The Wall oper PRESCOT CABLES V WIDNES | BETVICTOR NPL NORTH / WEST DIVISION | 24 SEPTEMBER 2019, 7:45PM | ISSUE 6
8,000 came to
see him here
A profile of Alec Jackson; the star of the game which set our record crowd
Taking on the
Sandgrounders The Liverpool Senior Cup draw throws up a huge First Round tie
PRINCIPAL CLUB SPONSORS TODAY’S MATCH & BALL SPONSOR: BRITANNIA TAXIS
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From The Editor Good evening and welcome to Hope Street for today’s match in the BetVictor Northern Premier League North/West Division. It is a genuine pleasure to welcome the players, officials and supporters of Widnes to Prescot and we hope that everyone connected with the Whites enjoys their time in our company. Greetings, too, to the match officials and to everyone connected to today’s match and ball sponsors, Britannia Taxis. Thank you very much for your support. Entirely by accident, there are a number of features in tonight’s Walloper featuring clubs from Essex; it would be fair to say that it has been a tricky period for the game in that county. Yet all three pieces have a certain relevance to what we do here at Cables, in terms of administration, finance and the thorny question of home grounds. (Spoiler alert: we’re doing alright in all three areas). These are major news stories at our level and we can learn from them, so I hope the geography will become irrelevant! Tonight’s match brings together two clubs who have perhaps not quite ‘clicked’ yet this season. Certainly, there will have been a sense of frustration amongst the travelling Bulls returning from Pickering, after yet another late goal meant that Cables went home with a single point, rather than all three. Having said that, the bulk of this squad is under 25; there is so much potential in the group and that potential is going to be tapped into, sooner or later. It is also a major positive that we go into tonight’s match having only lost once in eight League matches. That is the kind of resillience shown by teams which win things. Our guests this evening have a couple of familiar names in their squad. Joe Herbert, especially, has a special place in the history of our club but the contribution Josh Klein-Davies made remains worthy of mention. Both players are welcomed back to Hope Street but will know that they can expect a high-intensity evening once the first whistle blows. Widnes have had an inconsistent start to the campaign but have played fewer matches than most; a hard-fought match is certainly on the cards this evening. We also have a rearranged match here at Hope Street this coming Saturday. The League have taken advantage of ourselves and Brighouse Town not being involved in the FA Trophy by bringing forward the match that had been scheduled for 19th October. We hope to see as many people as possible here for what will be an outstanding fixture.
PRESCOT CABLES
COMMUNITY INTEREST COMPANY LIMITED Company Number: 05540352
Directors: Michael Corless, Ken Derbyshire, Joe Gibiliru, Peter Kneale, Doug Lace, Norman Parr, Mike Rice, Matt Roberts, Jamie Weston, Robbie Williams.
Vice Presidents: Phil Blundell, Bob Nicholson Chair: Peter Kneale Vice Chair: Joe Gibiliru General Manager: Ken Derbyshire Club Secretary: Matt Roberts Match Secretary: Paul Goodwin Treasurer: Norman Parr Bar Manager: Lynda Derbyshire First Team Managers: Steve Pilling & Roy Grundy Coaches: Garry Williams & Dom Finnigan Physios: Tony Carroll & Michelle Kirby Kit: Vicky Tigwell Hospitality: Harry Boydell & Sandra Williams Head Groundsman: Vacant Ground Maintenance: Alan McNally, David Hill, Paul Watkinson Programme Editor: Gareth Coates Match Reports: Paul Goodwin & Richard Tigwell Regular Contributors: Roy McDonald, Paul Goodwin, Matt Roberts, Richard Tigwell Club Shop Manager: Kath Conway Club Photographers: John Hendry & John Middleton The opinions expressed within this programme are those of the individual contributors and may not represent the official view of the club.
Thank you for your support this afternoon. Enjoy the match!
Gareth Coates
Chief Editor Johnny Dollar
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Our Visitors Today: Widnes Tonight’s visitors have made rapid progress in their relatively short history and are becoming regular visitors to Hope Street, in League and Cup
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idnes FC was formed in February 2003 as The Dragons AFC, later to be known as Widnes Dragons. The club developed a fantastic reputation locally for their contribution towards the development of grassroots football in Halton and for providing opportunities to play football for over 200 players from the age of six to open age. The club put in a great amount of effort and worked tirelessly to run the club according to the best practices laid down by the FA. The club was the first in Halton to achieve the FA Charter Standard award in December 2003. In 2008, Widnes Dragons went on to be awarded FA Charter Standard Development Club status in recognition of its contribution to the continuous development of grassroots football. In March 2012 Widnes Dragons started a consultation process with Widnes Vikings RLFC to become part of the Vikings Sports brand, a partnership that
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would enhance the club’s community status. A First Team was established with the short-term goal of being granted entry into the North West Counties Football League as Widnes Vikings FC. Later that year during the Club’s annual AGM, the Club’s members agreed to become part of the Widnes Vikings Group and agreed on a 12-month transitional period up to the end of the 2012-13 season. The club achieve the FA Charter Standard Community Club award in July 2012; the highest accolade of its kind. Steve Hill was appointed First Team manager in September 2012 and steered the Club to a fourth-place finish in its inaugural and so far, only season in the West Cheshire League Third Division. During this season, the Club also submitted its application to join the North West Counties Football League for the 2013-14 season. The application was suc-
From Dragons to Vikings Having started as a youth club, our guests this evening were once affiliated to the Widnes Vikings RLFC
cessful, and the club began life in the North West Counties Football League with a 3-1 defeat at home to Cheadle Town before securing their first points at the higher level with an emphatic 5-1 away win over Northwich Flixton Villa. Hill eventually guided his side to finish 14th in their inaugural season in the First Division with 36 points from 36 games.
Off the pitch, the Club would be re-named as Widnes Football Club after ending their partnership with Widnes Vikings. The junior setup would also breakaway from the club, re-forming as a separate entity under The Dragons guise. The 2014-15 season saw Widnes make significant progress in cup competitions. They reached the last 16 of the League Cup before falling to eventual League Champions Glossop North End and reached the quarter-final of the Liverpool Senior Cup, beating
Prescot Cables before being knocked out in the last eight by eventual winners Skelmersdale United.
The Whites play at the 13,000 capacity Halton Stadium
The season also oversaw the Club’s first foray in the FA Vase. Widnes were knocked out in the Second Qualifying Round following a 2-0 defeat at AFC Emley. The following season saw the Club again reach the quarter-final of the Liverpool Senior Cup, coming up against an Everton XI managed by David Unsworth. The young Toffees excelled in the game and beat Widnes 8-0 despite an
Cables and Widnes met three times last season. Both League matches ended in a 2-1 win for the home side while a 2-2 draw in the Liverpool Senior Cup ended in a shoot-out win for Prescot.
