Stagecoach Ayrshire District League
At: Hamilton Park
Kick-off: 7-30 pm
Attendance: 40 (headcount)
Weather: drizzle
Wednesday 28th May 2008
Girvan 4 Dalry Thistle 3
Stagecoach Ayrshire District League
At: Hamilton Park
Kick-off: 7-30 pm
Attendance: 40 (headcount)
Weather: drizzle
Stagecoach Ayrshire District League
At: Hamilton Park
Kick-off: 7-30 pm
Attendance: 40 (headcount)
Weather: drizzle
Monday 26th May 2008
Kilwinning Rangers 2 Irvine Meadow 1
Ayrshire Weekly Press Cup Fourth Round
At: Abbey Park
Kick-off: 7-30 pm
Attendance: 325 (headcount)
Weather: Sunny
Duration: first half: 45:18; second half: 48:14
Ayrshire Weekly Press Cup Fourth Round
At: Abbey Park
Kick-off: 7-30 pm
Attendance: 325 (headcount)
Weather: Sunny
Duration: first half: 45:18; second half: 48:14
Saturday 17th May 2008 ii
Garswood United 1 Linotype Cheadle Heath Nomads 3
Cheshire Association League Division 1
At: The Wooders
Kick-off: 3-00 pm
Attendance: 35 (headcount)
Weather: Showers
Duration: first half: 47:02; second half: 50:10
Cheshire Association League Division 1
At: The Wooders
Kick-off: 3-00 pm
Attendance: 35 (headcount)
Weather: Showers
Duration: first half: 47:02; second half: 50:10
Saturday 17th May 2008 i
East Villa 3 Waterloo Dock 0
Liverpool County FA Premier League Premier Division
At: Scargreen Complex
Kick-off: 12-30 pm
Attendance: 55 (headcount)
Weather: -
These days, there aren’t too many fixtures on Cup Final day but the ones that are scheduled often provide a variety of kick-off times, where it be morning, lunchtime, afternoon or evening. The night before, I spoke to one of my football friends about travelling together to a game but had decided that I wanted to see what the weather would bring. A warm sunny day and a family trip out or a duller day and football? Saturday morning brought dull and cloudy conditions so off I headed north – and I’m pleased I did!
There were several games listed for the Liverpool County Premier League but the one between runners-up East Villa and champions Waterloo Docks stood out. The latter had an unassailable lead at the top, just as they had twelve months ago. But this time round East Villa still had the opportunity to finish a lot closer that they did at the end of the 2006/07 season when Dock topped the final table by 13 points. Villa were in buoyant mood, having four days earlier defeated Speke 3-2 after extra time to lift the Liverpool County FA Challenge Cup for the first time in almost 20 years. Waterloo went into the game fresh from defeating Collegiate Old Boys 3-1 to clinch the title.
The East Villa website provides an excellent history of the club, which dates back to 1959. They competed in the Liverpool League before joining the I Zingari League in 1971. Villa progressed through the divisions of this competition, winning the Premier Division title in both 1997/98 and 2004/05. They finished the 2005/06 season as runners-up to Old Xaverians. In 2006, the I Zingari League merged with the Liverpool County Football Combination became the Frank Armitt sponsored Liverpool County FA Premier League. As already mentioned, East Villa finished the inaugural Premier League season as runners-up. However, they capped a great 2006/07 season by winning both the George Mahon League Cup and the I-Zingari Challenge Cup. This season they lifted the LCFA Challenge Cup, a trophy last won in 1989/90, for the first time in almost 20 years.
East Villa have played home games this season at Jeffreys Humble Sports Ground, Long Lane, Walton, but the game I saw was played the Scargreen Sports Ground which is the listed home of Roma FC. Apparently, Villa have used Scargreen on other occasions during the season and it was in fact listed as their home ground in this season’s Football Traveller Directory.
There was some confusion as to whether kick-off was at noon or 12-30 pm, which was the time the action got underway at Scarsgreen. East Villa took the field sporting a rather Dutch-looking kit of orange shirts with black shorts and socks. A closer look at the shirt and, yes, there was a Netherlands KNVB badge!
The Scargreen Complex is located, not surprisingly, on Scargreen Avenue in the Norris Green area of Liverpool. No admission was charged and there was no programme. However, the car park entrance is actually off Shottesbrook Green. The pitch, on a larger field, is aligned northwest to southeast and railed off on each side with no cover. The changing rooms are located on the western side at an angle to the pitch and some could argue provides a bit of shelter from the elements. Waterloo Dock wore an all-blue kit.
