Saturday 22 October 2016
Old Blackburnians A v Ashtonians Res - Div 4
Old Blackburnians Res v Hesketh Res – Div 3
More pre-match joshing in correspondence:
I am actually our 'A' team manager so I will be involved in the game (at the moment I am also currently a substitute for Saturday). Kind regards. Philip Woodford - Old Blackburnians
...as all A team managers should be - I shall look forward to seeing you in action, leaping off the bench to transform the outcome of the match. Maurice
In true LAL historic culture, all substitutes for lower teams should include a smattering of club officials, veterans and individuals whose enthusiasm outweighs their abilities, as it was with both clubs on this occasion.
But when Secretary Phil did rise from the bench with 5 minutes to go, he was indeed the game-changer. I’m not sure if he contributed anything to the second Blacks’ goal in the 90th minute, but his mere presence and speed (as indicated from his band of supporters) did add a zest to Blacks’ last five minutes which proved telling; and it was the Ashtonians substitute who was outpaced by Blacks’ veteran centre-forward for their 90th minute one-on-one, second goal which settled the affair. Until then, in a fairly evenly-matched game, Blacks held on to a first half lead throughout the match until this last-minute settler. Also, very well refereed.
In the ‘big game’, Hesketh belied their lowly league position in the first half, equalising an Old Blacks’ first-half opener. However, despite a courageous goal-keeping performance, he couldn’t keep-out another second half six from the young Blackburn outfit who ended-up playing attack v defence.
A ram-sammy Home day for Old Blacks which I’m sure was enjoyed well into the night by the three amigos who hosted my visit with the trademark Blacks’ courtesy and a half-time cup of coffee (other clubs please note).
Saturday 29 October 2016
Hesketh Casuals v Ashtonians – Div 1
Who needs the pro game, when amateur football can be as exciting as this every week, except that ‘my club’ keeps coming home on the wrong-side of tight score lines.
The long-standing Registrations Secretary of the LAL and Secretary of Hesketh, the lugubrious Rodders, was in pessimistic mode in his note to me during the week before the game:
Hi Maurice, Going by our league position I don't think you should have to (sic) much trouble we can't score goals hit the cross bar 3 times last Saturday.
On arrival, he had more bad news – a straight 11, an out-field player standing-in as goalie, and two players who would have to leave the pitch at 16 00 to go to work? (Note: Rodders not to apply for the role of Mr Motivator). Good job there was an early kick-off then!
The players, themselves, though, had obviously not heard Rodders pre-match team talk, and showed vigour and vivacity on a rather grassy surface. Half-time at 1-1 was a fair reflection of the match. Hesketh, however, started the second-half better and were rewarded with two contrasting goals. One, an excellent header by Rob Langley after good build-up play, and one created by Ashtonians’ John Stones impersonator who, as last man, tried to dribble past the pressing opponent, inevitably lost possession, leaving the Hesketh forward with a one-on-one opportunity which he gratefully converted.
Ashtonians stand-out player, Liam Imrie, scored an outstanding second goal for the visitors following a mazy run past a number of Hesketh defenders, making the scoreline 3-2, followed by an impressive ‘alamo-like’ finale during which time the Hesketh goalkeeper Andy Cain made an excellent save and the two Hesketh players discreetly left the field to go to work, including man-of-the-match Thomas Armstrong. The nine men survived for a deserved, and rare, victory making it the second season in succession that Ashtonians left New Road empty-handed. Time to collect Mrs Smith from Southport’s shops, leaving my wallet in a similar predicament - empty.
It was good to meet young Rodders, and also the be-throned Peter Hames, Chair of the LAL’s Discipline Committee, who has the thankless tasks of working-out punishments for ‘match not played’ offences. Also present on the well-populated touchlines were Mike Shuttleworth, son of our long-standing Chairman, who had made the trip from Lytham to watch the game and John Parkinson, perhaps the longest-standing member in the League. All made me very welcome, for which I am grateful.
In my humble view, despite dropping a couple of teams recently, Hesketh’s continuing loyalty to the LAL is admirable as teams around them have moved-on – Southport Ams, Ainsdale, Tarleton. This victory showed that there is plenty of enthusiasm and talent amongst the remaining players and, to use a much hackneyed expression, I hope will kick-start their season.
Saturday 05 November 2016
Winter-sun in Portugal – well, somebody has to….
Returned to some blank score sheets: Ashtonians lost both matches 0-4, Everton (my team) lost 0-5 and Wigan Athletic (wifey’s team) 0-3.