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admirable performance from the home side. Danny Meadowcroft and Brian Pritchard were appointed as joint managers heading into the 2016-17 season but later left the Club by mutual consent following an indifferent start to the season. Former Burscough, Warrington Town and Runcorn Linnets manager Joey Dunn was appointed as the new First Team Manager. Dunn’s appointment led to a massive turnaround in results, with Widnes putting together a run of just two league defeats in their final 32 league games as the Whites surged to the North West Counties First Division Championship. The Whites also performed admirably in cup competitions that season, reaching the last eight of both the League Cup and Liverpool Senior Cup, and the semi-final of the First Division Cup before losing out to eventual winners City of Liverpool. The summer of 2017 saw the Club attempt to re-establish a junior setup with two youth teams at Under-7 and Under-9s Lindsey Davies was appointed as Youth Development Officer, and the junior section has thrived ever since. The 2017-18 season started with Widnes’ first-ever FA Cup game which ended in a heavy 5-0 defeat at home to Handsworth Parramore at the Halton Stadium. Widnes would endure an inconsistent start to life in the North West Counties
Premier Division. Ultimately, manager Dunn would depart in early October resigning from his position as manager. Senior players Kevin Towey and Steve Akrigg were installed as player/joint-managers and would go on to enjoy a massively successful first foray into management. The duo began their stint with three successive 2-2 draws, with Widnes scoring late equalisers in each of those games to rescue a point. Their first win would come with an emphatic 5-1 win over Maine Road at the Halton Stadium as Sam Sheen netted twice. Inconsistency would continue to plague the Whites in the following weeks, emphasised by a 3-3 draw at Padiham late in October that went viral after Widnes conceded twice in the last two minutes in a bizarre stoppage time period that was reported by various media outlets. This would eventually have a positive effect on the side as Widnes never really looked back. A 3-0 home defeat to Charnock Richard in November would be the last time Widnes would taste defeat in the league until March as the Whites won 23 of their 25 remaining games to seal a second successive promotion to the Northern Premier League, beating out local rivals Runcorn Town on the final day.
after beating Burscough in the final at Fleetwood Town’s Highbury Stadium. The summer of 2018 saw Widnes’ preparation for a first-ever season in the Northern Premier League Division One West disrupted by pitch problems at the Halton Stadium, which had failed its FIFA artificial pitch test. Widnes were forced to begin the season at Barnton’s Townfield Lane. The 2018-19 season saw the junior section expand to 14 teams across eight age groups, including two girls’ teams at Under-12s and Under-14s. Promotion to the Northern Premier League also allowed the Cub to enter a team into the NPL Football Academy, forming the Widnes FC Education and Football Academy. The Club’s first season at Step 4 proved to be an inconsistent one, with co-bosses Akrigg and Towey ultimately guiding the side to a 12th placed finish. Widnes would again advance to the Liverpool Senior Cup semi-final, losing to Prescot Cables on penalties. Widnes did add another trophy to the cabinet though with a 3-0 win at Runcorn Linnets to lift the North West Counties Champions Cup. The 2019-20 season will once again see the Club’s burgeoning junior section expand to 19 teams.
Widnes would end the season with victory in the League Cup
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INTRODUCING... WIDNES Photos by
Paul Watson
There are one or two names in the Whites squad which Prescotians will recognise...
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Owen Wheeler: Goalkeeper Owen is a highly-rated goalkeeper who is in his second spell at Widnes after re-signing in October 2018. The 21-year-old spent seven years as a trainee at Liverpool, training with the First Team on several occasions under Brendan Rodgers. Owen won the North West Counties Division One title with Widnes in 2017, with his performances earning him a scholarship at Rose State College in the United States. Mike Burke: Defender Mike joined Widnes in
the summer of 2016 and has been a virtual everpresent in the club’s most successful era. An accomplished and experienced defender, ‘Burkey’ has made over 100 appearances for the club, and was appointed club captain earlier this year. Mike has won two promotions with the Whites and lifted both the North West Counties League Cup and Champions Cup.
Graham Heathcote, the 21-year-old has turned out for the Robins in the National League and has also made appearances in the Northern Premier League for Hyde United and Ramsbottom United. At 6’4”, Heathcote is a physical presence with an eye for goal, having scored 12 goals in 29 appearances for the Rams in the 201718 season as a makeshift centre-forward.
Sam Heathcote: Defender Defender Sam was one of Widnes’ eight summer signings, arriving from Trafford. The son of former Altrincham manager
Joe Herbert: Defender Joe joined Widnes from Prescot Cables in December 2018, scoring on his debut in an away defeat at Radcliffe. A central dew w w. p re s cotca b le s a fc. co m
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fender, Herbert is a two-time Liverpool Senior Cup winner with Cables, scoring in the 2017 Final. His goal sparked extraordinary celebrations that went viral. Shaun Holden: Defender Left-back Shaun arrived from Droylsden in February and his arrival coincided with Widnes’ late-season upturn in form. A quick, skilful and hard-working player with immense stamina, Holden possesses a wand of a left foot and is one of the best crossers of the ball in the League. Phil Mooney: Defender Phil joined the club in December 2018 from Skelmersdale United. Phil made 185 appearances across two spells at Skem, first breaking into the United side as a teenager. He has had further stints at Runcorn Linnets, Warrington Town and Atherton Collieries. Keenan Quansah: Defender Keenan was a late addition in pre-season but arrived at the Halton Stadium with plenty of pedigree. A 22-year-old centrehalf who began his career at Accrington Stanley, he has played in the Northern Premier League for Burscough, Glossop North End, Hyde United, Mossley and Trafford. Jake Phillips: Defender The signing of versatile defender Jake was somewhat of a coup for co-bosses Steve Akrigg and Kev Towey who swooped to sign the former Sheffield United man this summer. He began his career as a trainee at Tranmere Rovers before moving on to Llandudno, where he was part of their Huws Gray Alliance title-winning side in 2015 as a First Team regular. He has also had spells at Fleetwood
Town, Brackley Town, Bromley, Nottingham Forest, Nantwich Town, Matlock Town and Bamber Bridge. Jay Roberts: Defender Jay has played a major role in Widnes’ success of recent years. Since arriving in March 2017, ‘Robbo’ has achieved back-to-back promotions with the Whites and lifted two trophies. Jay is an attacking full-back known for his for his pace, stamina and overlapping attacking runs. Danny Shaw: Defender Central defender Danny arrived at the Halton Stadium after making 46 appearances for Marine last season. The 23-year-old began his career at Tranmere Rovers before spells in Wales at Llandudno and Airbus UK. An athletic, ball-playing defender, Shaw was a key player for Llandudno as the Seasiders qualified for the Europa League in the 2015-16 season, and Danny would feature in the qualifying rounds against IFK Goteborg the following season. Harry Brazel: Midfielder 27-year-old Harry joined from neighbours Runcorn Town in February 2019. A busy, energetic midfielder, Harry has appeared in the National League North for Stockport County. He has previously featured for Winsford United and Leek Town. Michael Grogan: Midfielder A dependable midfielder, Michael signed for the club in November 2017, initially on a dual-registration from Marine. He made the deal permanent the following January, going on to win two trophies with Widnes later that season. Equally adept at centre-half, Mike won the National League
North with AFC Telford United in 2014. Fisnik Hajdari: Midfielder 22-year-old Fisnik arrived from Welsh Premier League side Cefn Druids for his first taste of senior English football. The defensive midfielder made his debut for TNS in the Welsh top-flight towards the end of the 2013-14 season, and was loaned to Cefn in August 2015, a move which was made permanent a year later. Fisnik’s low centre-of-gravity gives him excellent balance on the ball in limited spaces, allowing him to retain possession with a short, efficient passing game. Chris Lomax: Midfielder A skilful winger, Chris joined the club alongside brother George in September 2016. With a keen eye for goal, Chris has contributed immensely to the Widnes’ subsequent onfield success, securing successive promotions and winning two trophies. Chris has made over 100 appearances in a Widnes shirt. Sam Sheen: Midfielder A box-to-box midfielder, Sam is another to enjoy enormous success since joining the club in October 2016. Formerly of St Helens Town, Sam scored the winner in the 2018 Macron Cup Final and has coached in the club’s junior setup. Strong in the tackle, ‘Sheeny’ can deputise at centre-half and is approaching a century of appearances for the club. James Steele: Midfielder Midfielder James has a bright future and bags of potential. The 19-year-old joined the Whites from Newcastle Town, and the youngster was formerly a trainee at Port Vale. Shortly after signing, co-boss