With the home side attacking the northern end of the ground, there was a well-known surname on the scoresheet when East Villa took a 26th minute lead. Graeme Rooney (yes, he is related) stayed onside to latch onto a defence-splitting throughball and fire low across the keeper into the bottom-left corner. Waterloo should have equalised just before the break so a single-goal lead in favour of Villa was the interval scoreline. Neither side went in at half-time and the match was underway again within three minutes – good news for those wanting to watch the Cup Final and others wanting to get to Garswood United!
It was 2-0 eight minutes into the second half. Franny McIntosh fed Lee Pegram on the left side of the area who send a low shot into the opposite corner of the net. Substitute Paul McGuinness wrapped up the win for Villa late on with a low drive from inside the area.
Footnote: East Villa won their final game two days later (2-1 at home to Speke) to finish the season in the runners-up spot, just two points behind the Champions Waterloo Dock. In fact they won each of their final five league games.
Liverpool County FA Premier League Premier Division
At: Scargreen Complex
Kick-off: 12-30 pm
Attendance: 55 (headcount)
Weather: -
These days, there aren’t too many fixtures on Cup Final day but the ones that are scheduled often provide a variety of kick-off times, where it be morning, lunchtime, afternoon or evening. The night before, I spoke to one of my football friends about travelling together to a game but had decided that I wanted to see what the weather would bring. A warm sunny day and a family trip out or a duller day and football? Saturday morning brought dull and cloudy conditions so off I headed north – and I’m pleased I did!
There were several games listed for the Liverpool County Premier League but the one between runners-up East Villa and champions Waterloo Docks stood out. The latter had an unassailable lead at the top, just as they had twelve months ago. But this time round East Villa still had the opportunity to finish a lot closer that they did at the end of the 2006/07 season when Dock topped the final table by 13 points. Villa were in buoyant mood, having four days earlier defeated Speke 3-2 after extra time to lift the Liverpool County FA Challenge Cup for the first time in almost 20 years. Waterloo went into the game fresh from defeating Collegiate Old Boys 3-1 to clinch the title.
The East Villa website provides an excellent history of the club, which dates back to 1959. They competed in the Liverpool League before joining the I Zingari League in 1971. Villa progressed through the divisions of this competition, winning the Premier Division title in both 1997/98 and 2004/05. They finished the 2005/06 season as runners-up to Old Xaverians. In 2006, the I Zingari League merged with the Liverpool County Football Combination became the Frank Armitt sponsored Liverpool County FA Premier League. As already mentioned, East Villa finished the inaugural Premier League season as runners-up. However, they capped a great 2006/07 season by winning both the George Mahon League Cup and the I-Zingari Challenge Cup. This season they lifted the LCFA Challenge Cup, a trophy last won in 1989/90, for the first time in almost 20 years.
East Villa have played home games this season at Jeffreys Humble Sports Ground, Long Lane, Walton, but the game I saw was played the Scargreen Sports Ground which is the listed home of Roma FC. Apparently, Villa have used Scargreen on other occasions during the season and it was in fact listed as their home ground in this season’s Football Traveller Directory.
There was some confusion as to whether kick-off was at noon or 12-30 pm, which was the time the action got underway at Scarsgreen. East Villa took the field sporting a rather Dutch-looking kit of orange shirts with black shorts and socks. A closer look at the shirt and, yes, there was a Netherlands KNVB badge!
The Scargreen Complex is located, not surprisingly, on Scargreen Avenue in the Norris Green area of Liverpool. No admission was charged and there was no programme. However, the car park entrance is actually off Shottesbrook Green. The pitch, on a larger field, is aligned northwest to southeast and railed off on each side with no cover. The changing rooms are located on the western side at an angle to the pitch and some could argue provides a bit of shelter from the elements. Waterloo Dock wore an all-blue kit.
With the home side attacking the northern end of the ground, there was a well-known surname on the scoresheet when East Villa took a 26th minute lead. Graeme Rooney (yes, he is related) stayed onside to latch onto a defence-splitting throughball and fire low across the keeper into the bottom-left corner. Waterloo should have equalised just before the break so a single-goal lead in favour of Villa was the interval scoreline. Neither side went in at half-time and the match was underway again within three minutes – good news for those wanting to watch the Cup Final and others wanting to get to Garswood United!
