COLFC VS ASHTON ATHLETIC - MACRON CUP

macron cup first round cityof Liverpool v ashtonathletic

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Welcome to the TDP Solicitors Stadium for our home Macron Cup First Round match against Ashton Athletic.

me!

ga e th joy n e ll a ou y e Hop

#UpThePurps

CONTENTS 5 - CHAIRMAO Paul Manning welcomes us to this Macron Cup First Round game…

7 - ROBBO SAYS Meet the new manager…

9 - WELCOME TO OUR VISITORS A brief history of Ashton Town…

11 - UP-COMING FIXTURES Get your fixture diaries up to date…

17 - THE NEW CAPTAIN Meet the new Captain…

23 - REGENDA - SILVER SURFERS Lottery Grant helps residents leave a legacy for the future via computer training…

24 - SID OGWIN A brilliantly funny article about a remarkable man…

28 - KITS 4 KIDS A feature on a fantastic initiative…

29 - TEAM LINE UP

Don’t miss any action if you can’t get to the match!

Keep updated with live commentary on…

A REASON TO BELIEVE...

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CITY OF LIVERPOOL FC 427 Smithdown Road, Liverpool, L15 2JL Chairman: Paul Manning Deputy Chairman: Peter Furmedge Club Secretary: Peter Manning Club Welfare Officer: Mike Caulfield Club Director: Cathy Long Supporters Council Chairman: Paul McGrady Supporters Council Secretary: Fran Stanton Programme Design & Production: David Marsh at Artomattic PURPS FM: Ste Martin, Jay McKenna Flok Information: Paul Squires Gatehouse: Peter Furmedge, Howard Klarfeld, Paul Manning Hospitality: Leanne Brady, Amanda Manning, Maria Manning Stewards: Mark Howard, Owen Manning, Peter Manning, Ste Martin, Paul Squires, Lee Thwaite, Seana Thwaite, Gary Walthew, Colin Wilcox, Howard Klarfeld, Stephen Hesketh.

Volunteer Co-Ordinator: Mark Howard Website: Paul Manning, Paul Squires COLlotto: Andy Lavin, Lisa Lavin Purps TV: Jason Morland Merchandise Table: Sue Roberts, Amanda Manning, Olivia Manning, Robyn Manning Charity Co-Ordinator: Amanda Manning First Team Craig Robinson (Manager) Tony Dunne (Assistant) Tom Spearritt (1st Team Coach, physio) GK Coach: Craig Horner Phil MacDiarmid (Coach) Dean Jones (Kit Man) Reserve Team James Walsh (Manager) Sam Hoare & Danielle Rutter (Coaches) Ladies Team Harriet Miller (Manager) U19’s Dave McDiarmid (Joint Manager) Dave Rowe (Joint Manager) Cover and Robbo photo credit Karl Brooks Photography

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CHAIRMAO Notes from the little Purple book of COLFC Chairman, Paul Manning.

Welcome today to the Directors, staff, players and any supporters of Ashton Athletic

wind and sloping pitch, with passes either under hit, over hit or just given away, but we must remember that we had two starting centre midfielders away on holiday, so Robbo had to shuffle his pack considerably.

It’s a shame really, as we also missed Kevin McEllin for the Chester game and its probably no coincidence that our two defeats this season have come whilst he has been absent, but of course we have also won when he has been away too, so who knows?

As regards off the field events at Hebburn, our club statement says everything we wanted to say although we feel that Hebburn have some more questions to answer, we have taken the decision to leave it as is now, pending the ongoing investigation of Northumbria Police.

COLFC as a community football club simply will not tolerate bad behavior, so while we have correctly pointed the finger of blame at the match organization and promotion, be in no doubt whatsoever that anyone found to have pro-actively contributed to the incidents will no longer be a member or supporter of COLFC. As it is we have yesterday banned three supporters for this ridiculous ongoing sectarian nonsense.

People need to realise that its not going to be allowed at our inclusive football club, so anybody who displays, shouts, sings or types about sectarianism will not be coming to watch the Purps anymore!

On a positive note, here’s looking forward to a great game today and hopefully a Purple win, allowing us to put the stigma of last season’s disappointment in the Macron Cup behind us.