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Towey revealed that Widnes had beaten off competition from clubs at a higher level to secure the signature of the highly-rated teenager. Danny Ventre: Midfielder Danny is an experienced player who was added to the squad ahead of the club’s debut Northern Premier League season last summer. A ‘UEFA A’ licensed coach, Danny won the Conference with Accrington Stanley in 2006, before going on to win the League of Ireland with Sligo Rovers in 2012. He spent six years with Sligo, making over 200 appearances. The 33-year-old is currently the Under-18 manager at Blackpool. George Webster: Midfielder Young midfielder George joined the club from Barnton last summer for a second spell, adapting incredibly well to the Northern Premier League. The 21-year-old won a promotion and cup double with the Villagers in 2016 as a teenager, alongside his now-manager Towey. Lewis Buckley: Forward A long-term target of bosses Towey and Akrigg, Lewis signed for Widnes from Welsh side Airbus UK in May. He began his career as a trainee at Liverpool before joining Runcorn Linnets, where he was a teammate of co-manager Towey. Buckley would go on to enjoy spells at Llandudno, Cefn Druids and Airbus UK, making close to 100 appear-
ances in the Welsh Premier League. Ben Hodkinson: Forward A hard-working striker, Ben has scored 31 goals in just over 70 appearances since joining Widnes from Bootle late in 2017. The Whites’ top goalscorer last season, Ben is an aggressive runner who relentlessly hassles opposition defenders, setting the tempo and tone for the rest of the team. Josh Klein-Davies: Forward An imposing centre-forward, Klein-Davies became Widnes’ first summer signing after making the short move from local rivals Prescot Cables. He has Football League experience with Bristol Rovers, making 10 appearances for The Gas in the 2007-08 League One season, scoring once. A former Wales Under-19 international, Klein-Davies lists 21 other teams amongst his former clubs, including spells at Luton Town, Newport County, Weymouth and Rhyl. Conor Ready: Forward A striker who can also play out wide, Conor joined the club early last season from Marine. He would go on to endear himself to Widnes supporters by scoring a late winner at local rivals Runcorn Linnets, which capped a fine end to last season. Kevin Towey: Forward/Joint Manager Kev has built a reputation as one of the most feared centre-
forwards in the North West. Now approaching the end of his playing career, Towey moved into the dugout in October 2017, guiding the Whites to a second successive promotion and two trophies alongside Steve Akrigg. He is the club’s record goalscorer, having netted 72 goals in 121 games. Steve Akrigg: Joint Manager A vastly experienced centrehalf, Steve retired from playing in the summer to focus solely on his role as jointmanager. ‘Akkers’ has played in the National League for both Southport and AFC Telford United, and has played a major role in Widnes’ recent success, both on the pitch and in the dugout. The duo are approaching their 100th game as managers. Adam Judge: Goalkeeper Coach Adam was appointed Goalkeeper Coach in the summer, bringing vast amounts of experience to the backroom staff. He played in the Northern Premier League for Leigh Genesis and Chester, winning both the First Division North and Premier Division with the Seals. Ron Cook: Physio Ron plays a vital role with the squad; his experience in tending to the team has proved invaluable. Ron turned out for Oldham Athletic in his playing days.
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A CUP THAT MIGHT RUN DRY Gareth Coates
The Liverpool Senior Cup draw has thrown up some heavyweight ties in its opening stages; is that the best thing for the competition as a whole?
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ometimes, I wonder if those in charge of ‘The Beautiful Game’ at this level ever stop to think about whether their actions help or hinder the clubs they are supposed to support.
teams have entered this season, so the simplest solution would be to include them all and see what happens. Eight First Round games, then on we go to the Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals and Final.
For instance, take this season’s Liverpool Senior Cup, which has seen the two clubs who contested last season’s Final paired together… in the First Round. Having played an enthralling goalless draw here at Hope Street in front of more than 1,200 fans last April, Southport and Prescot Cables will probably struggle to attract 200 spectators for an autumnal evening at Haig Avenue.
Of course, that can’t happen, because Everton and Tranmere Rovers have been exempted to the Quarter-Finals. There are long-standing historical reasons for this and given that committing to a maximum of three matches in the Senior Cup is something Liverpool FC feels unable to do these days, there is no real sense in looking at changing the arrangement. Doing so could cause the two Football League clubs to stop entering, which would seriously damage the competition’s prestige
In theory, organising the Senior Cup draw should be a piece of cake. Sixteen
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and long-term viability. So, if we accept that only six non-league sides can play in the Quarter-Finals, is there a way of ‘seeding’ the tournament so that those clubs who are higher up the ladder or have a proven track record of success are rewarded for their prowess? The answer to that question is extremely simple; yes, there is. Simply look at the Leagues from which the 14 non-league clubs are drawn. Nine of them are from the North West Counties League and eight teams are required for the First Round. If those nine clubs had gone into the proverbial velvet bag for the opening stage, one would have received a ‘bye’ but all of the NPL
and National League clubs would have gone straight into the Second Round. The idea is not a new one; it runs through The FA Cup like the place name in a stick of rock, to the point where Prescot Cables is officially ‘exempted’ until the Preliminary Round. In The FA Cup, the further up the ladder your club, the later it enters the competition. Applying that principle to the County Cup wouldn’t prevent the draw throwing up a trip to Southport, but it would place it in a proper context. An obvious counterargument to this kind of arrangement is that ‘seeding’ a draw in this way makes it significantly harder for Step 5 and 6 clubs
to do well in the competition and makes the draw excessively repetitive. The ‘luck of the draw’ is one of the attractions of knockout football and the traditionalists would argue that it is eroded by seeding by level. Fair enough. An alternative arrangement might be for the semi-finalists from the previous season to be given a bye through the First Round if they are a non-league club; in the event of a club given a bye until the Quarter-Final going on to win the trophy, they would retain their existing exemption. Had this idea been applied this season, Rylands (who reached the final four as a Step 6 club), Widnes, Prescot Cables and Southport would all have skipped the opening stage
of the 2019-20 competition. Under the current arrangements, only Widnes were given safe passage into the Second Round. This strikes me as unsatisfactory, as there is no incentive for a club to succeed. There’s no seeding in the following season, except for the ‘big boys’. This created the faintly absurd scenario where either the holders of the trophy or a club which has appeared in four consecutive Finals is eliminated before St Helens Town (struggling near the foot of Step 6 at the time of writing) play a match in the competition. That has knock-on effects that go far beyond Southport and Prescot. The Liverpool Senior Cup
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is one of the few where the income from matches is still split; the County FA is entitled to take a third of any profit made in every single match, although it chooses not to in the earliest rounds. The LCFA bears no responsibility for any loss incurred from the playing of a Senior Cup tie. Ultimately, it is in the governing body’s financial interests to ensure that their flagship tournament remains relevant and appealing to clubs and supporters alike. Dumping three of the previous season’s semi-finalists into the First Round does little to excite supporters. It’s a fact that a Southport – Cables Final would draw a much higher gate than a First Round match between the
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two clubs. So, what can the Liverpool FA do to enhance their main tournament? Giving the competition a sensible structure would help, as might staging Finals at a neutral venue and preparing a proper match programme for the decider, instead of putting the onus on one of the competing clubs. The Liverpool Senior Cup is a rare thing in this day and age; a County Cup which clubs want to play in and supporters want to win. I hope that it will remain so for evermore but for that to happen, its custodians need to ensure they look after it properly.
Round One Ashton Town v Skelmersdale United Bootle v Rylands Lower Breck v Pilkington Southport v Prescot Cables Round Two AFC Liverpool v Bootle or Rylands Burscough v Southport or Prescot Cables City of Liverpool v Widnes Marine v Lower Breck or Pilkington Runcorn Town v Litherland REMYCA St Helens Town v Ashton Town or Litherland REMYCA Everton and Tranmere Rovers receive byes to the quarter-finals
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EDGAR’S EARLY GOAL DOWNS DUNSTON
P Saturday 14 September BetVictor NPL North/West Hope Street
Report & Photos by
Richard Tigwell & John Middleton
rescot Cables recorded back to back victories for the first time this season after beating Dunston 1-0 at Hope Street on Saturday afternoon.
