Saturday 22 April 2017
Radcliffe Boys v Horwich St Mary’s Victoria Reserves – Div 3
Wasted journey – Radcliffe Boys had cried off – unable to raise a team; profuse and gracious apology received in the following week. It can happen to us all.
Ashtonians v Wardle – Division 1
However, this did allow me the opportunity of catching-up with my own Club, where I am a veteran Secretary.
This was the game that had been abandoned way back in August 2016 when Ashtonians winger, Jo Rooney, broke his leg (tib & fib) after 90 seconds but waited, unacceptably, 50 minutes for an ambulance – never played since.
By the time I arrived it was nearly half-term and Ashtonians had a comfortable 3-0 advantage. The second-half saw Wardle open a brief window of a comeback when they pulled goals back twice – at 3-1, and 4-2 – and the match became quite petulant, with Wardle forwards failing to understand the off-side line, costing one of them £10, and a subsequent, alleged, spitting incident, which went un-noticed by the referee.
Ashtonians ran in three late goals to put the result beyond doubt at 7-2, but it was a typical end-of-season affair that both clubs will be happy to forget.
Saturday 29 April 2017
Wedding in Colne and reception at Mytton Fold (could have nipped to Old Blacks and seen the whole game, but already been) – why do wedding photographers think that it’s all about them? [Old memories tweaked of travelling up the A59 (pre-M65) for Away games at Nelson GSOB, Burnley GSOB and Burnley Belvedere.]
Tuesday 02 May 2017
Thornleigh v Ashtonians – Division 1
Another end-of-season opportunity to see a second-half of my own Club and express my bias from the touch-line. Another petulant, end-of-season affair between two clubs who have quite a rivalry and who were both promoted to Division 1 last season.
This time the tables were turned. Ashtonians, 0-1 up at half-time, consolidated their lead in the second half with two high quality goals. However, the highlight of the match came in the final minute when Thornleigh’s eccentric goalkeeper went up for a corner and powered a header past his opposite number. The spoils to Ashtonians, who have finished a creditable fourth in their first season in Division 1, but the last laugh to Thornleigh’s No 1 and the most stick ever to Ashtonians member of the crazy goalkeeper fraternity.
Wednesday 03 May – 1st XI Cup Final – LFA County Ground, Leyland
Seemingly a mis-match, according to the League tables, when Radcliffe Town of Division 2 took on the aristocrats of Old Mancs from the Prem. I had seen both teams in the previous month. Mancs crafted an excellent counter-attacking victory at Old Bolts; Radcliffe Town had lost at home v Mostonians in a rough ‘n’ ready affair, characteristic of Division 2.
And the game began in this fashion; Mancs all-passing, with Alex Jones and Rodrigo Marcelino bossing the centre of mid-field, and Radcliffe players working very hard to close-down and restrict space. And they did so successfully.
In the first hour, Mancs managed two scrappy half-chances which were well blocked by Radcliffe tacklers, and the pick of the players became the effective defenders of both teams. But, as the match opened-up near its conclusion, it was Radcliffe that carried the greater threat and missed two glorious chances: one cross-shot that scraped the outside of the opposite post, and one rebound that was brilliantly saved.
Perhaps, then, it was deserving that Radcliffe pipped the opposition 5-4 in the penalty shoot-out. Were they happy – you bet: could be a lively table at the Dinner.
Thursday 04 May – ‘B’ team Cup Final – Old Mancunians ‘B’ v Rochdale St Clement’s ‘B’
Mancs were back in Cup Final action the following night at the immaculately presented, Old Bolts Churchtown pitch on a sunny, but windy, evening.
This match had the very different ‘feel’ of the lower divisions, where young and old (and not many in-between) were playing purely for the fun of it – reflected in the stat that the referee didn’t give a free-kick for half-an-hour. A credit to the LAL.
Both goals were scrappy, close-quarter affairs, either side of half-time, when Clements failed to clear from their own goal area. On this occasion, much to the Secretary and late-substitute’s delight, Mancs ran-out 2-0 winners.
This is what I would call a real LAL game. Lots of effort and varying talent; lots of endeavour and enthusiasm and handshakes at the conclusion. Little for the referee to bother himself with apart from keeping the game going, which he did well. Parental spectators from the Lake District – lovely folk. It feels essential that lower league teams are encouraged so that the ancient value of ‘playing the game’ top trumps the value of winning – perhaps as much a motto for life, as for football.
Saturday 06 May 2017
Tottington United Reserves v Rochdale St Clements B – Div 5
Tottington United A v Littleborough Reserves – Div 6
Above was my scheduled visit as Tottington is one of the two clubs I have failed to visit this season - and Littleborough was the other. However, in the end, I have failed in my objective to visit every club by these two, as I was rightly required to attend the Reserves team Cup Final at Daisy Hill.