As most people will know we played Ashton in the league back in September at Brocstedes Park and won 4-0, but it was not really a four nil match as the Yellows battled us all the way.

At Half Time that day myself, our Peter, Paul McGrady and Mike Caulfield spent a nice 15 minutes with Taffy Roberts.

Taffy told us about how he would come to Liverpool as a young man to watch both Everton and Liverpool on alternative weekends, before finally opting to be a Liverpool fan and going to watch the Reds as often as he could.

When he sadly passed away just ten days later, it was a shock to us all and highlighted just how precious life is and how easily it can be taken away from you.

He was a nice man and although I only met him a few times, I heard a lot about him through the Hallmark Security League grapevine and its fair to say he was a legend in this sphere.

On behalf of everyone at COLFC I’d like to pass on my condolences to his family and to all at Ashton Athletic on this massive loss.

The Macron Cup holds a special place in the hearts of all Purps after winning the magnificent trophy in our first season playing football. Last Season’s first round defeat away at Darwen was a particular low point, performance wise that we were not happy with and we hope today that we can do ourselves justice against this resurgent Ashton Athletic team.

Saturday’s performance and result at Hebburn in the Vase was disappointing as we just did not seem to be able to get to grips with the blustery

#UTP

Paul Manning 5

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PressBoards MFC Logo A1P.indd 1

08/02/2010 11:31

managers notes It’s a fixture where we are celebrating World Mental Health Day and welcome the charities, Chasing The Stigma and State Of Mind.

Good afternoon and welcome to this afternoons game in the Macron League Cup we’re we welcome Ashton Athletic FC.

were a good experienced side I felt and in these cup games against these teams you have to be at your best individually and collectively and we weren’t simple as that. We had Kevin, Karl and Willo missing but I’m not going to use that as an excuse as I felt we still had enough on the pitch to beat them. I felt we let the fans down who travelled in numbers to support us and il take responsibility for that as the players have been brilliant so far and only been beat in two cup games in difficult fixtures and remain unbeaten in the league so it’s important now we keep doing what were doing in the league and start again today in our League Cup game against Ashton Athletic who gave us a tough game away in the league. We trained well in the week an can not wait for this game today to put Saturdays result behind us. Thanks for your support and keep getting behind the lads!

It’s a fixture where we are celebrating World Mental Health Day and welcome the charities, Chasing The Stigma and State Of Mind. The players and staff will be wearing t-shirts in the warm up to support the day!

It’s been two weeks since our last home game against West Didsbury where we won 4-0 and controlled the game throughout, we took our chances early which was pleasing and the lads showed great mentality and professionalism throughout the game!

Today’s game could not have come quick enough after last Saturdays defeat away to Hebburn Town in the FA Vase it was a disappointing result but they

Robbo

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ashtonathletic Ashton Athletic Football Club was founded in 1968 and playing in the Wigan Sunday League – winning every Division in consecutive seasons and many cup competitions before switching to the Warrington League on Saturdays where similar success was sustained.

The Club developed Brocstedes Park and was admitted to the Lancashire Combination, before becoming a founder member of the North West Counties League when the Combination merged with the Cheshire league in 1982.

Unfortunately, financial constraints prevented the required ground improvements to be completed, and the Club was relegated into the Manchester league Division One in 1986.

The drop of two leagues resulted in the majority of the playing staff moving to other club’s and for numerous years the club endeavoured to re-build. Players came and went, lacking the Club loyalty that had brought success to the Club in the 1970’s and early 80’s until the Committee embraced an ambitious youth development policy in 1999.

The Club is now at the end of a tenyear development plan to enhance its recreational facilities and expand the Club, in particular its junior section.

Eight years ago, the Club had two teams, 50 members, one mediocre pitch with dilapidated clubhouse and changing rooms.

Since then the Club members have worked tirelessly to progress the Club within its means, and with some help

from external grant sources. Assistance from the Football foundation, Awards for All programme, and Wigan Council enabled a series of improvements to be completed. The main pitch was re-drained, a second pitch acquired/ improved, new changing rooms and Clubhouse built, disabled access provided and other improvements made to the grounds.