The late summer sunshine brightened up what was otherwise a war of attrition between a Cables side that have struggled to kill teams off in recent weeks and a strong, physical visiting team from the North East. Cables made one change from their previous outing against Clitheroe, Sean Breen came in for the absent Sope Awe. Cables’ goal came, as has so often been the case this season at Hope Street, early in the first half. James Edgar seized upon a moment of indecision between the visiting right back Liam Marrs and goalkeeper Karl Dryden and was able to lift the ball over the ‘keeper and into the net. No more than a minute later, Edgar turned provider as he floated a ball into the space behind Marrs but Reece McNally was unable to get the vital touch to convert the chance into a second goal for the home
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side. Cables were the dominant force throughout the first period, and were probably unlucky not to go in at half time. The Pesky Bulls enjoyed advantages in both possession and territorial terms whilst also limiting the visitors to few chances, mainly from set pieces. Ollie Taylor in the Cables goal was only called into action on one occasion when a shot was
fired straight at him soon after Cables’ opener. The second half was more of a battle as tackles flew in and tempers flared between both sets of players and the dugouts. However, neither side produced any moments of any real quality in the second period and Cables were able to see the game out to secure the three points.
Man of the Match: Josh Gregory – Commanded the centre of midfield superbly throughout, broke up play superbly and shielded the back four from danger. Cables XI: Taylor, Fernandes, McNally, McCulloch, Cooper, Gregory, Hamilton, Brean (Gill 61) Edgar, Dean, Hassall (Myler 75)
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BetVictor Northern Premier League North West Division As of 23/09/19 Workington Marske United Tadcaster Albion Ramsbottom United PRESCOT CABLES Droylsden Pontefract Collieries Mossley Marine Brighouse Town Runcorn Linnets Clitheroe Colne Widnes Trafford City of Liverpool Dunston Ossett United Kendal Town Pickering Town
SATURDAY 21ST SEPTEMBER 2019
P 9 6 6 6 8 9 5 7 6 6 7 9 6 6 7 6 5 6 10 9
W 6 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1
D 2 2 1 1 4 3 1 1 1 1 3 3 2 2 1 0 2 2 2 1
L 1 0 1 1 1 3 1 3 2 2 2 4 2 2 4 4 2 3 7 7
GF 17 12 14 9 10 12 9 12 10 7 14 11 13 9 11 10 6 3 9 10
GA 6 3 4 6 8 20 4 9 8 6 10 16 10 9 10 9 7 8 31 23
GD 11 9 10 3 2 -8 5 3 2 1 4 -5 3 0 1 1 -1 -5 -22 -13
City of Liverpool 3-0 Clitheroe Marske United 6-0 Droylsden Pickering Town 1-1 Prescot Cables Runcorn Linnets 4-0 Kendal Town Workington 2-0 Widnes
TUESDAY 1ST OCTOBER 2019
MONDAY 23RD SEPTEMBER 2019
SATURDAY 5TH OCTOBER 2019
Brighouse Town 3-2 Pickering Town
TUESDAY 24TH SEPTEMBER 2019 Clitheroe v Workington Droylsden v Marine Kendal Town v Ramsbottom United Mossley v Pontefract Collieries Prescot Cables v Widnes Tadcaster Albion v Runcorn Linnets Trafford v City of LiverpooL
SATURDAY 28TH SEPTEMBER 2019 Pontefract Collieries v Pickering Town Prescot Cables v Brighouse Town Trafford v Dunston Workington v Ramsbottom United
MONDAY 30TH SEPTEMBER 2019 Brighouse Town v Marine
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Colne v Trafford Droylsden v City of Liverpool Mossley v Widnes Ossett United v Runcorn Linnets
City of Liverpool v Ossett United Dunston v Pontefract Collieries Kendal Town v Droylsden Marine v Mossley Marske United v Workington Pickering Town v Clitheroe Ramsbottom United v Brighouse Town Runcorn Linnets v Colne Trafford v Prescot Cables Widnes v Tadcaster Albion
Pts 20 14 13 13 13 12 10 10 10 10 9 9 8 8 7 6 5 5 5 4
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THE DOG THAT MIGHT HAVE ITS DAY Gareth Coates
Supporters of Clapton FC were so incensed at their club’s management that they formed their own which looks set to take over the original club’s ground
fan-owned club has been awarded the right to operate the oldest senior football ground in London following a three-way bidding process.
A
Clapton Community FC has been offered a lease on the Old Spotted Dog ground in Forest Gate, ahead of the original Clapton Football Club (CFC) and their former tenants, Hackney Wick FC. What this means for the future of CFC – which had been formed in 1871 and had played at the ground from 1888 until the end of last season – is unclear. However, it would be fair to say that CFC has faced significant problems before. When I visited the club as a visiting official around fifteen years ago, I was distinctly unimpressed. Virtually nothing about the ground suggested that it
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had once held 12,000 spectators; the few facilities were modern but needed some TLC and were surrounded by detritus. However, given that there were almost no home supporters or officials at the match, I couldn’t identify how the ground might be restored. By then, CFC was being run by a man named Vince McBean, who remains at the club today. Under FA Rules, CFC is considered an “unincorporated association” which, in theory, is controlled by the members. However, several sources allege that membership of the club has been closed for years, due to “restructuring”. None of that prevented a group of people from attaching themselves to CFC in 2012. The self-styled Clapton Ultras described themselves as “a small group of East
London football nomads, priced out of League football, [who] decided to set down roots at our closest ground”. The Ultras quickly grew in number and got involved in various non-footballing activities. These included Food Banks and promoting themselves as a specifically anti-fascist group. This – along with a fondness for pyrotechnics amongst some of their number – led to issues for both CFC and the Ultras at various matches. The Ultras were, at one point, banned from attending CFC matches, then instituted a boycott after CFC took advantage of mushrooming crowds (which had gone from about 30 to several hundred) by increasing admission prices halfway through the 2016-17 season. Being an unincorporated association, CFC couldn’t
hold the lease to the Old Spotted Dog ground which it called home. The lease was held by the Newham Community Leisure Trust, a charity which counted Vince McBean among its Trustees. The Trust had allegedly been placed into Liquidation by McBean and was under investigation by the Charity Commission due to allegations of serious misconduct; this led to its bank accounts being frozen and it being unable to pay the rent on the ground, which is why the freeholder had put the venue out to tender.
member, one vote basis and goes as far as publishing its income and expenditure on a monthly basis. The new club secured use of a disused pitch at Wadham Lodge in Walthamstow (which they called the Stray Dog) and secured a place in the Middlesex County League Division One Central & East. The new club was able to attract crowds as high as 1,266 and 804 to home League matches, which considering they were playing at the same notional level as Cables Reserves, was and is incredible.
By then, the Ultras had found new allies, in the shape of the three surviving Life Members of CFC who, in a protest against the way CFC was being run, helped to set up a breakaway club, Clapton Community FC (Community).
Community have over 1,500 members and significant cash reserves, as well as taking on many of the projects originally set up by the Ultras, who disbanded in 2018. It was presumably this groundswell of support which helped their bid to run the Old Spotted Dog to succeed, although there
Community is run on a one
is no prospect of football being played there this season. Having been dilapidated when I went there, it is apparently in a very poor state now. It is alleged that the terraces of the old ground have been used to store piles of rubble, broken and rusting equipment, abandoned shopping trolleys and a heap of broken urinals. Meanwhile, CFC soldier on; Mr McBean has apparently announced his intention to appeal against the awarding of the lease to Community, whilst the club plays on elsewhere. Whatever happens next, one crumb of comfort is that the oldest football ground in the Capital is likely to remain just that. Whether the club which has called it ‘home’ for 140 ever plays there again remains open to question.