Tuesday 08 November 2016
Liverpool County FA v Lancashire Amateur League (representative side)
An extraordinary event.
I’ve never attended a representative match (shame!) but, if this one was representative, they are not to be missed.
On an absolutely shocking night, weather-wise, our much more representative team visited the County Ground of Liverpool FA, half of whose players emanated from Aigburth Parish Hall.
This is my old stomping ground as an exiled Scouser. I played many a school-boy and adult match at Wally Hall Park before its remarkable facelift, prior to me drifting Eastwards to Lancashire in my mid-20s. The Atlantic wind, straight off Liverpool Bay, hadn’t changed, and with it came squally rain on this freezing night. But what entertainment. The final score of 7-4 to Liverpool accurately reflected the dominance of attacks over defences; the quality of some of the forward play and the difficult conditions for defenders, some of ours looking a little less mobile than Liverpool’s forwards; and, spending a disproportionate period of time on their backsides.
I think the score went: 1-0; 2-0; 2-1; 3-1; 4-1; HT; 4-2; 5-2; 5-3; 6-3; 7-3; 7-4. Interpret this as follows: Liverpool were almost always two goals ahead; they scored a fantastic free-kick (1-0) and we scored a penalty; we drew the second-half; and it was so cold, that the presentation of the shield only involved the captain in the coffee room, as everyone else had fled the outdoors. He was the absolutely excellent captain and No 10, Connor Millington.
On a personal note, we were well supported by Council members and Bolton Wyresdale, and I had an opportunity to reminisce with my Liverpool Presidential opposite number. Nostalgic memories of being a barman (1973-76) in the Royal Oak, Muirhead Avenue East, one of Liverpool’s biggest (and roughest) pubs. Apparently it had been closed at one period recently after a shotgun murder, but still hosted two of the clubs represented in the Liverpool County’s team – East Villa and Roma (the Liverpool County manager’s team). Now why would a Scouse, ale-‘ouse team be called Roma, surely a romantic link to a Liverpool European Cup Final victory in 1984, and wobbly Grobbelar’s penalty save. Sorry – no such link – but merely an acronym of the said pub (you work it out).
Saturday 12 November 2016
Too much rain; too few games. I feel our LAL mid-season break approaching.
Old Blackburnians A v Ashtonians Res - Div 4
Old Blackburnians Res v Hesketh Res – Div 3
More pre-match joshing in correspondence:
I am actually our 'A' team manager so I will be involved in the game (at the moment I am also currently a substitute for Saturday). Kind regards. Philip Woodford - Old Blackburnians
...as all A team managers should be - I shall look forward to seeing you in action, leaping off the bench to transform the outcome of the match. Maurice
In true LAL historic culture, all substitutes for lower teams should include a smattering of club officials, veterans and individuals whose enthusiasm outweighs their abilities, as it was with both clubs on this occasion.
But when Secretary Phil did rise from the bench with 5 minutes to go, he was indeed the game-changer. I’m not sure if he contributed anything to the second Blacks’ goal in the 90th minute, but his mere presence and speed (as indicated from his band of supporters) did add a zest to Blacks’ last five minutes which proved telling; and it was the Ashtonians substitute who was outpaced by Blacks’ veteran centre-forward for their 90th minute one-on-one, second goal which settled the affair. Until then, in a fairly evenly-matched game, Blacks held on to a first half lead throughout the match until this last-minute settler. Also, very well refereed.
In the ‘big game’, Hesketh belied their lowly league position in the first half, equalising an Old Blacks’ first-half opener. However, despite a courageous goal-keeping performance, he couldn’t keep-out another second half six from the young Blackburn outfit who ended-up playing attack v defence.
A ram-sammy Home day for Old Blacks which I’m sure was enjoyed well into the night by the three amigos who hosted my visit with the trademark Blacks’ courtesy and a half-time cup of coffee (other clubs please note).
Saturday 29 October 2016
Hesketh Casuals v Ashtonians – Div 1
Who needs the pro game, when amateur football can be as exciting as this every week, except that ‘my club’ keeps coming home on the wrong-side of tight score lines.
The long-standing Registrations Secretary of the LAL and Secretary of Hesketh, the lugubrious Rodders, was in pessimistic mode in his note to me during the week before the game:
Hi Maurice, Going by our league position I don't think you should have to (sic) much trouble we can't score goals hit the cross bar 3 times last Saturday.