More recently the ground has been brought up to the necessary Ground Grading for re-entry into the NWCFL, in time for the start of the 2006/7 season and further improvements have provided additional seating.

The 2008/09 season also saw further progression of the Club, having been promoted to the Premier Division of the Vodkat North West Counties League. We were again able take to the national stage, having been accepted in the FA Cup competition after last season’s debut in the FA Vase which proved very lucrative for the Club, progressing through three stages and beating two teams from higher leagues in the process. The previous season also saw cup success for the Club retaining the Atherton Charity Cup at the end of the season.

Following an impressive sixth place finish in the 2008/09 season, the Yellows struggled in the league for the next four seasons, finishing in the bottom three 9

of the league in three of the next four seasons. 21st (09/10), 22nd (10/11), 14th (11/12) and 20th (12/13).

Jimmy McBride, who took over the reins midway through the 12/13, left the club when the season ended and the club took the unusual step in bringing in a trio of managers, Jay Foulds, Ben Kay and Dougie Pitts. Jay and Ben were brought in from Wigan Robin Park and Dougie came in following a break from the game.

The trio needed to completely rebuild the squad for the 2013/14 season and made an excellent start to their managerial careers creating club history with a sixth place finish and beating Maine Road 1-0 to win the League Challenge Cup at Curzon Ashton.

More club history was made in the 2014/15 season with a highest ever fifth place finish in the league, conceding only 38 goals and losing only seven league games that season and the Yellows were successful in the Wigan Cup, beating Newburgh Harrock United 5-1 in the final at Brocstedes Park.

The 2015/16 season saw the retirement of Jay Foulds and he was replaced in the Ashton Athletic goal by Martin Pearson.

Unfortunately, there were no cup heroics in that season but there was a solid seventh place finish in the league.

The 2016/17 saw another top ten finish with the club ending the season in ninth place, but the club made history in the cups reaching the second qualifying round for the first time ever, losing 5-0 against Halifax Town and winning the Lancashire Cup for the first time, coming from a goal down to win 2-1 against Radcliffe Borough. Lee Vaughan scoring the winner in the final minute of the game.

With the impact the management trio

have made at the club in the four seasons that they have been in charge of the first team, the success was noticed from clubs at a higher level and following the 2016/17 season, Ben Kay left his role as joint manager to take up the role as assistant manager to Simon Howarth at Clitheroe FC, where he will link up again former Yellows captain, Ian Rowlands.

A new vision for the Club is under discussion to further develop the Club and these will include plans for improvements to the access road, new junior changing rooms, additional playing fields for the junior section and a proposed girls/ladies section.

The main ground is also scheduled for enhancement works with additional covered spectator areas.

The Club is a voluntary organisation run by a Committee of 14 alongside approximately 25 coaches and managers.

Any money raised by the Club has been ploughed back into improving the facilities and developing the youth section.

The Club now has a total membership of more than 400. We have 9 junior teams consisting of approximately 160 children who take advantage of the improvement of our now excellent facilities, whilst hundreds of children and adults from opposition teams also benefit from the continually improving facilities.

The Club is keen to maintain the pace of development of the club and future plans will enable increased activity at the Club, additional Junior teams and a much safer and secure environment in particular for spectators and Children.

The Club was awarded the FA Charter Standard in 2013 and an intensive Coach Education Programme is well under way.

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captains notes Saturday’s game against Hebburn was a tough one to take, I thought we started off okay and we were well in the game but they had two chances early on and took them both and that killed us off really, we then became stretched looking for a way back into the game and they picked us off pretty easily and we were never in the game in the second half.

long way and supported us until the final kick but as a group of players we feel like we let you down on Saturday and we can only apologise, your support deserves better than the performance we gave.

This is now a chance for us to dust ourselves down, pick ourselves up and go on another winning run.

We have had a tough week of training leading up to today’s game, and we are determined to win today. It won’t be an easy game as Ashton are a decent team and have picked up some decent results since we last beat them but this is a cup that we want to go and win and give the fans something to celebrate.