Reserves team Cup Final – Rochdale St Clement’s Reserves v Lymm Reserves
I was attending my third Cup Final this week and, in an odd coincidence of timing, once again, there was a repeat club appearance, this time – Rochdale St Clement’s (again) from Division 2, playing Lymm from Division 5. My Programme Notes posed the question whether this is the biggest ‘gap’ between two finalists in the LAL cup competitions, Lymm starting out 40 places below Clement’s in league positions. But, learning from Wednesday’s experience, I wasn’t jumping to any pre-match conclusions.
However, the match did follow the form-book, with Clements taking a 2-0 lead in the first half-hour. But Lymm never looked out-of-it and scored a stunning goal, right in front of the goal-line spectators (inevitably – Ed). My man-of-the-match, Chris Brownlow, fired a cross from a tricky situation which was powered home by a superb header by the Lymm centre-forward. But Clements weren’t to be out-done, and scored an equally spectacular third goal on the stroke of half-time – this time, a curling shot from distance.
The second-half turned out to be something of an arm-wrestle, with both sides creating half-chances, but neither adding to the final score of 3-1 to Clements. Of the three finals this week, this seemed to be the most keenly contested and most demanding of referee Haider Ali and his team: they performed very well in creating a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon.
On a personal note, it was great to bump into Gary Caldwell, a good friend and Lymm opponent from yesteryear. Both clubs seemed to be in up-beat mode, which is refreshing when considering the struggles some clubs have faced this season with ‘commitment’.
Monday 07 May – Lancashire Cup Final – Old Boltonians v Southport and Ainsdale
How appropriate that my final Diary entry should be at the most prestigious match played by any Club from the LAL this season – so many congratulations to Old Boltonians for reaching the Lancashire Amateur Cup Final. I even brought Alison to this one.
A word about my lovely wife, Alison, who, curiously, is responsible for my relationship with the Lancashire Amateur League. We met at university and married in 1980, a year after she was appointed to her first teaching post at, yes, Ashtonians home ground of Byrchall High School.
As we were planning to make our home in Ashton, she persuaded me to switch my footballing skills from English Electric in the Liverpool Business Houses League to Ashton GSOB in the LAL, resulting in me turning-up at training in late August 1979 and making my mid-week debut for Ashton GSOB at Newman College.
I always know the number of years that I have been connected to the LAL as it is my wedding anniversary + 1, or I always know the number of years I have been married by taking my LAL relationship and subtracting one – we will have been married for 37 years this July.
The only secret to a happy marriage is for one’s wife to understand that Saturday afternoon is for football – not Asda, or any other distractions (younger players, please note). Fortunately, she was an accomplished sportswoman herself as a netball Centre, a good club badminton player (still playing at 61) and, now, an over-keen crown green bowler (four nights each week) – and her golf remains as bad as mine. We agree that we both preferred team sports where the ball is moving (“throw me that golf ball, luv”).
She indulged my playing for another eight years; refereeing for another 20; she dragged me to Wigan Athletic as a season ticket holder for eight years in the Premiership – she still goes – and has been delighted, after one year of refereeing assessments, that I have been out of her hair for another season of Saturdays visiting clubs in the LAL (that’s 38 [37+1] years). And in that time, I have never been in Asda on a Saturday (except for a butty). She has delivered us two sons both of whom have devoted 17 and 15 years respectively to playing in the LAL. (She is Welsh, proclaims herself a Tudor, and says she would have been all right for Henry VIII with an heir and a spare, so I have modelled my body on his.)
So, perhaps it is fitting, that she attended my last gig as President; highlights as follows:
Bolts looked the stronger side throughout – they are a big set of lads – and if one falls over and makes it look convincing, there is always the likelihood of a penalty – and so it was, comfortably dispatched. The game offered few chances, but when another came the way of Bolts faster forward, he slotted it tidily past their keeper.
After a Bolts foul on 40 minutes, a S & A player completely lost it and lunged in with a wild and late tackle. When the handbags had died down, he was rightly dispatched by the excellent referee.
Although the odds were stacked against S & A in the second-half, 0-2 and one man down, they put on a creditable show with lots of neat one-touch football, and were never out of it until five minutes from time when the Bolts forward exquisitely lobbed the S & A keeper for a third and a slightly flattering, but fully deserved, scoreline of 3-0.
Many congratulations to Old Bolts, a wonderful and successful club and ambassadors for the Lancashire Amateur League.
Tuesday 08 May 2017 – ‘A’ Team Cup Final
And finally, was unable to attend this Final as I was working in London, but….