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#ANDYSMANCLUB SUICIDE IS THE BIGGEST KILLER OF MEN UNDER 45 1 MAN EVERY 2 HOURS
ALL OUR GROUPS MEET MONDAY 7PM TO FIND YOUR NEAREST GROUP VISIT OUR WEBSITE
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We are a peer to peer support group for men. Come have a brew and a chat!
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Match and Ball Sponsorship Date
Opponents
Match Sponsor
Ball Sponsor
223/07/19
Everton (Pre-Season Match)
03/08/19
Warrington Town (Pre-Season Match)
21/08/19
Clitheroe
31/08/19
Tadcaster Albion
14/09/19
Dunston
Hi Tech Coatings
24/09/19
Widnes
Britannia Taxis
28/09/19
Brighouse Town
09/11/19
Ramsbottom United
30/11/19
Colne
07/12/19
Pickering Town
21/12/19
Kendal Town
01/01/20
Marine
11/01/20
Droylsden
18/01/20
Trafford
01/02/20
Workington
22/02/20
City of Liverpool
14/03/20
Mossley
28/03/20
Pontefract Collieries
13/04/20
Runcorn Linnets
25/04/20
Ossett United
TBA
Marske United
Michael Corless Soccer Schools Emilia, Matthew, Karen and Dean Edwards Prescot Cables Supporters Club
Harry Molyneux
Bob Nicholson
Enid Harding in memory of Dave Harding
Morecrofts Solicitors (Gold Sponsors)
Peter Healing
The Town of Larvik, Norway Morecrofts Solicitors (Gold Sponsors)
We are again inviting businesses and supporters to sponsor our home fixtures and the match ball for each game. Match Sponsorship costs £175 and includes pre-match and half-time hospitality, extensive promotion within The Walloper and during the pre-match stadium announcements. Match Ball Sponsorship costs £75 and includes pre-match and half-time hospitality, extensive promotion within The Walloper and during the pre-match stadium announcements. The club also offers a Gold Sponsorship option for £350. This entitles the sponsor to hospitality for up to six people, including a free bar with priority service. w w w. p re s cotca b le s a fc. co m
To find out more about any of these opportunities, please contact Mick Flaherty ot Jamie Weston.
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First Team Appearances & Goals Up to and including 21st September 2019. Maximum number of appearances: 10
2019-20 Season Sub. Apps. Goals Apps. 10 0 0 10 0 2 9 1 0 9 0 0 8 2 7 8 1 0 8 0 0 8 0 0 7 1 1 6 2 0 6 1 0 5 1 0 5 1 1 3 0 0 2 3 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 3 0 0 1 0 0 1 0
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Player James McCulloch Lloyd Dean Matthew Hamilton James Cooper James Edgar Valter Fernandes Reece McNally Ollie Taylor George Hassall Josh Gregory Steven Yawson Sean Myler Mosopeoluwa Awe Will Avon Martyn Jackson Marcus Burgess Rodrigo Schmitdinger Mann Sean Breen Jack Grimshaw Rio Gill Sam Harding Douglas Nyaupembe
Cables Career Sub. Apps. Goals Apps. 366 20 23 136 37 52 36 14 7 42 3 1 158 35 24 101 4 2 56 0 0 24 0 0 7 1 1 6 2 0 6 1 0 28 1 3 5 1 1 3 0 0 2 3 0 82 0 0 2 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 3 0 0 1 0 0 1 0
♠️ Cocktails ♥️ Beer & Craft ♣️ Brunch ♦️ Sunday Roast Served in the heart of the historical town of Prescot.
2 Leyland Street, Prescot, L34 5QP Find us on Facebook and Instagram for our forthcoming live music events
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2019-20 FIXTURES, RESUL Date
Opponents
Res.
1
2
3
4
5
6
17/08/19
Kendal Town
A BVNW
Comp. Att. 102
1-0
Burgess
Fernandes
McNally
McCulloch
Avon
Gregory
Ham
20/08/19
Clitheroe
H BVNW
390
2-2
Burgess
Fernandes
McNally
McCulloch
Cooper
Gregory
Ham
24/08/19 26/08/19
Northwich Victoria Marine
A FACp A BVNW
247 585
1-2 1-2
Taylor Taylor
Fernandes Mann
McNally Fernandes
McCulloch McCulloch
Cooper Cooper
Hamilton Gregory
Greg Yaw
31/08/19
Tadcaster Albion
H BVNW
386
1-1
Taylor
Mann
McNally
McCulloch
Cooper
Gregory
Yaw
03/09/19 07/09/19 14/09/19
Droylsden Clitheroe Dunston
A BVNW A BVNW H BVNW
168 332 435
1-1 2-1 1-0
Taylor Taylor Taylor
Avon Avon Fernandes
Fernandes McNally McNally
McCulloch McCulloch McCulloch
Cooper Cooper Cooper
Gregory Myler Gregory
Has Has Bre
16/09/19
Atherton Collieries
A ILC1
192
0-0*
Taylor
Fernandes
McNally
McCulloch
Cooper
Myler
Aw
21/09/19
Pickering Town
A BVNW
142
1-1
Taylor
Fernandes
McNally
McCulloch
Cooper
Myler
Yaw
24/09/19 28/09/19 01/10/19 05/10/19 02/11/19 09/11/19 16/11/19 23/11/19
Widnes Brighouse Town Southport Trafford Mossley Ramsbottom United Pontefract Collieries Ossett United
H H A A A H A A
30/11/19
Colne
H BVNW
07/12/19
Pickering Town
H BVNW
14/12/19 21/12/19 26/12/19 01/01/20
Workington Kendal Town Runcorn Linnets Marine
A H A H
11/01/20
Droylsden
H BVNW
18/01/20 25/01/20
Trafford Marske United
H BVNW A BVNW
01/02/20
Workington
H BVNW
15/02/20
Dunston
A BVNW
22/02/20 29/02/20 14/03/20 21/03/20 28/03/20
City of Liverpool Widnes Mossley Brighouse Town Pontefract Collieries
H A H A H
04/04/20
Ramsbottom United
A BVNW
11/04/20 13/04/20 18/04/20
Tadcaster Albion Runcorn Linnets Colne
A BVNW H BVNW A BVNW
25/04/20 TBA TBA
Ossett United Marske United City of Liverpool
H BVNW H BVNW A BVNW
BVNW BVNW LSC1 BVNW BVNW BVNW BVNW BVNW
BVNW BVNW BVNW BVNW
BVNW BVNW BVNW BVNW BVNW
Players marked in bold are goalscorers; players marked in italics indicate substitutions. Yellow and red cards are also shown, as follows: Caution Dismissal 0-0* - Prescot Cables lost 4-3 on penalties 28 w w w.presc otc a b lesa fc . c om
7
LTS & TEAM SELECTIONS
7
milton
8
9
10
11
12
14
15
16
17
Myler
Hassell
Dean
Yawson
Cooper
Edgar
Gill
Jackson
Mann
milton
Myler
Hassell
Dean
Yawson
Avon
Edgar 2 (1p)
Gill
Jackson
Mann
gory wson
Jackson Hamilton
Edgar (p) Awe
Dean Dean
Yawson Edgar (p)
Avon Nyaupembe
Flood Hassall
Gill Myler
Turner Jackson
Mann Flood
wson
Hamilton
Awe
Dean
Edgar
Hassall
Jackson
Fernandes
Harding
Gill
ssall ssall een
Hamilton Hamilton Hamilton
Awe Awe Dean
Dean Dean Hassall
Edgar Edgar (p) Edgar
Myler Gregory Gill
Harding Harding Harding
Gill Breen Jackson
Barrow Barrow Myler
Jackson Fernandes Yawson
we
wson
Jackson
Hassell
Dean
Edgar
Breen
Gill
Hamilton
Harding
Yawson
Hamilton
Hassell
Dean
Edgar
Avon
Awe
Breen
Gregory
Harding
We have a number of opportunities for pitchside advertising here at the Cables. Taking a board at pitchside doesn’t just get your company’s brand noticed by match-going spectators; we will also provide good coverage across our social media channels. Prices start from £375 for the first season and £300 for subsequent seasons. For more information, send our commercial team an email, talk to one of the Directors on a matchday or call Jamie Weston on 07367 284803.