It was 2-0 eight minutes into the second half. Franny McIntosh fed Lee Pegram on the left side of the area who send a low shot into the opposite corner of the net. Substitute Paul McGuinness wrapped up the win for Villa late on with a low drive from inside the area.
Footnote: East Villa won their final game two days later (2-1 at home to Speke) to finish the season in the runners-up spot, just two points behind the Champions Waterloo Dock. In fact they won each of their final five league games.
Thursday 15th May 2008
Doveridge 0 Alton 1
Bill Redfern Memorial Cup First Round
At: Doveridge Recreation Ground
Kick-off: 7-30 pm
Attendance: 20 (headcount)
Weather:
Duration: first half ; second half
I must admit to making a late decision to watch this Summer League cup game. Rain was forecast and a known road closure en-route put doubts in my mind and it was after 6 pm when I finally decided ‘why not’.
Always being someone who likes to get to the ground in plenty of time, sometimes far too early, I certainly cut this fine arriving barely five minutes before kick-off. Thankfully I knew exactly where the ground was, having taken a detour on the way back from Osmaston last Saturday.
The village of Doveridge is located just off the A50 dual carriageway, a few miles east of Uttoxeter. Travelling east to towards Derby, leave the A50 at the (stating the obvious) Doveridge exit. At the top of the slip road, turn right to the roundabout. Go straight across and the ground is immediately on the left next to the Village Hall.
Entering the large playing field from the Village Hall car park, the pitch is on the near side. Next to the pitch in the far-left corner was a changing room building on one side with ‘DFC’ in grey-coloured bricks on one side. There were benches in front of this building with a good view of the pitch but no one decided to make use of them.
Right on cue, the teams took the field but there were no numbers of the backs of the sky blue shirts worn by the Doveridge players. No such problems with Alton’s yellow shirts with green shorts. I suppose it didn’t matter as I don’t take down the team line-ups at Summer League games. By the way, there was no admission charge or programme.
Both sides had made a reasonable start to the league season. Alton stood in third position with six wins and two draws from eight games, while Doveridge were three places below with games in hand having won five and lost one of the six games. For the first half, I chose to watch the game sat on one of two ‘park’ benches on the perimeter of the field; the other bench was occupied by a couple who clearly supported the visitors. It was still goalless at the end of the first half and the home side continued to create the better scoring opportunities in the second half, despite Alton attacking down the slight slope towards the Village Hall. By this time I had changed positions to one stood on the touchline.
There was a real controversial moment in the 79th minute when Alton thought they’d taken the lead when the ball bounced down after their striker (wearing number 9) headed against the underside of the bar. No goal was the verdict and extra time was a distinct possibility. However, it didn’t matter if the ball crossed the line or not as Alton scored what proved to be the winner in the 82nd minute.
Results: Biggin 3 Weston 2; Wheel Inn 1 Mayfield 1 (after extra time Mayfield won 8-7 on penalties); Osmaston 0 Longford 3; Kirk Langley 1 Bradley4; Coach & Horses 1 Coach Rangers 6; Doveridge 0 Alton 1; Rose & Crown 3 Holly Bush 2; Brassington 1 FC Hulland 2.
The Bill Redfern Memorial Cup first round went largely as expected and the second round draw produced some interesting matches with Osmaston meeting Bradley again plus Alton v Coach Rangers. Mayfield will be happy to have draw FC Hulland whilst the Biggin v Rose & Crown promises an even game.
Bill Redfern Memorial Cup First Round
At: Doveridge Recreation Ground
Kick-off: 7-30 pm
Attendance: 20 (headcount)
Weather:
Duration: first half ; second half
I must admit to making a late decision to watch this Summer League cup game. Rain was forecast and a known road closure en-route put doubts in my mind and it was after 6 pm when I finally decided ‘why not’.
Always being someone who likes to get to the ground in plenty of time, sometimes far too early, I certainly cut this fine arriving barely five minutes before kick-off. Thankfully I knew exactly where the ground was, having taken a detour on the way back from Osmaston last Saturday.
The village of Doveridge is located just off the A50 dual carriageway, a few miles east of Uttoxeter. Travelling east to towards Derby, leave the A50 at the (stating the obvious) Doveridge exit. At the top of the slip road, turn right to the roundabout. Go straight across and the ground is immediately on the left next to the Village Hall.