Radcliffe Boys v Horwich St Mary’s Victoria Reserves – Div 3
Wasted journey – Radcliffe Boys had cried off – unable to raise a team; profuse and gracious apology received in the following week. It can happen to us all.
Ashtonians v Wardle – Division 1
However, this did allow me the opportunity of catching-up with my own Club, where I am a veteran Secretary.
This was the game that had been abandoned way back in August 2016 when Ashtonians winger, Jo Rooney, broke his leg (tib & fib) after 90 seconds but waited, unacceptably, 50 minutes for an ambulance – never played since.
By the time I arrived it was nearly half-term and Ashtonians had a comfortable 3-0 advantage. The second-half saw Wardle open a brief window of a comeback when they pulled goals back twice – at 3-1, and 4-2 – and the match became quite petulant, with Wardle forwards failing to understand the off-side line, costing one of them £10, and a subsequent, alleged, spitting incident, which went un-noticed by the referee.
Ashtonians ran in three late goals to put the result beyond doubt at 7-2, but it was a typical end-of-season affair that both clubs will be happy to forget.
Saturday 29 April 2017
Wedding in Colne and reception at Mytton Fold (could have nipped to Old Blacks and seen the whole game, but already been) – why do wedding photographers think that it’s all about them? [Old memories tweaked of travelling up the A59 (pre-M65) for Away games at Nelson GSOB, Burnley GSOB and Burnley Belvedere.]
Tuesday 02 May 2017
Thornleigh v Ashtonians – Division 1
Another end-of-season opportunity to see a second-half of my own Club and express my bias from the touch-line. Another petulant, end-of-season affair between two clubs who have quite a rivalry and who were both promoted to Division 1 last season.
This time the tables were turned. Ashtonians, 0-1 up at half-time, consolidated their lead in the second half with two high quality goals. However, the highlight of the match came in the final minute when Thornleigh’s eccentric goalkeeper went up for a corner and powered a header past his opposite number. The spoils to Ashtonians, who have finished a creditable fourth in their first season in Division 1, but the last laugh to Thornleigh’s No 1 and the most stick ever to Ashtonians member of the crazy goalkeeper fraternity.
Wednesday 03 May – 1st XI Cup Final – LFA County Ground, Leyland
Seemingly a mis-match, according to the League tables, when Radcliffe Town of Division 2 took on the aristocrats of Old Mancs from the Prem. I had seen both teams in the previous month. Mancs crafted an excellent counter-attacking victory at Old Bolts; Radcliffe Town had lost at home v Mostonians in a rough ‘n’ ready affair, characteristic of Division 2.
And the game began in this fashion; Mancs all-passing, with Alex Jones and Rodrigo Marcelino bossing the centre of mid-field, and Radcliffe players working very hard to close-down and restrict space. And they did so successfully.
In the first hour, Mancs managed two scrappy half-chances which were well blocked by Radcliffe tacklers, and the pick of the players became the effective defenders of both teams. But, as the match opened-up near its conclusion, it was Radcliffe that carried the greater threat and missed two glorious chances: one cross-shot that scraped the outside of the opposite post, and one rebound that was brilliantly saved.
Perhaps, then, it was deserving that Radcliffe pipped the opposition 5-4 in the penalty shoot-out. Were they happy – you bet: could be a lively table at the Dinner.
Thursday 04 May – ‘B’ team Cup Final – Old Mancunians ‘B’ v Rochdale St Clement’s ‘B’
Mancs were back in Cup Final action the following night at the immaculately presented, Old Bolts Churchtown pitch on a sunny, but windy, evening.
This match had the very different ‘feel’ of the lower divisions, where young and old (and not many in-between) were playing purely for the fun of it – reflected in the stat that the referee didn’t give a free-kick for half-an-hour. A credit to the LAL.
Both goals were scrappy, close-quarter affairs, either side of half-time, when Clements failed to clear from their own goal area. On this occasion, much to the Secretary and late-substitute’s delight, Mancs ran-out 2-0 winners.
This is what I would call a real LAL game. Lots of effort and varying talent; lots of endeavour and enthusiasm and handshakes at the conclusion. Little for the referee to bother himself with apart from keeping the game going, which he did well. Parental spectators from the Lake District – lovely folk. It feels essential that lower league teams are encouraged so that the ancient value of ‘playing the game’ top trumps the value of winning – perhaps as much a motto for life, as for football.
Saturday 06 May 2017
Tottington United Reserves v Rochdale St Clements B – Div 5
Tottington United A v Littleborough Reserves – Div 6
Above was my scheduled visit as Tottington is one of the two clubs I have failed to visit this season - and Littleborough was the other. However, in the end, I have failed in my objective to visit every club by these two, as I was rightly required to attend the Reserves team Cup Final at Daisy Hill.