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BLUES AND LINNETS STRENGTHEN Two clubs who have made solid starts to the season have made moves in the transfer market
C
litheroe have signed young Blackburn defender Andy Jackson on an initial month’s loan.
ed by Billy Barr (Rovers’ U23 boss), who I have been speaking to, and we’re grateful to Blackburn for letting him come to us.”
Jackson, 19, made his debut in the incredible 4-4 home draw against Runcorn Linnets in the BetVictor Northern Premier North/West Division last weekend.
Meanwhile, Clitheroe have released striker Elliott Pond.
A former Liverpool academy graduate, Jackson has been at Ewood Park for the past three years and is part of Rovers’ Under 23s squad. Manager Phil Brown said: “With Craig (Stanley) moving to Nuneaton and a couple of injuries we are just a bit short of depth at the back. “Andy will add to that and the quality we’ve got in the squad. He can play in a couple of positions and comes highly recommend-
Runcorn Linnets have also been active in the transfer market, bringing back their championship-winning centre half Jimmy Moore.
Manager Michael Ellison said: “I don’t have to remind anyone what Jimmy Moore will bring to the side. When the opportunity arose to bring him back, it was a no brainer for me. “He will be rusty and it will take him a bit of tine to get up to speed after his injuries but he will be a huge asset to the squad and I’m delighted to have him back.”
Moore, 31, was the club’s Player of the Year in their North West Counties League Premier Division title win two seasons ago, before departing to join Trafford 12 months ago. He made 47 appearances in the yellow and green during his previous spell, and counts Cheadle Town, Atherton Collieries and Abbey Hey amongst his former clubs. w w w. p re s cotca b le s a fc. co m
31
K-Bull is going on a Summer Holiday before the new season starts, but he has left his bucket and spade behind.
A FREELANCE FOOTBALLER
Can you help him find them so that he can make a sandcastle once he gets to the beach?
Roy McDonald
In the Dunston programme, we looked back at the occasion of the record attendance at Hope Street, for the F.A. Cup Preliminary round match against Ashton National, in September 1932. Supporters crowded into the ground keen to see Ashton’s star player, the former Huddersfield and Chelsea player, Alec Jackson
A
lexander Skinner Jackson’s rise to fame was meteoric. He was born in 1905, at Renton, a small town North West of Glasgow, and in 1922, joined Dumbarton from his junior team Renton Victoria, for the princely sum of a new leather football. The following year he visited Pennsylvania with his elder brother, Wattie, who was also a competent footballer. The brothers joined the Bethlehem Steels team in the American Soccer League, and Alec soon eclipsed his elder brother as a star player in the team. After a year away, Alec returned to Scotland and played, again, for Dumbarton, but it was not long before he was signed by Aberdeen. His play for the Dons brought him almost immediate International honours. (In 1928, he would become the first
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player to score a hat trick at Wembley, as a member of the Scotland side which trounced England, 5–1.) At the beginning of the 192526 season Huddersfield Town won the race to sign the mercurial young Scot, ahead of Bolton, Everton, Aston Villa, Sunderland and Liverpool. Alec enjoyed a successful time with the Yorkshire club, - in his five years there they won the league in his first season, and also finished second, twice, and reached two FA Cup finals. He even released a cup final record, discussing Huddersfield’s chances in the 1930 FA Cup Final against Arsenal! Then, in a portent of more recent times, Chelsea tried to buy their way to success, and in September 1930, they paid a fee in the region of £8,500 to Huddersfield to secure the transfer of “foot-
ball’s number one personality boy”. Though proving an enormous attraction at Stamford Bridge, he rarely revealed his best form for The Pensioners. In April 1932, Chelsea dropped a bombshell announcing that they had decided not to re-engage Jackson, and had placed him on the open-to-transfer list with fee of £6,000 on his head. It was widely considered that this was a punishment following a disciplinary issue in an away game at Manchester City, late in the season. However, a French team, Nimes, had made Jackson (and several other players) a very lucrative offer. Alec had threatened to accept it unless Chelsea broke the wage cap in operation at the time. Chelsea refused and placed him on the transfer list. Despite being at the peak of
his career, and aged just 26, the high transfer fee meant that no club was prepared to take on the star, but it, effectively, left Alec as a free agent to go anywhere he pleased, as long as it was outside the jurisdiction of the Football League. Aware of his situation, Mr. Robert Hartley, the ambitious chairman of the Ashton National Club made an audacious bid to sign the Scottish international. The problem was they didn’t know how to contact him! They had read in the newspapers that he had been injured at Aldershot, where he was in camp with the London Territorials. Taking a chance, the club sent a telegram addressed to “Lieut. Jackson, Territorial Training Camp, Aldershot”, asking him to telephone the Snipe Inn, Audenshaw, at ten o’clock that night, to discuss terms. Jackson made
the call and a meeting was arranged in London, the following day, where he agreed to join the Cheshire League side. In newspaper articles at the time, Jackson explained his reasons. Chelsea held his transfer at a fee of £6,000, and if he wanted to return to League football the fee still held good. He was the landlord of a pub in London’s Covent Garden, had interests in a hotel in nearby Leicester Square and wrote a syndicated newspaper column. He made no secret of the fact that his motivation was financial, “My income will easily top anything I have had before. It will quite likely make me the highest paid footballer in the country. I shall be paid far more than it is possible for any man in the Football League to be paid. The League maximum is £8
a week and I hope to get three or four times as much as that.” “This experiment of mine is, largely, as a result of a desire to make money, but I am just as anxious make some kind of protest against the transfer scheme which makes it possible for Chelsea to order me out telling me they do not want me to play for them this season and to put me on the transfer list at a price which nobody will pay. I cannot play in the Football League until it is settled, but I have got to live, so I have accepted this contract. I have always disagreed with the fixing of a maximum wage for the professional footballer. By all means maintain a minimum wage in all jobs, but to limit the pay a man may demand is an aggressive scheme designed for the sole benefit of the clubs. If a star footballer attracts a big gate, he should be paid for his attrac-
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tions. Nowadays, he is a public entertainer like a theatre artist. In this offer I see a chance of testing my theories.” “l have agreed to play for Ashton National for four weeks. It is an experiment for both parties. The club see possibilities in exploiting a star player as an attraction, just as League cricket clubs have done. For my own part, I stand or fall by my own value. I shall get what I am worth, no more and no less. If this four-week contract proves the idea to be sound, the club and I are going to arrange future terms on the basis that I get what I am worth. I am in strict training, and I shall give the crowd value for their money.“ He said, “Business in London prevents me from training with the Ashton team, but thanks to the efforts of friends who are willing to pace me with motor-cars all round Richmond Park, I shall manage to be 100 per cent fit for my first game.” The signing created considerable interest in non-league football circles, and the “box office” appeal of a star player did, indeed, boost attendances at Ashton’s games, and also benefited their opponents when Ashton played away – for example, the record attendance at Prescot Cables for the FA Cup tie. By playing in the FA Cup for Ashton, Jackson had immediately decreased his potential value for another League club, as being “cup-tied” they would only be able to call on him for League games. One can only imagine the reaction this would’ve had in the Chelsea boardroom! The early signs of success and increased gate receipts were sufficiently encouraging that both parties quickly agreed to extend
the arrangement to the end of the season. By mid-October, Jackson was writing in his newspaper column, “I have never enjoyed football so much as I have since my audacious adventure of this August. The men who control my new club are genuine sportsmen, and have treated me generously. L am receiving thrice the maximum wage of an English league player. My comrades are good players. We possess an abundance of the right sort of team spirit.” However, in February 1933, with National sitting in second place in the Cheshire League, the directors at Ashton informed Alec that the agreed contract, guaranteeing him 10% of the gate, or a minimum of £15 a week, plus expenses, was beyond the sound finances of the club. Jackson’s reply was immediate. “I could not allow them to be out of pocket over me. I decided to rip up the contract. They have been very sporting to me, and have treated me very well, so I thought it was the best thing to do to help save them.” It seems that once the novelty wore off, and with Jackson missing a number of games through a series of injuries, attendances at National Park had started to slide. The Ashton National manager lambasted the Ashton public for their failure “to repay us for our enterprise in signing such a famous player”. However, there would be no reconciliation with Chelsea and Jackson joined Margate in the Kent League, who paid him £10 a week, plus expenses, for the remainder of the season, although another injury cut short his time there.