Entering the large playing field from the Village Hall car park, the pitch is on the near side. Next to the pitch in the far-left corner was a changing room building on one side with ‘DFC’ in grey-coloured bricks on one side. There were benches in front of this building with a good view of the pitch but no one decided to make use of them.
Right on cue, the teams took the field but there were no numbers of the backs of the sky blue shirts worn by the Doveridge players. No such problems with Alton’s yellow shirts with green shorts. I suppose it didn’t matter as I don’t take down the team line-ups at Summer League games. By the way, there was no admission charge or programme.
Both sides had made a reasonable start to the league season. Alton stood in third position with six wins and two draws from eight games, while Doveridge were three places below with games in hand having won five and lost one of the six games. For the first half, I chose to watch the game sat on one of two ‘park’ benches on the perimeter of the field; the other bench was occupied by a couple who clearly supported the visitors. It was still goalless at the end of the first half and the home side continued to create the better scoring opportunities in the second half, despite Alton attacking down the slight slope towards the Village Hall. By this time I had changed positions to one stood on the touchline.
There was a real controversial moment in the 79th minute when Alton thought they’d taken the lead when the ball bounced down after their striker (wearing number 9) headed against the underside of the bar. No goal was the verdict and extra time was a distinct possibility. However, it didn’t matter if the ball crossed the line or not as Alton scored what proved to be the winner in the 82nd minute.
Results: Biggin 3 Weston 2; Wheel Inn 1 Mayfield 1 (after extra time Mayfield won 8-7 on penalties); Osmaston 0 Longford 3; Kirk Langley 1 Bradley4; Coach & Horses 1 Coach Rangers 6; Doveridge 0 Alton 1; Rose & Crown 3 Holly Bush 2; Brassington 1 FC Hulland 2.
The Bill Redfern Memorial Cup first round went largely as expected and the second round draw produced some interesting matches with Osmaston meeting Bradley again plus Alton v Coach Rangers. Mayfield will be happy to have draw FC Hulland whilst the Biggin v Rose & Crown promises an even game.
Tuesday 13th May 2008 (7-45 pm)
Blidworth Welfare 2 Calverton Miners Welfare 5
Abacus Lighting Central Midlands Football League Manor Pharmacy Premier Division
at the Welfare Ground
Attendance: 55 (headcount)
Come the middle of May, it can often be difficult to find games with something at stake. So, it was somewhat pleasing to find the outcome of this Central Midlands League game in the Manor Pharmacy Premier Division would have an impact on the final league table.
I wasn't alone as the Blidworth attraction brought in around ten travellers, also keen to watch a match that mattered.
Visitors Calverton Miners Welfare went into the game in third position knowing that a victory would guarantee them the runners-up spot on goal difference at the expense of Yorkshire Main. Blidworth were also hoping to win and move into the top half of the table. As it turned out, visitors eased to a 5-1 win with striker Ben Middleton bagging a hat-trick.
Blidworth Miners Welfare FC, founded in 1926 as Folk House Old Boys, play at the Blidworth Miners Welfare Social Club (called The Welfare Ground) on Mansfield Road. Travelling from the village up the hill towards Rainworth and Mansfield, the ground is not visible from the road but the entrance is on the right just after passing the Fire Station. The car park is that used by the Social Centre and cricket club.
From the car park to get to the ground itself, go through the gate in the steel railings to the left of the white building and be greeted by a manicured cricket field. Continue to the left for around 20 yards then follow the direction for visitors to the left of the wooden building.
My arrival was perfectly timed as, less than a minute later, the programmes (a 28 pager) arrived so I joined a short queue of other travellers waiting to purchase the essential reading matter. Programmes, incidentally, sold for £1 and admission was £2. The white cover contained a colour team photo and all the essential match details; team line-ups in the centre. Inside was a variety of articles including opposition history and pen pics, club news and statistics.
Then came the unexpected surprise that is Blidworth Welfare's ground. Nearly always, non-league grounds are entered at pitch level but here the entrance is at the top of the bank with a great view of the playing surface, stands and floodlights several metres below. At this top level is the tea bar and changing rooms. There is a flight of steps down to the near corner of the pitch with a railing down the middle separating spectators from players. There is a stand behind the near goal containing around ten rows of tip-up individual seats. At the far end of the near touchline running from halfway towards the corner flag is a narrow wooden stand containing two rows of bench seating. There floodlight pylons rise up along each side and the pitch certainly had a good covering of grass
Once the action got underway, Calverton, attacking the seated-stand end, really should have taken the lead inside the first 30 seconds. Rhys Davies somehow missed the target from a few yards out with the keeper beaten. But the visitors took a 5th-minute lead when Middleton netted with a close-range tap-in.
