COLFC VS WINSFORD UNITED

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Welcome to the TDP Solicitors Stadium for our sixth home league match of the season against Winsford United.

me!

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

#UpThePurps

CONTENTS 5 - CHAIRMAO Paul Manning welcomes us to the sixth home league game of the season…

7 - ROBBO SAYS Meet the new manager…

9 - WELCOME TO OUR VISITORS A brief history of Winsford United…

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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For the latest League & Club News & Info, Fixtures, Results, Cup Info, Stats & Archives Follow us on social media Search ‘Hallmark Security League’ on Twitter & Facebook 4

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

Welcome today to the Directors, Staff and players of Winsford United.

If that happens, I genuinely think we will see consistent four figure crowds towards the end of the season.

Speaking of twitter trolls, last season we were inundated with people claiming “the wheels had fell off ” when the crowds naturally went down over Winter (it was just Winter!) then we were “going bust tomorrow” because during the close season us volunteers actually tried to have a little break and we failed to spot an outstanding fine on the FA system (we just paid the fine). Then we were “destroying the club” because two players left (we just signed more and better players) then we were “falling into a massive black hole” when a Director resigned (we simply managed the tasks between the remaining Directors, that needed doing).

This absolutism that is especially prevalent on twitter is both debilitating and laughable at the same time and can largely be labelled “Fake News”.

The new “Fake News” apparently, is that we are not “going bust” anymore but have a “massive budget” hahahahaha it is difficult to know which one of these particular pieces of Fake News to take less seriously. Are we poor or rich?

Of course, other clubs and managers will always look for a reason why they have been beaten, but as we have found ourselves it is always better to concentrate on your own club, rather than waste time focusing upon what other clubs are doing.

Good luck to both teams today and here’s hoping for an exciting game and another three points to the Purps!

It’s been a tremendous start to the season for the Purps and we hope to see that continue in today’s game against The Blues, who’s result seem to show that they are now coming into a bit of form, although their last six games show as WLWLWL which is especially nice for those who like perpendicularity (I just made that word up by the way!). Let’s hope the trend continues today!

Speaking of trends, our attendances this season are definitely on the up, with an average of 510 currently. Amazingly this is our SMALLEST average attendance after seven games in any of our three seasons to date (which belies the statement I’ve just made that attendances are on the up) but in fact they are.

In Seasons one and two, we had very large oneoff crowds for big cup games, such as Remy in the Vase (711) and Prescot (956) and Nantwich (1022) in the FA Cup, which slewed the seasonal figures. This season has seen a consistency in home attendances which is very pleasing indeed in parameters of 404 – 649.

Of course we are now coming into the Winter and attendances will naturally reduce as the cold and wet weather really hits and people want to stay at home more, so the average will reduce a bit – no doubt we will hear all about it from the twitter trolls – but the football on the pitch and the winning mentality and actual wins, will help keep it high, until the Sunny Uplands of early spring return and hopefully Robbo and the lads have got us in contention for titles.

#UTP

Paul Manning

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PressBoards MFC Logo A1P.indd 1

08/02/2010 11:31

managers notes I’d like to wish young Frankie Lever a speedy recovery after his operation in Alder Hey. Good afternoon and welcome to this afternoon’s game where we welcome Winsford United F.C. to the TDP stadium. I’m expecting another tough game today as Winsford were unlucky not to get a result against Silsden last Saturday with conceding two late goals and are on the back of a good win against Northwich Victoria Monday night.

were not at our best a 4-0 win is a great result in a local derby and it could have been more towards the end. I’d like to give a special mention to John McGrath who after scoring a hat-trick on Tuesday he is now joint leading scorer in the league, this season not only is he assisting and scoring goals he is working hard for the team and his goals are the rewards of that and I’m so pleased for him.

I’d like to wish young Frankie Lever a speedy recovery after his operation in Alder Hey, unfortunately I couldn’t make it due to work but the chairman, Jamie McDonald and Jack Hazelhurst went to visit him and we’re all looking forward to his first game back when he is better, especially me as I’ve had him doing a team talk when he was mascot and we’ve won every game so hurry up Frankie!

We’ve now look to pick another three points up I hope you enjoy the and thank you once again for your support, keep getting behind the lads.

I was glad to get back to the league on Tuesday night and bounce back with a win against REMYCA after our first defeat of the season against Chester. Credit to the players they showed great character and mentality, although we probably

Robbo

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Regenda Homes is one of the main sponsors of City of Liverpool Football Club. It is a housing association with 10,000 properties across the North West, with over 1,500 in Liverpool and 1,700 in Wirral.

“BNENC is a place to come to have a laugh, enjoy yourself, make friends and be safe. That’s what this community is”, says Dot, a local Regenda Homes resident.

Dot has been attending BNENC for over 18 months, and has seen her life turnaround thanks to the support she gets.

If you would like more information on BNENC, visit their website www.bnenc.org or call 0151 2888400. You don’t have to be a Regenda Homes resident to enjoy their facilities.

If you are looking to move home in the North West, Regenda Homes offers a wide range of properties, from apartments and houses, to independent living schemes for older people and those who need support. Take a look at the website www. regenda.org.uk for further information.

