Holes’….

Sports Club

The Liverpool Conundrum

Lower Breck  7  Windle Labour 2

Friendly

Non-League football in Liverpool has always been a bit of a conundrum for me.

When I first started to take an interest in the game you had two sides in the Northern Premier League, Marine who are based on the Northern tip of the City on the way to Formby, and South Liverpool, who unsurprisingly were based in the South in Allerton.

South’s ground is now the site of a Transport Interchange, but the old Holly Park was a classic before it succumbed to vandalism, so South now ply their trade in the local Step 7 leagues, and talk of a return to former glories remains just that.

Knowsley United did make a fleeting appearance having been re-named from Kirby Town and moved to Alt Park in Huyton, but no one really cared, crowds were awful, the club vanished and the ground again succumbed to the ravages of the local youth.

Step 6 Compliant

For years, Liverpool struggled to support a non-league side that could get anywhere close to Marine who have remained a constant in the NPL at their wonderful Rossett Park. It was difficult to understand because if any City in the UK could be called a ‘Football City’ then Liverpool was it.

Bootle have survived life’s trials and tribulations and having moved to a new ground in the Aintree area remain a strong side in the North West Counties League, but, they have never really looked like being a pretender to Marine’s mantle.

My own theory is a fairly basic one and it comes down to facilities. Both Holly Park and Alt Park were hit hard by vandalism, and with a lack of suitable grounds in the area, even the most ambitious club is going to find it hard to find a facility to match their desires.

In recent seasons we’ve seen the arrival of AFC Liverpool, who have found their level in the NWC, but they share at Marine, while City of Liverpool have arrived with a bang and get very good support, albeit at Bootle’s ground. To be fair to COL, they have plans to develop their own stadium, and if that does arrive, to the best of my knowledge it will be a first for the City, a purpose built non-league ground built from scratch.

The Rains Are Coming

Litherland Remyca have done very well since arriving in the NWC and they use a sports stadium in Wavertree which is far from conducive for watching football, and of course, it’s not there’s so as a revenue generator, it doesn’t work. But what options have they got?

When I used to look at the applicants to join the NWC down the years it was extremely rare you would see a team from the Liverpool County Premier League (as it’s now known), and it largely came down to facilities. They had some great teams like Waterloo Dock and St Dominics, who had good runs in the FA Vase from time to time, but promotion was never likely.

But that has started to change, Litherland made the move a few years ago, and then last season a new name appeared on the applicant list, Lower Breck.

I made a point of following them on Twitter and started to follow their progress. Firstly, they were ripping up the league and by the time the season had come to an end and they were crowned champions, they hadn’t lost a game. Numerous cups also followed, so quite clearly, this was a very handy football team indeed.

I gleaned that they played at the Anfield Sports & Community Centre on Lower Breck Road, which is a mere stones throw from the Shankly Gates at Anfield. It was a 3G surface in a cage, so my thoughts were that it may be that they have to find somewhere else if they wanted to move to Step 6, which would almost inevitably be a groundshare.

Anfield

However, I was wrong, because Lower Breck took the decision that they would ensure their home in Anfield would be Step 6 compliant, and set about doing the work required, notably putting a seated stand in place.

I decided to head to a game at the back end of last season on a Wednesday night, and it was only when I was taking a sip from a pint in the Stag & Rainbow at the junction of Queens Drive and West Derby Road that a cursory glance on Twitter informed me that the game against Aigburth Peoples Hall was off because the visitors couldn’t raise a team.

Sandbach United saved me from a wasted evening, but what impressed me was that Lower Breck engaged with me on Twitter, were apologetic even though it was no fault of their own, and at the same time welcomed me to visit them on a future date. I thought that was great of them, so when the pre-season fixtures were announced, I picked one out.

Old habits die hard though, the first thing I did when I walked into the Stag & Rainbow was to check Twitter, and all was indeed good. After picking up a bit of sustenance from Sam’s on Lower Breck Road, it was time to survey the scene.

Action

The area, which is essentially the interface between Anfield and Tuebrook is an earthy working class part of the City. Regeneration is clearly happening, but at the same time, the economic downturns of recent decades have taken their toll.

The Anfield Sports complex is impressive though, it’s got a vast car park, a large 3G floodlit pitch which Lower Breck use, a Sports Centre and also smaller artificial surfaces for six-a-side. Loads of kids teams appeared to be using the facility but by 8pm, the area was clear and it was time for Lower Breck and St Helens based Windle Labour to cross swords.