I began the game sat on a bench but the low sun posed viewing problems so I moved to stand on the opposite side of the ground near the dugouts.
Calverton continued to create chances and doubled their lead in the 42nd minute. Poor defending allowed Warren Hatfield to hammer the ball home low from inside the area. Blidworth pulled a goal back in stoppage time with Shaun Vincent firing low through a crowded area from just outside the area. But any hopes the home side had of salvaging a point were all but ended within five minutes of the restart when first Craig Boulton and Middleton both find the net to give Calverton an unassailable 4-1 lead. Middleton wrapped up the scoring in stoppage time at the end. The striker completed a hat-trick latching on to a throughball, slipping past the advancing keeper and slotting into an unguarded net.
Blidworth site
Calverdon Site
Central Midlands League site
Central Midlands League Wikipedia
Abacus Lighting Central Midlands Football League Manor Pharmacy Premier Division
at the Welfare Ground
Attendance: 55 (headcount)
Come the middle of May, it can often be difficult to find games with something at stake. So, it was somewhat pleasing to find the outcome of this Central Midlands League game in the Manor Pharmacy Premier Division would have an impact on the final league table.
I wasn't alone as the Blidworth attraction brought in around ten travellers, also keen to watch a match that mattered.
Visitors Calverton Miners Welfare went into the game in third position knowing that a victory would guarantee them the runners-up spot on goal difference at the expense of Yorkshire Main. Blidworth were also hoping to win and move into the top half of the table. As it turned out, visitors eased to a 5-1 win with striker Ben Middleton bagging a hat-trick.
Blidworth Miners Welfare FC, founded in 1926 as Folk House Old Boys, play at the Blidworth Miners Welfare Social Club (called The Welfare Ground) on Mansfield Road. Travelling from the village up the hill towards Rainworth and Mansfield, the ground is not visible from the road but the entrance is on the right just after passing the Fire Station. The car park is that used by the Social Centre and cricket club.
From the car park to get to the ground itself, go through the gate in the steel railings to the left of the white building and be greeted by a manicured cricket field. Continue to the left for around 20 yards then follow the direction for visitors to the left of the wooden building.
My arrival was perfectly timed as, less than a minute later, the programmes (a 28 pager) arrived so I joined a short queue of other travellers waiting to purchase the essential reading matter. Programmes, incidentally, sold for £1 and admission was £2. The white cover contained a colour team photo and all the essential match details; team line-ups in the centre. Inside was a variety of articles including opposition history and pen pics, club news and statistics.
Then came the unexpected surprise that is Blidworth Welfare's ground. Nearly always, non-league grounds are entered at pitch level but here the entrance is at the top of the bank with a great view of the playing surface, stands and floodlights several metres below. At this top level is the tea bar and changing rooms. There is a flight of steps down to the near corner of the pitch with a railing down the middle separating spectators from players. There is a stand behind the near goal containing around ten rows of tip-up individual seats. At the far end of the near touchline running from halfway towards the corner flag is a narrow wooden stand containing two rows of bench seating. There floodlight pylons rise up along each side and the pitch certainly had a good covering of grass
Once the action got underway, Calverton, attacking the seated-stand end, really should have taken the lead inside the first 30 seconds. Rhys Davies somehow missed the target from a few yards out with the keeper beaten. But the visitors took a 5th-minute lead when Middleton netted with a close-range tap-in.
I began the game sat on a bench but the low sun posed viewing problems so I moved to stand on the opposite side of the ground near the dugouts.
Calverton continued to create chances and doubled their lead in the 42nd minute. Poor defending allowed Warren Hatfield to hammer the ball home low from inside the area. Blidworth pulled a goal back in stoppage time with Shaun Vincent firing low through a crowded area from just outside the area. But any hopes the home side had of salvaging a point were all but ended within five minutes of the restart when first Craig Boulton and Middleton both find the net to give Calverton an unassailable 4-1 lead. Middleton wrapped up the scoring in stoppage time at the end. The striker completed a hat-trick latching on to a throughball, slipping past the advancing keeper and slotting into an unguarded net.