If you are looking for a private rented property or a property to buy, Regenda’s subsidiary company, Redwing Living, can offer quality homes in the North West www.redwingliving.co.uk.

For further information please call 0344 7360066.

Regenda Homes has a unique partnership with a local community centre, the Breckfield and North Everton Community Centre (BNENC). Over the past 16 years, this partnership has been a real success, seeing a huge number of local residents access an abundance of services and training opportunities.

BNENC is a safe and fun place for local residents to visit, and offer a wide variety of classes and activities, such as – • ICT courses.

• First Aid courses.

• Hanging basket workshops.

• Access to a gym.

• Exercise classes such as chair based exercise.

• Bingo.

• Afternoon tea.

• Health walks.

• Access to the nature trail.

• Community trips.

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winsford united Winsford United have a long and proud history, having been formed way back in 1883. In those early days, the club was called Over Wanderers and competed in the Welsh Combination Football League.

After a few seasons, the club changed to its present name and its present ground - Barton Stadium - although it was called Great Western Playing Field at the outset.

The club brought on many good players during this period and after losing several players to Football League clubs, they experienced a somewhat unsuccessful spell that resulted in the club folding.

United reformed in 1913 but it was short lived as World War One broke out.

After the cessation of hostilities, United regrouped under Mr R G Barton (hence Barton Stadium) and the club became a founder member of the Cheshire League, winning the Championship in its second season. After the war, United became a Limited company and the 1950’s saw the glory days on Non-League football when crowds of over 3000 were the norm. In 1959 Winsford won the Cheshire Senior Cup against Ellesmere Port Town in front of a 12,000 crowd at Gresty Road.

Under John Williams in the 1970’s they had the most successful period in their history winning the Cheshire League and the Challenge Cup on several occasions.

In 1974 they reached the Senior Cup final again, this time against the then-mighty Macclesfield Town. The final was an epic with three replays and the Silkmen only clinching it after extra time in the fourth match. All the ties were played in front

of crowds of over 3,500. The Blues won the Cheshire Senior Cup again in 1980 with a 4-1 victory Est. 1883 over local rivals Witton Albion. The goalkeeper in that final was Neville Southall.

Season 1992/93 will go down in United’s folklore as Winsford United won an astonishing five trophies - the NPL Challenge Cup, NPL President’s Cup, Cheshire Senior Cup, Mid-Cheshire Senior Cup and NPL Runners Up Cup. The Blues finished second to Southport and their points total is a record for the most points accrued without winning the title.

Winsford United have a pedigree of producing fine players who have gone on to perform at a higher level. The likes of Wayne Collins and Andy Oakes have come through the ranks, netting the club transfer fees and sell-on clauses which have been used to improve the infrastructure of the club amongst other things.

A period of consolidation in the 2000’s was ended with relegation to Division Two, and with it, a change of policy to concentrate on recruiting and developing local talent.

To this end Dave Twite was brought in as Manager in 2003 and three successful seasons followed, however, promotion was missed each season by just a single point.

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#UTP

up-coming fixtures september 18 barnoldswick town A HSL 22 Chester fc A FAC 2Q 25 Litherland REMYCA H HSL 29 Winsford United h HSL october 2 silsden a hsl 6 W Dids & Chorlton h HSL 20 ashton athletic h mc1 Watch city of liverpool this season adults £6 concessions £3 under 15’s free!

TDP Solicitors Stadium, vesty road, bootle l30 1NY

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PLEASE SUPPORT OUR PARTNERS

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Shirt Sponsors 1

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1

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Keppie Massie

Jim Price

Adam May

Kevin Short

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2

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Ste Quinn

Ronnie Mellor

Cathy Long

Patrick Manning

3

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Sam Pearson

Ross Flemington

Gary Johansen

Dean Jones

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Michael Meadows

Kevin Short

Norman Hartley

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5

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Matt Comber

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Andrew Baker

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Ste Martin

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Wavertree Ultras

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Paul McGrady

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Mark Howard

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Halfway Line Headcase

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Gary Mellor

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Come On La… Support The Purps… Sponsor A Shirt for only £30 Send payment via PayPal to contact@colfc.co.uk (state Home or Away & shirt No) and you will receive your chosen shirt at the end of the season 14

colfc merchandise

https://colfc.myshopify.com

P COLLECTION The new P Collection from COLFC is a range of stylish and timely clothing for Adults and children to be worn to the match and branded exclusively to City of Liverpool FC COMING SOON!!

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captains notes Another three points on the board in the league and it’s good to bounce straight back after the Chester defeat. We weren’t at our best on Tuesday night and we came up against a decent Remy team, but we stuck in there and it was good for us to keep the clean sheet. When we have the like of Jack and John on their game as a defence we know if we keep a clean sheet they will get us the goals.

Robbo and the management staff who have got us well organised and they are always on us to get better and we know we still have a lot to improve on and its exciting that we can still get better.

There are no easy games in this league and Winsford will be a tough challenge today, we are top of the league and that is where we want to be at the end of the season, but everyone wants to beat us.