On arrival, he had more bad news – a straight 11, an out-field player standing-in as goalie, and two players who would have to leave the pitch at 16 00 to go to work? (Note: Rodders not to apply for the role of Mr Motivator). Good job there was an early kick-off then!
The players, themselves, though, had obviously not heard Rodders pre-match team talk, and showed vigour and vivacity on a rather grassy surface. Half-time at 1-1 was a fair reflection of the match. Hesketh, however, started the second-half better and were rewarded with two contrasting goals. One, an excellent header by Rob Langley after good build-up play, and one created by Ashtonians’ John Stones impersonator who, as last man, tried to dribble past the pressing opponent, inevitably lost possession, leaving the Hesketh forward with a one-on-one opportunity which he gratefully converted.
Ashtonians stand-out player, Liam Imrie, scored an outstanding second goal for the visitors following a mazy run past a number of Hesketh defenders, making the scoreline 3-2, followed by an impressive ‘alamo-like’ finale during which time the Hesketh goalkeeper Andy Cain made an excellent save and the two Hesketh players discreetly left the field to go to work, including man-of-the-match Thomas Armstrong. The nine men survived for a deserved, and rare, victory making it the second season in succession that Ashtonians left New Road empty-handed. Time to collect Mrs Smith from Southport’s shops, leaving my wallet in a similar predicament - empty.
It was good to meet young Rodders, and also the be-throned Peter Hames, Chair of the LAL’s Discipline Committee, who has the thankless tasks of working-out punishments for ‘match not played’ offences. Also present on the well-populated touchlines were Mike Shuttleworth, son of our long-standing Chairman, who had made the trip from Lytham to watch the game and John Parkinson, perhaps the longest-standing member in the League. All made me very welcome, for which I am grateful.
In my humble view, despite dropping a couple of teams recently, Hesketh’s continuing loyalty to the LAL is admirable as teams around them have moved-on – Southport Ams, Ainsdale, Tarleton. This victory showed that there is plenty of enthusiasm and talent amongst the remaining players and, to use a much hackneyed expression, I hope will kick-start their season.
Saturday 05 November 2016
Winter-sun in Portugal – well, somebody has to….
Returned to some blank score sheets: Ashtonians lost both matches 0-4, Everton (my team) lost 0-5 and Wigan Athletic (wifey’s team) 0-3.
Tuesday 08 November 2016
Liverpool County FA v Lancashire Amateur League (representative side)
An extraordinary event.
I’ve never attended a representative match (shame!) but, if this one was representative, they are not to be missed.
On an absolutely shocking night, weather-wise, our much more representative team visited the County Ground of Liverpool FA, half of whose players emanated from Aigburth Parish Hall.
This is my old stomping ground as an exiled Scouser. I played many a school-boy and adult match at Wally Hall Park before its remarkable facelift, prior to me drifting Eastwards to Lancashire in my mid-20s. The Atlantic wind, straight off Liverpool Bay, hadn’t changed, and with it came squally rain on this freezing night. But what entertainment. The final score of 7-4 to Liverpool accurately reflected the dominance of attacks over defences; the quality of some of the forward play and the difficult conditions for defenders, some of ours looking a little less mobile than Liverpool’s forwards; and, spending a disproportionate period of time on their backsides.
I think the score went: 1-0; 2-0; 2-1; 3-1; 4-1; HT; 4-2; 5-2; 5-3; 6-3; 7-3; 7-4. Interpret this as follows: Liverpool were almost always two goals ahead; they scored a fantastic free-kick (1-0) and we scored a penalty; we drew the second-half; and it was so cold, that the presentation of the shield only involved the captain in the coffee room, as everyone else had fled the outdoors. He was the absolutely excellent captain and No 10, Connor Millington.
On a personal note, we were well supported by Council members and Bolton Wyresdale, and I had an opportunity to reminisce with my Liverpool Presidential opposite number. Nostalgic memories of being a barman (1973-76) in the Royal Oak, Muirhead Avenue East, one of Liverpool’s biggest (and roughest) pubs. Apparently it had been closed at one period recently after a shotgun murder, but still hosted two of the clubs represented in the Liverpool County’s team – East Villa and Roma (the Liverpool County manager’s team). Now why would a Scouse, ale-‘ouse team be called Roma, surely a romantic link to a Liverpool European Cup Final victory in 1984, and wobbly Grobbelar’s penalty save. Sorry – no such link – but merely an acronym of the said pub (you work it out).
Saturday 12 November 2016
Too much rain; too few games. I feel our LAL mid-season break approaching.