Reserves team Cup Final – Rochdale St Clement’s Reserves v Lymm Reserves
I was attending my third Cup Final this week and, in an odd coincidence of timing, once again, there was a repeat club appearance, this time – Rochdale St Clement’s (again) from Division 2, playing Lymm from Division 5. My Programme Notes posed the question whether this is the biggest ‘gap’ between two finalists in the LAL cup competitions, Lymm starting out 40 places below Clement’s in league positions. But, learning from Wednesday’s experience, I wasn’t jumping to any pre-match conclusions.
However, the match did follow the form-book, with Clements taking a 2-0 lead in the first half-hour. But Lymm never looked out-of-it and scored a stunning goal, right in front of the goal-line spectators (inevitably – Ed). My man-of-the-match, Chris Brownlow, fired a cross from a tricky situation which was powered home by a superb header by the Lymm centre-forward. But Clements weren’t to be out-done, and scored an equally spectacular third goal on the stroke of half-time – this time, a curling shot from distance.
The second-half turned out to be something of an arm-wrestle, with both sides creating half-chances, but neither adding to the final score of 3-1 to Clements. Of the three finals this week, this seemed to be the most keenly contested and most demanding of referee Haider Ali and his team: they performed very well in creating a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon.
On a personal note, it was great to bump into Gary Caldwell, a good friend and Lymm opponent from yesteryear. Both clubs seemed to be in up-beat mode, which is refreshing when considering the struggles some clubs have faced this season with ‘commitment’.
Monday 07 May – Lancashire Cup Final – Old Boltonians v Southport and Ainsdale
How appropriate that my final Diary entry should be at the most prestigious match played by any Club from the LAL this season – so many congratulations to Old Boltonians for reaching the Lancashire Amateur Cup Final. I even brought Alison to this one.
A word about my lovely wife, Alison, who, curiously, is responsible for my relationship with the Lancashire Amateur League. We met at university and married in 1980, a year after she was appointed to her first teaching post at, yes, Ashtonians home ground of Byrchall High School.
As we were planning to make our home in Ashton, she persuaded me to switch my footballing skills from English Electric in the Liverpool Business Houses League to Ashton GSOB in the LAL, resulting in me turning-up at training in late August 1979 and making my mid-week debut for Ashton GSOB at Newman College.
I always know the number of years that I have been connected to the LAL as it is my wedding anniversary + 1, or I always know the number of years I have been married by taking my LAL relationship and subtracting one – we will have been married for 37 years this July.
The only secret to a happy marriage is for one’s wife to understand that Saturday afternoon is for football – not Asda, or any other distractions (younger players, please note). Fortunately, she was an accomplished sportswoman herself as a netball Centre, a good club badminton player (still playing at 61) and, now, an over-keen crown green bowler (four nights each week) – and her golf remains as bad as mine. We agree that we both preferred team sports where the ball is moving (“throw me that golf ball, luv”).
She indulged my playing for another eight years; refereeing for another 20; she dragged me to Wigan Athletic as a season ticket holder for eight years in the Premiership – she still goes – and has been delighted, after one year of refereeing assessments, that I have been out of her hair for another season of Saturdays visiting clubs in the LAL (that’s 38 [37+1] years). And in that time, I have never been in Asda on a Saturday (except for a butty). She has delivered us two sons both of whom have devoted 17 and 15 years respectively to playing in the LAL. (She is Welsh, proclaims herself a Tudor, and says she would have been all right for Henry VIII with an heir and a spare, so I have modelled my body on his.)
So, perhaps it is fitting, that she attended my last gig as President; highlights as follows:
Bolts looked the stronger side throughout – they are a big set of lads – and if one falls over and makes it look convincing, there is always the likelihood of a penalty – and so it was, comfortably dispatched. The game offered few chances, but when another came the way of Bolts faster forward, he slotted it tidily past their keeper.
After a Bolts foul on 40 minutes, a S & A player completely lost it and lunged in with a wild and late tackle. When the handbags had died down, he was rightly dispatched by the excellent referee.
Although the odds were stacked against S & A in the second-half, 0-2 and one man down, they put on a creditable show with lots of neat one-touch football, and were never out of it until five minutes from time when the Bolts forward exquisitely lobbed the S & A keeper for a third and a slightly flattering, but fully deserved, scoreline of 3-0.
Many congratulations to Old Bolts, a wonderful and successful club and ambassadors for the Lancashire Amateur League.
Tuesday 08 May 2017 – ‘A’ Team Cup Final
And finally, was unable to attend this Final as I was working in London, but….