I have watched the celebrations from the Macron cup win a couple of seasons ago and it’s something which I would love to be involved in, as a player there is nothing better than winning trophies

We were all so disappointed in the changing rooms afterwards, not just because it was a heavy defeat in a cup which we really wanted to go far in, but because we felt like we let the fans down.

You travelled in your numbers a very

and that is our aim in this competition.

Denno

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Photo: Stuart Roy Clarke

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FIXTURES & RESULTS 2018/19 Date Comp Opponent Att Result Goalscorers 04/08/18 HSL A 1874 Northwich 433 W 6-3 Cairns (3), Forbes, Clair, McGrath 08/08/18 HSL A Northwich Vics 298 W 2-1 McDonald, Holt 11/08/18 FAC H SILSDEN 630 W 3-1 Holt, McGrath, McDonald 18/08/18 HSL H IRLAM 406 D 2-2 McDonald, McGrath 25/08/18 FAC H GLOSSOP NORTH END 462 D 1-1 Hazelhurst 27/08/18 HSL H BURSCOUGH 404 W 3-0 Peterson (3) 31/08/18 HSL H RUNCORN TOWN 649 W 4-0 McGrath (2), Williams, Hazelhurst 04/09/18 FAC A Glossop North End 348 W 3-2 McGrath, Hazelhurst, Forbes 08/09/18 HSL A Squires Gate 255 W 5-1 Cairns (3), Denson, McGrath (p) 11/09/18 HSL H WHITCHURCH ALPORT 505 W 1-0 Cairns 15/09/18 HSL A Ashton Athletic 154 W 4-0 Peterson, McGrath, Clair, Cairns 18/09/18 HSL A Barnoldswick Town 135 W 3-2 Peterson (2), McDonald 22/09/18 FAC A Chester FC 1806 L 0-4 25/09/18 HSL H LITHERLAND REMYCA 513 W 4-0 McGrath (3), Hazelhurst 29/09/18 HSL H WINSFORD UNITED 295 W 5-2 Peterson (2), McDonald, Clair, McGrath 02/10/18 HSL A Silsden 242 D 1-1 Peterson 06/10/18 HSL H W DIDS & CHORLTON 346 W 4-0 Clair, McDonald, Peterson, Cairns 13/10/18 FAV A Hebburn Town 1302 L 0-4

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purple statistics 2018/19 appearances/scorers League apps Goals inc playoffs

League League Apps (sub) Goals 12

Cup Apps (sub)

Cup Goals

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Ben Ascroft

6(2)

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4(1)

Craig Cairns

8(4)

4(1p)

3(2)

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Karl Clair

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Danny Dalton

0(2)

Alex Davies

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Luke Denson

5(7)

David Forbes

9(1)

Francis Foy

6(4)

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Jack Hazelhurst

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1

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Joe Holt

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Chris Lester

8(2)

Jamie McDonald

9(1)

Kevin McEllin

9(2)

John McGrath

0(4)

Adam Pepper

8(3)

Tom Peterson

0(1)

Craig Robinson

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Paul Williams

4(2)

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0(5)

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1(1) 5

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0(2) 10

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man of the match Oppo Rocket Twitter Total Ben Ascroft Craig Cairns Karl Clair Danny Dalton Alex Davies Luke Denson David Forbes Francis Foy Jack Hazlehurst Joe Holt Chris Lester Jamie McDonald Kevin McEllin John McGrath Adam Pepper Tom Peterson Craig Robinson Paul Williams Anthony Brown

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yellow & red cards

Anthony Brown

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Cup games in brackets

David Thompson

0(1)

Ben Ascroft Craig Cairns Karl Clair Danny Dalton Alex Davies Luke Denson David Forbes Francis Foy Jack Hazlehurst Joe Holt Chris Lester Jamie McDonald Kevin McEllin John McGrath Adam Pepper Tom Peterson Craig Robinson Paul Williams Anthony Brown

Samuel Scarth p = penalty

Correct as of Hebburn on 13/10/18

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0(1) 1(2) 0(1) 3 3 1 0(1) 1(1) 2(1) 3(1)

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0(1) 1 1

0(1)