I watched the game from the stand as rain fell intermittently through the evening, but alternatively the public could access all down one side, and behind one of the goals, otherwise the rest was out of bounds, a bit like St Helens Town if I’m drawing a comparison. Clearly it’s floodlit and also it’s got the typical tall green fencing around it for protection.

Windle Labour put in a great shift, but they were ultimately undone by what I considered to be a very, very good football team. Lower Breck’s passing and movement was a joy to watch, and while they did find the net seven times, it could have been many more. The Windle keeper had a great game, but with a bit more of a clinical edge in front of goal it could have been double figures easily. That isn’t being disrespectful to the visitors by the way, Lower Breck were simply that good.

Clearly they have momentum, and they know how to play the surface, but my initial thoughts are that this side could be a real force in the NWC next season.

And that was Lower Breck, a really enjoyable night watching a very good team run by some fantastic people. Ok, the ground may not be the purists cup of tea, but what choice do they have if they want to progress?

Liverpool needs a resurgence in terms of semi-professional football, it’s been off the radar for far too long, and Lower Breck are another very welcome addition to the group of clubs who are battling to make that happen, successfully I might add.

I wish them all the luck in the World.

Under Lights

It's Home.....

Cleethorpes Town  2  Scunthorpe United XI  1

Lincolnshire Senior Cup

The fans of Cleethorpes Town were singing “Football’s Coming Home” long before this Summer when every man, woman and child seemed to be belting it out at every opportunity.

You see, Cleethorpes Town moved into their ‘home’ at the Linden Club and played their first game at the revamped facility last Saturday when Grimsby Town were the visitors. This isn’t strictly a new home for the Owls because they did ply their trade at the ground originally before being forced to move to the Bradley Community Stadium to satisfy ground grading requirements.

However, the plan was always to go back, and thanks to some sterling work, especially over the last twelve months, this relatively young club who are just twenty years old this season, are back at the place they call home.

Half Way Liners

Cleethorpes Town is a special tale. The old LSS Lucarlys side that was formed in 1998 by Tommy Watson, was re-named in 2008 and in their first season under the new guise, they had a pretty average mid-table finish in the Humber Premier League. The future didn’t look so special the following year when they resigned from the league mid-season, but they re-appeared again in the Lincolnshire League at the start of the 2010-11 season. A third placed finish, followed by a Championship saw them take promotion to the Northern Counties East League.

By now the club were sharing the Bradley Community Stadium with Grimsby Borough. The first season saw a fourth placed finish but the following season saw another Championship, and with it promotion to Step 5.

Playing great attacking football under Marcus Newell, they finished 4^th, 3^rd and then finally the Championship was won two years ago and with it came a promotion to the Northern Premier League. But, on top of that they also reached Wembley in the FA Vase Final, only to lose to a rampant South Shields outfit.

Behind The Goal

After a superb start last season, they tailed away and were severely hampered by a huge points deduction, but the big story was happening off the field.

It was time to go an take a look, and make a rare visit to Greater Grimsby. The ground is easily accessed from the end of the A180, and is located in a smart area of Cleethorpes on Clee Road. It sits next door to the King George V Stadium that was once used by Grimsby Borough, and the Linden Club site is in itself a large expanse.

I always thought it was called the Linden Homes Club, and working in the property industry I was well aware of housebuilder Linden Homes, so I assumed it was the social club associated with them. But, for some reason it’s now just known as the Linden Club, so why the ‘homes’ part of the name has been dropped I’m unsure, but the builder is now owned by Galliford Try, so whether that is the reason, I can’t say for certain.

Rural Cleggy

A decent sized car park welcomes you at the entrance, and to the left of this is a large expanse of grassed areas used for football and cricket. In front of you is the club itself which is accessed via the turnstiles. The club is large and it’s smart, and more importantly when they serve God’s finest at £2.90 a pint, you have to be happy with your surroundings.

You walk over what was an old bowling green and through a gap in the large hedge to reach pitch side. To the right is the wooden dressing room complex and then behind the East goal is a small seated stand of the now typical Atcost style design.

A similar stand adorns the North touchline while behind the West goal is a terrace of a similar design, which happens to be the home of the Clee Ultras. The South side is hard standing, and is where the dugouts are located. The ground is fully enclosed by a large wooden fence, and of course it’s floodlit. It has a bit of a rural feel to it, but it’s significantly closer to the heart of Cleethorpes than the Bradley was. This is a very good move for the Owls, and with what appeared to be a large number of friendly and helpful club officials on duty, it looks to be a club well set to make a move to the next level.