Blidworth site
Calverdon Site
Central Midlands League site
Central Midlands League Wikipedia
Saturday 10th May 2008 ii
Osmaston 2 Bradley 5
Peter Young Memorial Cup Second Round
At: Osmaston Polo Ground
Kick-off: 7-00 pm
Attendance: 35 (headcount)
Weather: Warm and sunny
Duration: first-half: 45:34; second-half: 45:56
Bradley fought back from a two-goal deficit to progress into the semi final with five unanswered goals.
Peter Young Memorial Cup Second Round
At: Osmaston Polo Ground
Kick-off: 7-00 pm
Attendance: 35 (headcount)
Weather: Warm and sunny
Duration: first-half: 45:34; second-half: 45:56
Bradley fought back from a two-goal deficit to progress into the semi final with five unanswered goals.
Saturday 10th May 2008 i
Wednesbury Town 2 Wolverhampton Development 5
Sport Italia West Midlands League Division 1
At: City Ground, Darlaston FC
Kick-off: 3-00 pm
Attendance: -
Weather: Hot and sunny
Sport Italia West Midlands League Division 1
At: City Ground, Darlaston FC
Kick-off: 3-00 pm
Attendance: -
Weather: Hot and sunny
Friday 9th May 2008
Barrow 1 Stalybridge Celtic 0
Blue Square North Promotion Play-off Final
At: Pirelli Stadium
Kick-off: 7-45 pm
Attendance: 2530
Weather: -
Duration: first half ; second half:
Blue Square North Promotion Play-off Final
At: Pirelli Stadium
Kick-off: 7-45 pm
Attendance: 2530
Weather: -
Duration: first half ; second half:
Thursday 8th May 2008 (7-45 pm)
Bootle v Padiham
Vodkat League Division 2 at Bucks Park
Attendance: 25
Weather: sunny
Barely 30 minutes before kick-off, this trip could well have been a tale of woe and frustrating conclusion. Having been thwarted in my attempts to reach the Cheshire Association League games at Styal and Poynton by heavy traffic, I was getting increasingly hot and bothered trying to locate the ground. Then, the directions I had (which turned out to be correct) suddenly made sense as I spotted the ground at the end of a partly-finished road through a construction site for new industrial units. There it was at the end of the road – Bucks Park!
The ground itself hasn’t been used for that many seasons for Bootle’s first team games. There is car parking and the entrance is near the wind turbine. Most of the facilities are along the near touchline. There are four rows of blue individual tip-up seats in the stand to the left of the entrance before the half-way line with clubhouse/changing rooms building further along. Behind the right-hand goal is metal structure containing three rows of covered terrace and the dugouts are located on the opposite touchline. Of course, there are three floodlight pylons on each side. Team line-ups were read out over the tannoy.
From the end of M57 and M58 follow signs for Liverpool (A59 South) for about 1.5 miles, passing amongst other things Asda on the left and the Old Roan pub on the right. With Aintree racecourse on left and Aintree Station on right, turn right at lights into Park Lane, ignoring the first set of lights where a right-hand turn leads to the station car park. Turn left at second set of lights into Bridle Road. After 200 yards, at the point where the houses on the right end, turn left into Vestey Estate and the ground is 200 yards on the bend by the wind turbine. For public transport users then Aintree Station is the nearest.
The current Bootle FC, founded in 1953, rejoined the North-West Counties League in 2006 following a four-season spell in the Liverpool County Combination. Previously they had a long-stint in the North-West Counties, playing at their old ground at Northern Perimeter Road, having been a founder member in 1982. I actually saw South Liverpool play at the old ground (on New Year’s Day 1991) during a groundshare arrangement. The original Bootle FC were founder members of the Football League Division Two but dropped out after one season – ironically replaced by Liverpool FC.
On a breezy but sunny evening, I opted to watch the game from the seated stand and spotted a one other football traveller who clearly supported a Football League team in the West Country. In view to the left was the futuristic roof of a recently-built stand at the racecourse and the occasional train, sliver with yellowish doors, went by on its way either to or from Aintree station along the line a few hundred yards away to the east.