PREMIER DIVISION TABLE 1 CITY OF LIVERPOOL 2 Runcorn Town 3 Silsden 4 Congleton Town 5 Barnoldswick Town 6 Northwich Victoria 7 Whitchurch Alport 8 Bootle 9 Padiham 10 1874 Northwich 11 Charnock Richard 12 Litherland REMYCA 13 Squires Gate 14 Ashton Athletic 15 Hanley Town 16 Burscough 17 Irlam 18 West Didsbury & Chorlton 19 Abbey Hey 20 Winsford United

12 10 2 0 39 11 28 32 13 10 0 3 33 19 14 30 13 7 4 2 26 17 9 25 11 8 0 3 24 9 15 24 13 7 2 4 30 23 7 23 12 6 2 4 29 20 9 20 13 5 4 4 24 17 7 19 13 5 4 4 24 18 6 19 13 6 1 6 27 28 -1 19 14 4 5 5 17 25 -8 17 11 5 1 5 27 20 7 16 11 4 3 4 21 21 0 15 11 4 2 5 15 12 3 14 12 4 2 6 13 17 -4 14 13 4 2 7 18 29 -11 14 11 4 1 6 21 25 -4 13 11 2 5 4 20 23 -3 11 13 2 2 9 14 36 -22 8 13 2 2 9 12 40 -28 8 13 1 2 10 15 39 -24 5

FIRST DIVISION (N) TABLE

First Division North

1 Longridge Town 2 Carlisle City 3 Avro 4 AFC Liverpool 5 Prestwich Heys 6 Shelley 7 Steeton 8 AFC Darwen 9 Lower Breck 10 Cleator Moor Celtic 11 AFC Blackpool 12 St Helens Town 13 Garstang 14 Bacup Borough 15 Ashton Town 16 Chadderton 17 Nelson 18 Atherton LR 19 Holker Old Boys 20 Daisy Hill

P

W

13 11 13 11 12 8 11 7 12 6 13 5 11 6 11 5 10 5 10 5 10 5 13 4 11 5 14 4 11 4 14 3 11 2 13 1 12 1 11 0

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D

1 0 1 1 2 4 1 3 2 2 2 4 1 3 2 2 3 2 1 3

L

1 2 3 3 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 5 5 7 5 9 6 10 10 8

F

A

GD

Pts

60 18 42 34 30 16 14 33 39 20 19 25 32 25 7 22 25 19 6 20 22 21 1 19 27 28 -1 19 25 25 0 18 23 10 13 17 25 15 10 17 16 13 3 17 35 27 8 16 23 21 2 16 26 31 -5 15 17 27 -10 14 25 39 -14 11 11 18 -7 9 13 42 -29 5 15 52 -37 4 15 37 -22 3

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Sid

Sid Ogwin – He’s seen things we’ll never see!

Close your eyes and try and walk from your front door to your back door without demolishing half of your house…

Now try and imagine getting from your house in Lucerne Street, Aigburth to the 27 bus stop on Lodge Lane (0.8 mile according to Google maps) to catch the bus to Anfield every other week on your own with the absolute minimum of eyesight, and later completely blind! Well, this is exactly what Sid Ogwin did for many years during the late 50’s and early 60’s following his beloved Liverpool Football Club. He would then listen to the clicking of the Kop turnstiles to fight his way in, and rely on the goodwill and feedback of his fellow Kopites to see how the game was going. At the end of the game, he would go through it all again to get back to the Masonic on Lark Lane to have a couple of bottles of guinness, before going home.

Sid did this for every single game at Anfield.

Missing a game was simply out of the question, it was his life! Sid was born with

sight but due to a genetic condition he sadly started losing his sight around the age of ten, and had lost his sight completely by the age of 20. By this time he was already a fanatical Liverpool fan with his hero in the early years being Billy Liddell. Liverpool at this time were an average second division team and the poor relation of their neighbours across the park, Everton. Around 1965 Sid met Billy Stove. Billy would go on to be Sid’s life-long friend, hero, match going companion and commentator. Sid got his first Kop season ticket around 1966. He believes this was the first year you could get a season ticket on the Kop. Billy would accompany Sid to the match and commentate the game to him.

Sometimes Sid would travel to the match on the back of Billy’s motorbike. They travelled home and away following their beloved reds.