In the summer of 1933, and with Chelsea still seeking £4,000 for his registration he signed for OGC Nice for one season before moving on to Le Touquet, and giving up on football altogether at the age of only 28. The man who had been dubbed the best player in football a mere three years earlier may have made his point about the worth of star players, but, ultimately football lost one of it’s brightest stars far too soon. During the Second World War Jackson, who still had a commission in the Territorials, fought in the Eighth Army in North Africa, and after being injured in Libya, he became Garrison Adjutant at Abbassia Barracks, Cairo, where, in a soccer match against a Springbok eleven he played righthalf, at the end of 37. The Garrison won 13—3. After becoming a welfare officer in an Eighth Army rest camp in Italy, he harboured ambitions to promote a footballing tour of the UK with an Eighth Army football side. “An Eighth Army side would be a big attraction back home,” he said. “Sportsmen everywhere would consider it an opportunity to pay tribute to the boys out here, while war charities would benefit enormously”. At the end of the war, and by now, a Major, he extended his stay in Africa, and was assigned to the Suez Zone. In November 1946, he was driving a truck near the Suez Canal, when he lost control and overturned, suffering serious head injuries. Aged just 41, Alec Jackson died in a Cairo hospital three days later. He left a wife and 10 year old twins.
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Reserve Team Fixtures & Results Date
Opponents
H/A
Comp.
Result
Scorers
10/08/19
Mallaby
H
WCL2
3-1
OG, Perry, Sinclair
17/08/19
Maghull Reserves
H
WCL2
3-0
R. Dean, Sinclair, OG
20/08/19
Cheshire Lines
A
WCL2
2-4
Sinclair 2
24/08/19
South Liverpool Reserves
H
WCL2
2-2
Morgan, Parry
07/09/19
Mossley Hill Athletic Res.
H
WCL2
2-0
Morgan, Perry
14/09/19
Redgate Rovers
H
WCL2
0-7
-
21/091/19
South Sefton Borough
A
WCL2
4-3
???
28/09/19
Litherland REMYCA Dev.
H
WCL2
-
-
05/10/19
Ashville Reserves
A
WCL2
-
-
12/10/19
Rainhill Town Reserves
H
WCL2
-
-
19/10/19
Poulton Royal
A
WCL2
-
-
26/10/19
South Liverpool Res.
A
WCL2
-
-
20/08/19: Cheshire Lines 4-2 Cables Reserves annuled and awarded to Cables
The Reserve Team’s only West Cheshire League defeat of the season so far has been struck from the records and the points awarded to Prescot. The First Team of Cheshire Lines won 4-2 at home to Cables on 20th August, overturning a two goal defecit in the process. However, it would seem that the Railwaymen have breached League Rules, as the Division Two Table has now been adjusted in favour of the Backup Bulls. Jonathon Sproston’s team took full advantage of this boost to move to second place in the early season standings at the weekend. Away to the First Team of South Sefton Borough, Cables swept into a 4-1 lead. However, the home side rallied and with five minutes remaining pulled the score back to 4-3. Prescot held on to the victory, though and only the superior goal difference of Aintree Villa is keeping Cables from the top of the table. The second string play their home matches at Prescot Soccer Centre on Warrington Road and entry is free.
36
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Youth Team Fixtures & Results Date
Opponents
H/A
Comp.
Result
11/08/19
Chorley
H
NWYA
1-1
18/08/19
Curzon Ashton
A
NWYA
1-5
02/09/19
Ashton Athletic
A
FAYC
1-4
08/09/19
Stockport County
A
NWYA
2-2
15/09/19
Stockport County
H
NWYA
4-4
22/09/19
Newton-le-Willows
H
LFA1
8-1
29/09/19
Egerton
A
OC1
-
06/10/19
Southport
H
NTC1
-
20/10/19
Hyde United
H
NWYA
-
03/11/19
AFC Fylde
A
NWYA
-
10/11/19
Altincham
H
NWYA
-
24/11/19
Chester
A
NWYA
-
01/12/19
Chorley
A
NWYA
-
15/12/19
Curzon Ashton
H
NWYA
-
22/12/19
Egerton
A
NWYA
-
12/01/20
Ashton Athletic
A
NWYA
-
19/01/20
Atherton Town
H
NWYA
-
09/02/20
Southport
A
NWYA
-
08/03/20
Hyde United
A
NWYA
-
15/03/20
AFC Fylde
H
NWYA
-
22/03/20
Alrincham
A
NWYA
-
29/03/20
Chester
H
NWYA
-
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39
Raising Awareness Saves Young Lives
Cardiac Risk in the Young Every week in the UK at least 12 young people die of undiagnosed heart conditions. Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) aims to reduce the frequency of young sudden cardiac death (YSCD). CRY supports young people diagnosed with potentially life-threatening cardiac conditions and offers bereavement support to families affected by YSCD. CRY promotes and develops heart screening programmes and funds medical research. CRY publishes and distributes medical information written by leading cardiologists for the general public. CRY funds fast track referral, screening and cardiac pathology services at leading UK hospitals. Address: Unit 1140B The Axis Centre, Cleeve Road, Leatherhead, Surrey, KT22 7RD Telephone: 01737 363222 Email: cry@c-r-y.org.uk Web: www.c-r-y.org.uk 40
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/CardiacRiskintheYoung
@CRY_UK
Reserve & Youth Team League Tables West Cheshire League, Division Two As of 21/09/19 Aintree Villa CABLES RESERVES Heswall Mersey Royal Mossley Hill Athletic Reserves South Sefton Borough Ashville Reserves Poulton Royal Maghull Reserves South Liverpool Reserves Mallaby Rainhill Town Reserves Cheshire Lines West Kirby Litherland REMYCA Development
P 6 6 6 5 6 7 6 6 6 7 6 5 4 6 6
W 5 5 5 4 3 3 3 2 2 1 2 2 1 1 0
D 1 1 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 3 0 0 2 0 0
L 0 0 1 1 1 4 3 3 4 3 4 3 1 5 6
GF 23 14 28 16 16 21 10 13 11 13 17 14 12 6 8
GA 7 6 8 8 13 20 9 14 14 18 27 26 6 20 24
GD 16 8 20 8 3 1 1 -1 -3 -5 -10 -12 6 -14 -16
Pts 16 16 15 12 11 9 9 7 6 6 6 6 5 3 0
21/08/19: Cheshire Lines 4-2 Prescot Cables Res: fixture awarded to Prescot Cables
North West Youth Alliance, Premier Division As of 22/09/19 Curzon Ashton Altrincham Ashton Athletic Chester Hyde United Stockport County Chorley AFC Fylde Egerton CABLES U18 Southport Atherton Town
P 5 5 3 5 6 5 2 3 3 4 2 4
W 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 1 1 0 0 0
D 1 2 0 1 1 2 1 1 0 3 0 0
L 0 0 0 2 3 2 0 1 2 1 2 4
GF 30 15 9 9 7 13 6 3 10 8 0 2
GA 3 5 2 5 11 14 1 5 11 12 10 25
GD 27 10 7 4 -4 -1 5 -2 -1 -4 -10 -23
Pts 13 11 9 7 7 5 4 4 3 3 0 0
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WORKINGTON GO SIX POINTS CLEAR The relegated Cumbrians took advantage of FA Cup fixtures to stretch their lead at the top of the North / West Division
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orkington picked up a 2-0 win at home to Widnes on Saturday to extend their lead at the top of the North / West Division table. With half the scheduled fixtures postponed because of FA Cup commitments, the Reds moved six points clear thanks to a first half goal by Brad Carroll which was added to by an own goal scored by Owen Wheeler. Marske United moved into second place thanks to a sensational 6-0 win over Droylsden, who had gone into the game above United in the table. The hosts were 4-0 up by half-time, added a penalty in the opening moments of the second period and had completed the scoring before the second half was ten minutes old. Curtis Round will have 42
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taken the headlines in the North-East, by virtue of scoring the first, third and sixth goals. Markse’s other goalscorers were Lewis Maloney, Mathew Walters and penalty-taker, Craig Scott. Tadcaster Albion moved into third place in the table thanks to a 4-0 win at Mossley. The only away win in the division on Saturday saw Albion sweep into a 3-0 lead by half-time, thanks to goals from Jake Day, Kevin dos Santos and Donald Chimalilo. Day added his second and Tadcaster’s fourth, eight minutes from time. Runcorn Linnets also managed a 4-0 win on Saturday, easing to victory over Kendal Town. All of the goals at the Millbank Stadium came in the second half. Paul Shanley put Runcorn ahead, before Connor McCarthy and Ja-
mie Rainford put daylight between the Cheshire outfit and the Mintcakes. The final goal of the game was a penalty, scored by Louis Corrigan. Another club who picked up a convincing home victory was City of Liverpool, who defeated Clitheroe 3-0. The Purps led 1-0 at half time, thanks to a goal by Luke Denson. Bobbie McDonnell doubled their lead before Jack Hazlehurst completed the scoring. In The FA Cup, the clash between divisional rivals Colne and Ossett United ended in a goalless draw, while Marine were beaten at home by Dunston. Ramsbottom United were heavily beaten at Gateshead and Trafford eventually lost at home to Darlington, in front of almost 800 spectators at Shawe View.