Clee Ultras

I would make them one of the favourites this season. They have a very good side and with the return of the prolific Brody Robertson, they’ve got plenty of goals in them. Yes, they will face stiff competition from the likes of Frickley, Marske and Pontefract, but they’ll be in the mix, of that I’m sure.

So how did the Lincolnshire Senior Cup tie with a Scunthorpe United XI pan out on a night that turned a bit chilly?

Adverts Aplenty

A very youthful United side took the lead in the first half after a good spell when Joe Busby finished well, but a physically stronger Owls side imposed themselves more as the game moved into the second period and it was goals from Robertson and Danny North that sealed the victory and a next round tie with Grimsby Town (again).

121 spectators paid through the gate compared to the 1800 that pitched up for the opening game. Clearly Belgium v France had an impact, but I think once the league matches commence, the Owls will be one of the best supported teams in the league.

It bodes very well for Cleethorpes Town, and while we now all know that football isn’t coming home, in a small part of North East Lincolnshire, it’s well and truly back where it belongs.

Dressing Rooms And Suchlike

It's Coming.....

Ingles  1  FC Wymeswold  3

Friendly

I’ll hold my hand up, I got it wrong.

Just over a month ago I said that England, at best, would reach the World Cup Quarter Final stages, but it appears like many, I’ve underestimated the spirit, togetherness and quality of Gareth Southgate’s young squad. 

As I write this, a Semi-Final against Croatia beckons on Wednesday night, with Belgium or France waiting in the Final, it’s scary stuff, but brilliant all the same. I’m old enough to remember 1990 and the fantastic montage the BBC put together featuring some superb footage of Sir Bobby Robson bought it all back. Spine tingling and emotional stuff, bless him.  

But, all of this World Cup malarkey is playing havoc with my pre-season planning, but not as much as it’s playing havoc with the clubs who are trying to arrange fixtures. Let’s be honest, no one wants to be playing a friendly at the same time as an England game, so compromises are having to be found.

Scorchio

Ingles and Wymeswold had the same idea as many others, so rather than postpone it, they chose to kick off at 11am, which suited me perfectly as I was in charge of my two nieces and it gave me the chance to get them out for the morning, something I’m sure they appreciated! In hindsight, I suspect I may not be asked again......

So why Ingles?

Well, for us types, pre-season is dominated with who’s moving to what league and where are they going to be playing, and with everyone’s favourite Leicestershire Senior League creating a third division, it transpired that the reserve side of Ingles were going to be included, and as the first team shared with Shepshed Dynamo, they needed a base. That base looks to be Little Haw Lane which is nestled in the middle of a housing estate on the South side of the town.

Clouds??

Twitter is a real Godsend, and with a regularly updated feed as Ingles have, we had plenty of confirmation of the game, the venue and the kick off time so it was all systems go. Ingles have been promoted to Step 6 for the first time in their short history this season, and will be plying their trade in the East Midlands Counties League. Having been formed in 1972, they were members of the North Leicestershire League until 2014-15 when they were admitted to the Senior League.

They won the First Division in 2016-17 and then last season they won the Premier Division on goal difference and hence promotion.

FC Wymeswold may well be looking to follow a similar route. They got promotion from the North Leicestershire League at the end of last season and take up a place in the second of the three tiers of the Senior League this season. They will get a visit in due course.

On a baking hot day at Little Haw Lane, the referee chose to kick off ten minutes early on the basis that everyone was ready! The pitch was scorched as many are at present, but it was flat, and it had a full rail surround painted red and white, which are Ingles colours, and also appears to be the colours of Shepshed Amateurs who class this as their home ground. Not sure who got their first, Ingles or Amateurs, but the colour scheme looks to work for both.

Dressing Rooms

A dressing room building and car park sit behind the goal and otherwise the pitch forms part of a large expanse which has a further football pitch on it. Step 7 it would be fine for, I guess, but clearly Ingles chose the home of Dynamo to match their ambitions of playing at a higher level. They now sit just one league below them.

I’m not sure what strength side Ingles fielded, but Wymeswold were the better team throughout, and despite coming away with a 3-1 victory, they had chances to double that score line. It was an entertaining game, and also quite competitive, but as you would expect given the heat and the fact it was still very early for pre-season, the pace slowed down in the second period.

So 2018-19 is underway, and it’s coming home apparently, sometimes I’m more than happy to be proved wrong!     

Uncle Bobbles Knows How To Keep Beth & Lucie Entertained!