Sid was devastated to miss out on a ticket for Liverpool’s first FA Cup Final in 1965, but remembers doing the conga down London Road celebrating the victory that night. Sid said him and his mates sat on the wall of Ian Callaghan’s house into the early hours of the morning waiting to welcome him

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home, unfortunately he was no doubt still in London celebrating. Sid would not miss another cup final at home or abroad until the 2007 Champions League Final in Athens. God help Rick Parry if Sid ever bumped into him!

Just before the 1977 FA Cup Final, Billy had an operation on his leg which resulted in him being on crutches for both the Wembley Final and the European Cup Final in Rome a couple of days later. This meant Sid had to hang onto one of Billy’s crutches as he guided him around London and Rome - very slowly!

Sid jokes that it was like something out the bible ha ha!

I personally got to know Sid in the late 90’s working together in the Delco in Kirkby. For many years, before a lift was finally sorted, he would get a train and bus from Aigburth to Kirkby on a daily basis on his own – that’s another story in its self! His tales of following the reds at home and abroad amazed and enthralled me, and we’ve been good mates ever since.

Sid has become part of our family now and his arguments with my old fella about who’s been following the reds the longest are legendary. It was my job after every victory to read every column inch of the morning papers to him. If we didn’t have time in work, I was under orders to do it that night on the phone. God help any journalist or ex-player that slagged us off! I always remember a camping trip we went on not long after the Istanbul final in 2005 when he made me read the same story about the final, from the Daily Mirror, about 20 bloody times! Each time he’d give a little jig in the middle of this Welsh field when I got to the end. God know what the other campers thought!

Sid’s home is a shrine to Liverpool with his walls covered in photos of his heroes and past glories. Sid also has various fans awards presented to him down the years by the likes of Ian Callaghan and Ian Ayres. I’ll never forget the occasion when he picked up the Liverpool Echo fan award at the Moat House Hotel. The winner of the main award for that particular year was David Moyes who along with Philip Carter come up to congratulate Sid. Sid shook his hand and said, ‘David, if you’re still looking for a goalie mate, I’m ya man!’ Philip Carter nearly choked on his cocktail. They were both in tears laughing!

They were actually two really nice fellas but Sid still refused to get his photo with them ha ha. One of his most memorable days was when Rafa Benitez popped in for ten minutes and stayed for over four hours. It was brilliant listening to him and Sid exchange stories of their beloved Liverpool. Some of Rafa’s stories had Sid rolling on the floor and others fuming.

Rafa was already a big hero of Sid before the visit, he’s even more so now. What a great fella!

Sid’s biggest hero though is Kenny Dalglish.

God help anyone who says he wasn’t our greatest player ever! Sid’s devotion to him is as a player, manager and a man is on another level to anything else. Mind you, Jurgen Klopp is running him close at the moment, but Kenny will always be his King!

There are so many funny stories from Sid’s trips following the reds. I’ll never forget legendary red Bobby Wilcox serenading Sid with the Johnny Barnes song on the way back from a friendly in Villarreal whilst everyone else was asleep. Another three that

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really stand out are the times we drunkenly left him on a bus in Nice, his shorts going on fire in Mainz Cathedral and Sid getting lost going for a piss in a German hotel!

The bus incident happened on the way to the 2005 Super Cup Final in Monaco when we got off the public bus in Nice to find our hotel. We were all a bit worse for wear as we’d been drinking from early morning. We’d only walked about 20 yards from the bus stop when I heard those fateful words which sent shivers down my spine and immediately sobered me up, ‘Where’s Sid!?’ I turned around hoping it was a wind up, but Sid was nowhere to be seen! I thought Ste had him, Ste thought Phil had him, Phil thought my old fella had him, my old fella thought I had him, but no, we’d left him on the bloody bus! I turned around to see the bus disappearing into the distance and in sheer panic I set off like Forest Gump!

God knows what the locals thought as I ran in and out of traffic shouting ‘Stop that fucking bus!!’ After what seemed an eternity I finally caught up with the bus at a red light.