Lower-midtable Padiham (red shirts, white shorts, black socks) got the game under way with Bootle, in sixth position, defending the southern end of Bucks Park. Barely three minutes had elapsed when Bootle’s Dan O’Connor shot against the underside of the visitors’ bar. The ball bounced down and the assistant referee was well positioned to see that it had not crossed the line, with no protests at all. The deadlock was broken in the 32nd minute. Paul Fildes got a ‘lucky’ bounce and raced clear down the inside left channel into the area before steering a shot wide of Bootle keeper Mark Mawdsley. Again the tannoy came into use as the opening goal was announced. The lights came on six minutes later.
Hot and cold drinks, and hot pasties were on the menu from the Tea Bar at half-time. I opted for a cup of tea and Mars Bar. Padiham doubled their lead four minutes after the restart and against the announcer told the fans that Paul Barrett was the man who put the ball in the net. It really wanted the tannoy man to announce a Bootle goal, especially as he described the substitutions as well, but alas the home side (wearing all blue kit) couldn’t find the net.
The following Monday, the announcer would have been kept busy as Bootle rounded off their season with a 7-0 home win over Chadderton.
Vodkat League Division 2 at Bucks Park
Attendance: 25
Weather: sunny
Barely 30 minutes before kick-off, this trip could well have been a tale of woe and frustrating conclusion. Having been thwarted in my attempts to reach the Cheshire Association League games at Styal and Poynton by heavy traffic, I was getting increasingly hot and bothered trying to locate the ground. Then, the directions I had (which turned out to be correct) suddenly made sense as I spotted the ground at the end of a partly-finished road through a construction site for new industrial units. There it was at the end of the road – Bucks Park!
The ground itself hasn’t been used for that many seasons for Bootle’s first team games. There is car parking and the entrance is near the wind turbine. Most of the facilities are along the near touchline. There are four rows of blue individual tip-up seats in the stand to the left of the entrance before the half-way line with clubhouse/changing rooms building further along. Behind the right-hand goal is metal structure containing three rows of covered terrace and the dugouts are located on the opposite touchline. Of course, there are three floodlight pylons on each side. Team line-ups were read out over the tannoy.
From the end of M57 and M58 follow signs for Liverpool (A59 South) for about 1.5 miles, passing amongst other things Asda on the left and the Old Roan pub on the right. With Aintree racecourse on left and Aintree Station on right, turn right at lights into Park Lane, ignoring the first set of lights where a right-hand turn leads to the station car park. Turn left at second set of lights into Bridle Road. After 200 yards, at the point where the houses on the right end, turn left into Vestey Estate and the ground is 200 yards on the bend by the wind turbine. For public transport users then Aintree Station is the nearest.
The current Bootle FC, founded in 1953, rejoined the North-West Counties League in 2006 following a four-season spell in the Liverpool County Combination. Previously they had a long-stint in the North-West Counties, playing at their old ground at Northern Perimeter Road, having been a founder member in 1982. I actually saw South Liverpool play at the old ground (on New Year’s Day 1991) during a groundshare arrangement. The original Bootle FC were founder members of the Football League Division Two but dropped out after one season – ironically replaced by Liverpool FC.
On a breezy but sunny evening, I opted to watch the game from the seated stand and spotted a one other football traveller who clearly supported a Football League team in the West Country. In view to the left was the futuristic roof of a recently-built stand at the racecourse and the occasional train, sliver with yellowish doors, went by on its way either to or from Aintree station along the line a few hundred yards away to the east.
Lower-midtable Padiham (red shirts, white shorts, black socks) got the game under way with Bootle, in sixth position, defending the southern end of Bucks Park. Barely three minutes had elapsed when Bootle’s Dan O’Connor shot against the underside of the visitors’ bar. The ball bounced down and the assistant referee was well positioned to see that it had not crossed the line, with no protests at all. The deadlock was broken in the 32nd minute. Paul Fildes got a ‘lucky’ bounce and raced clear down the inside left channel into the area before steering a shot wide of Bootle keeper Mark Mawdsley. Again the tannoy came into use as the opening goal was announced. The lights came on six minutes later.
Hot and cold drinks, and hot pasties were on the menu from the Tea Bar at half-time. I opted for a cup of tea and Mars Bar. Padiham doubled their lead four minutes after the restart and against the announcer told the fans that Paul Barrett was the man who put the ball in the net. It really wanted the tannoy man to announce a Bootle goal, especially as he described the substitutions as well, but alas the home side (wearing all blue kit) couldn’t find the net.
The following Monday, the announcer would have been kept busy as Bootle rounded off their season with a 7-0 home win over Chadderton.
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