Other teams raise their games when they play us, because of the atmosphere and because we are unbeaten, everyone wants to be the first team to beat us. But we are determined to not let anyone beat us and we all have a desire and togetherness to win every game. The team spirit at the moment is amazing and hopefully our performances on the pitch are sending the purple faithful home happy!

Was great to see Dean the kit man at the Chester game after his recent ill health, all the lads are hoping he is back in the changing rooms soon.

We are desperate to keep winning in the league, no matter how we play we always want to come away with three points at the end. Over the last few weeks we haven’t been playing well but we have still been winning and it’s a testament to

Denno 17

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

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

League League Apps (sub) Goals

Cup Apps (sub)

Cup Goals

Ben Ascroft

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Craig Cairns

5 (1)

5

3 (2)

Karl Clair

5 (4)

2

5

Danny Dalton

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Alex Davies

0 (2)

Luke Denson

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David Forbes

5 (4)

Francis Foy

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Jack Hazelhurst

6 (3)

1

5

2

Joe Holt

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1

1 (1)

1

Chris Lester

3

Jamie McDonald

5 (2)

Kevin McEllin

6 (1)

John McGrath

7 (2)

Adam Pepper

0 (3)

Tom Peterson

5 (3)

Craig Robinson

0 (1)

Paul Williams

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Anthony Brown

1 (2)

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

3 (1) 3

5 1

0 (4)

1

5

1

2 (3)

4 3

4

1

5 8 (2p)

0 (2)

man of the match

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3 (2) 6 4 1

yellow & red cards Cup games in brackets

p = penalty

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 Correct as of Litherland REMYCA on 25/09/18

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

PREMIER DIVISION TABLE

Premier Division

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

P

W

D

L

F

A

GD

Pts

GD

Pts

9 8 1 0 29 8 21 25 10 7 3 0 25 11 14 24 8 7 0 1 18 5 13 21 9 7 0 2 20 13 7 21 9 5 1 3 23 16 7 16 9 5 1 3 19 16 3 16 10 4 2 4 24 20 4 14 8 4 1 3 14 7 7 13 7 3 3 1 14 8 6 12 7 3 1 3 14 10 4 10 9 3 1 5 10 20 -10 10 9 2 3 4 11 18 -7 9 8 2 2 4 10 12 -2 8 7 1 4 2 12 13 -1 7 7 2 0 5 12 19 -7 6 7 1 2 4 11 16 -5 5 9 1 2 6 13 26 -13 5 9 1 2 6 11 24 -13 5 9 1 2 6 8 25 -17 5 6 0 1 5 1 12 -11 1

FIRST DIVISION (N) TABLE

First Division North

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

P

W

D

L

F

A

10 8 0 2 20 13 7 24 9 7 1 1 42 15 27 22 10 7 0 3 33 15 18 21 9 7 0 2 29 18 11 21 9 5 2 2 21 7 14 17 9 5 2 2 23 11 12 17 10 5 2 3 21 21 0 17 10 5 1 4 21 24 -3 16 8 4 2 2 11 8 3 14 8 4 1 3 14 15 -1 13 9 4 0 5 17 19 -2 12 9 3 3 3 17 19 -2 12 9 3 2 4 22 14 8 11 12 3 2 7 22 34 -12 11 7 3 0 4 10 16 -6 9 10 2 3 5 10 16 -6 9 10 2 2 6 15 20 -5 8 9 1 1 7 9 21 -12 4 8 0 3 5 11 26 -15 3 9 0 1 8 7 43 -36 1

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Retired Residents set to improve their skills and leave lasting legacies Residents of a Regenda Homes Independent Living scheme in Liverpool are set to use their past to improve their computer skills in the present, thanks to a £10,000 National Lottery Grant.

The money will be used to improve the IT facilities at St Peter’s Court in Aigburth and pay for an oral and local history project, which aims to allow over 20 residents to document their own life stories, leaving a lasting legacy for their families.

Dr Paul Otterson and Colin Robinson, lecturers at Liverpool John Moores University, will deliver the programme, concentrating first on IT skills and then on the history project.

Dr Paul Otterson said: “There is lots of evidence that people learn new skills more efficiently when the task is relevant and meaningful to them. This is particularly so in the case of IT and so this project is a great way to help older residents improve their IT proficiency.

If you would like to get involved in the project visit www.regenda.org.uk for further information.

The project takes its inspiration from the work of New York Times bestselling author and education expert, Sir Ken Robinson, whose younger brother John is a resident at St Peter’s Court.

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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 27

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

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Est. 1883

Jack Cookson Jason Fowles Caldon Henson Ryan Hopper Steve Jenyons Will Foster (Capt.)

Sam Marshall Michael Koral Peter Watling Danny Byrnes Perry Bircumshaw Scott Taylor Jack Woolley Liam Collins Sam Howell Matthew Cook

Manager - Lee Duckworth Assistant - Kevin Bircumshaw Coach - Ferre Edwards Therapist - Steve Foden

Referee - Anthony Parkinson Assistants - Alexander Beckett & Mariusz Kurkiewicz

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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