I was totally knackered as I banged on the door of the bus. The driver looked terrified to open the door, but he eventually did. I tried to control my breathing as I made my way towards the very concerned looking Sid at the back of the bus. I was going to try and blag him that we were all still on the bus and it was time to get off. I put my hand on his shoulder and said ‘It’s time to get off mate’ to which he shouted ‘Ya bastards, you left me on the fuckin bus!’ There’s no kidding Sid. I got

him off the bus and I’m still getting slagged off for it ‘til this day!

The ‘shorts’ incident happened during a pre-season trip to Mainz in Germany, when Klopp was their manager. Every pre-season trip it became a bit of a ritual for Sid to go to a local church so he could light a candle.

When most people light a candle they pray for their families health and happiness, but not Sid, he prays that we win the league and cup in May. I know this because he’s told me. Mind you, I suppose that does mean my family’s health and happiness! We’d been drinking all day before a gang of us set off for Mainz Cathedral so Sid could light his candle. It was a really hot day and we were all in shorts.

Whilst the others marveled at the amazing building, me and Sid made our way towards the candles by the altar. The candles were in a stepped formation like most churches. All the candles at the front were already lit so I took a candle from the back and handed it to Sid. I guided his hand to light our candle and then guided his hand to put our candle on the back step of the holder. It wasn’t easy as Sid was fidgeting and there was a bit of smoke in my view. Next minute Sid drops the candle and starts shouting ‘I’m on fuckin fire!!’ to which I looked down in horror and see his shorts ablaze! I’d been concentrating that much on not burning his hand, that I hadn’t realised his shorts had caught fire on the bottom row of candles. His cheap shorts had gone up like the Liverpool Echo! Now I knew why he was fidgeting and where the

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smoke was coming from! I start slapping at his shorts to put the flames out. After a couple of slaps the flames were out but the whole front of his shorts had gone, except for the netting and his meat and two veg were on show to the world! I quickly dragged him to the corner and checked he was ok, which he was. I then realised that the whole church were looking at this commotion in the corner. The lads come over wondering what the fuck had gone on. The laughter when they realised what had happened and they saw Sid’s shorts will stay with me forever. We quickly surrounded Sid and got him outside.

We desperately needed a pair of shorts for him and made for the nearest clothes shop we could see. Unfortunately the only shorts they had were the wackiest multi-coloured shorts you’ve ever seen. The type you see on Germans all over Majorca. We had no choice but to get them though. It seemed funny at the time but I then realised it was me who had to guide him about in them. The looks and stick we got of fellow reds! We didn’t tell Sid about them being multi-coloured until the plane home. I’ll never forget him saying he was gutted cos the pockets were great ha ha.

The last story which stands out is the time a drunk Sid went for a piss in the middle of the night in our Dortmund hotel and got lost! I was woken in the middle of the night by Sid shouting my name. He sounded miles away though and it was only a normal size twin room. I went sick when I realised he wasn’t in the room and the front door was open. I jumped up and ran outside and there was Sid at the far end of the corridor completely bollocko feeling along the wall! I ran down the corridor calling him every soft bastard under the sun to which he replied “Thank God for that, how big is this fuckin’ room!”. It was one of the funniest things I’d ever heard.

God knows how many people had opened their doors before I got there. You could certainly hear the whispering when we went for breakfast next morning!

Sid continued to go to all the home games with Billy until 2014 when Billy had to go into hospital for a routine heart operation.

Billy hadn’t been feeling well for a while but he was determined to keep going to Anfield for the sake of Sid. Out of loyalty to Billy, Sid refused to let anyone else take him the game and missed his first games at Anfield since the late 50’s. No amount of persuasion could get him to Anfield. Tragically Billy never recovered from his operation and sadly died.

Sid was totally devastated about his hero and best mate. We all thought he’d never go another game again. It took a long time but eventually with the persuasion of his family and Billy’s wife, Sid started going back to Anfield with Charlie, his sisters grandson.

It’s certainly what Billy would have wanted.

Charlie has a lot to live up to because you could have a conversation with Sid after any match and he never missed a thing! Billy was obviously brilliant at what he did.

Recently Sid has had a personalised granite stone laid outside the new main stand at Anfield. It is inscribed with the words ‘Sid Ogwin – He’s seen things we’ll never see’.

These very apt words were chosen by my son Conor, who is also Sid’s God son. Sid is just made up that he will have a presence at Anfield forever.

Sid has followed the Purps from virtually day one and tries to get to as many games as possible as long as its not clashing with his ‘other’ team. He loves the banter and wit from the crowd and is made up that everyone lets onto him and are so friendly even though he hasn’t a clue who they are!

His highlight was being on the pitch in Fleetwood holding the Macron Cup above his head in the first season. Danny Dalton will always be his favourite player after that. A few tears were shed that night I can tell ya! Who knows he might have a plaque outside the City of Liverpool FC stadium one day as well! …now where the fuck is that back door!!!

R.I.P. Billy Stove

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With the ongoing success of our football for everyone project and our brand-new walking football initiative we are starting to put the wheels in motion for our next scheme, Kits4Kids, a scheme which aims to provide children in the local area with the equipment and kit needed to participate in football.

Families are struggling to put food on the table and keep a roof over their head never mind forking out £40/£50 for a pair of boots every year plus shin pads, kit etc, if you have more than one child you’re suddenly looking at spending a few hundred pounds, and that’s before any subs need paying.

An analysis by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) reveals cuts to benefits and tax credits under the Tory government will see children hardest hit, forecasting that around one and a half million more under-18s will live in households below the relative poverty line by 2022. The research, which analyses the

impact of welfare reforms between 2010 and 2018, shows households with lone parents and children are set to lose an average of £5,250 – almost one-fifth of their total net income, compared to a loss of £3,000 for couples with children. This will see the child poverty rate for those in lone parent households increase from 37 per cent to over 62 per cent.

These children are of great risk of being isolated and abandoned socially. The life skills learned through football help empower individuals and enhance mental wellbeing, such as increased resiliency, self-esteem and connections with others. These features of football are beneficial to people of all ages, but they are especially vital to the healthy development of young people. We must do more to increase engagement and encourage young people into football, not stand by while they are priced out of the game through no fault of their own.

This is where the fantastic City of Liverpool FC Supporters come in! If there are any old kits, boots or shin pads that your son/ daughter has grown out of then please do not hesitate to contact us and we can arrange a collection or drop them off at one of the home games where one of our Community team will collect them from you.

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LINE UPS colfc

(GK) Ben Ascroft Craig Cairns Karl Clair Daniel Dalton Alex Davies Luke Denson David Forbes Francis Foy Fidan Hajdari Jack Hazlehurst Joesph Holt Chris Lester Jamie Mcdonald Kevin Mcellin John Mcgrath Adam Pepper Thomas Peterson Criag Robinson Aubrey Rogers Thomas Spearritt Jeremy Tunzele

Manager - Craig Robinson Assistant - Tony Dunne Coach - Craig Horner Coach - Tom Spearritt

ashton athletic

Martin Pearson Aaron Cringle Calum Wilson Luke Holden Adam Howard Josh Nicholson Chris Webster Charlie Munro Paul Watson Matty Reid Danny Smith Aaron Simpson Saul Guffogg Chris Bandell Kris Bell Marcus Cusani Gary Burnett Tim Raines Harry Blackburn

Managers - Jay Foulds & Douggie Pitts

Referee - Martin Beard Assistants - Adrian Duicu & Adam Davies

WILL YOU COLlaBORATE? COLlaborate is how you join with City of Liverpool Football Club to bring football back to its roots in Liverpool, linking you to a network of businesses, social enterprises, community organisations and other agencies who are committed to working locally and proving that good business is good for our communities.

City of Liverpool Football Club doesn’t want to sell you an advert or a sponsorship package. We want you to join with us in making our community owned football club a vehicle for social value and wider community benefit - delivering your social value through the city’s passion for football.

Social Value is the wider financial and non-financial impact of your work, including the well-being of individuals and communities, social capital and the environment.

COLlaborate will engage businesses alongside community and social enterprises, social landlords and others who share our community focused values and see the value of City of Liverpool Football Club as a means of selling this collective message to a wider audience.

Please visit colfc.co.uk for more information

Thanks to all The Partisans for your support this season - #UpThePurps

community owned… asset locked… scouse forever!

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