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FROM HOPE STREET TO HAIG AVENUE The Pesky Bulls wills
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he Liverpool Senior Cup tie between Southport and Prescot Cables (see pages 14-16) will take place a week tonight at Haig Avenue. The First Round fixture takes place six months to the day after the clubs met here in the 2018-19 Final and pits Prescot against a Sandgrounders side currently mid-table in the National League North. The tie will be decided on the night and if the scores are level after 90 minutes, a penalty shoot-out will take place. Ticket prices had not been announced at the time of going to press but are likely to be similar to those for Southport’s FA Cup tie at home to Scarborough Athletic, which were as follows: Adults: £10.00
Over-65: £8.00 Junior (12-18): £5.00 Child (U12): FREE There will obviously not be a coach travelling to the match, so any supporters heading to the coast would have to make their own way. Those driving should use PR8 6JZ for satellite navigation. There is no parking for supporters at the ground.
Southport takes around 40 minutes. From Southport station, the ground is a 20-minute walk.
The nearest station to the ground is Meols Cop on the Manchester to Southport Line. It is possible to travel from Prescot to Wigan North Western, then cross the road to Wigan Wallgate, from which the journey to Meols Cop takes about 25 minutes. An alternative for train travellers would be to go from Prescot to Liverpool Lime Street, then walk to Liverpool Central, from where the journey to w w w. p re s cotca b le s a fc. co m
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TAMPLIN’S BIG TOP COMES DOWN Gareth Coates
The colourful tenure of a controversial club owner appears to have come to an end, but what happens next has yet to become clear.
he pitfalls of the ‘benefactor’ model of owning and running a football club were highlighted again last week after Billericay Town owner Glenn Tamplin announced on Wednesday that he was “stepping down” as both owner and director of the club.
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Quite how anyone can ‘step down’ from owning something without either selling it or giving it away is unclear, but it can be assumed that Mr Tamplin means that he is cutting his ties with the club. The timing of the announcement was curious; it was published by the Blues two days after their manager, Harry Wheeler, was sacked for the second time by Tamplin. Nor is it the first time since buying Billericay Town that Tamplin - a former non-league footballer
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himself - has threatened to leave New Lodge; his entire tenure has been characterised by emotional and sometimes rash decision making. One of Tamplin’s first actions was to dismiss experienced manager Craig Edwards and put himself in charge, only to step out of the dugout when results nosedived. Remarkably, this cycle of self-appointment and dismissal would happen twice more as the businessman sought to get the best possible return for the money sunk into the club, which included some £20,000 a week in wages at Step 3. We know that figure was accurate, because Tamplin went on the Non-League Show and broadcast it to the nation! The budget is almost certain to have been adjusted; by Wednesday evening two
of the club’s players had moved on By Thursday, Tamplin had published a statement through Twitter which suggested that his decision to leave Billericay had been triggered by abuse aimed at his 16-year-old son, who had been included in the club’s First Team squad for several matches but unable to cement a place in the starting line-up. It had also been reported that his house was for sale for several million pounds. Tamplin’s statement indicated that he hoped “this great club will continue” and that he would not be seeking a return on the money he had spent. How much has been sunk into the Essex club isn’t clear, but expressing the ‘hope’ that the club he has controlled for three years can survive without him is not exactly a ring-
ing endorsement of Town’s financial wellbeing. In fact, a cursory look at the football club’s accounts suggests that, without financial support, it would be in serious difficulties. In the financial year which ended on 31st May 2018, the club had almost £1.5million in loans which were repayable in more than five years and were non-interest bearing. It would seem certain that figure will have increased in the time that has elapsed since. It would be fair to say that, during his time at the club, Glenn Tamplin has regularly been in the public eye which has, in turn, brought publicity to his main business, AGP Steel. Yet AGP Steel Structures London Limited has yet to file accounts for 2017-18, despite having extending the accounting period from the standard
12 months to 18. The most recent accounts on records suggest that the company advanced close to £1.67million to its sole Director (one G D Tamplin), leaving the business with a net value of less than £200,000. As anyone who has followed the events around Bury FC will be aware, this kind of story very rarely has a happy ending. Even if the loans advanced to Billericay Town are written off, the Blues’ ability to survive may well be contingent on whether their lavishly-assembled squad are under contract and, if they are, whether settlements can be agreed to release the club from obligations it almost certainly couldn’t meet on its own. We’ve covered the Billericay story in The Walloper before because it matters. This is a club which has existed since 1880 and won the FA Vase at
Wembley three times in four years. If it ceases to exist in six months’ time, will the brief spell in the limelight have been worth sacrificing 140 years of history? As a fan-owned club, we can’t look to a rich individual to push us up the Leagues and even if we could, there’ would have to be a separate discussion as to whether we should. While it has gone on for as long as admission to matches has been charged, financial doping is a curse upon the game of football. It distorts competition, has a long-term inflationary effect on the cost of recruiting players at every level and puts the health of the sport in danger. The circus is packing up in Essex; it is to the game’s detriment that there is no system in place for cleaning up the mess left where the Big Top used to be.
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ATHLETIC REMOVED FROM FA CUP One club’s FA Cup run came to an end in a room at Wembley Stadium last week
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rays Athletic have been expelled from this season’s FA Cup competition after being charged and found guilty of a rule breach related to fielding a player in an FA Cup game when he doesn’t hold the appropriate international clearance. The player in question, Frankie Hession-Harris, appeared as a second half substitute in Grays’ FA Cup Preliminary Round win against Heybridge Swifts FC on 24th August 2019. Frankie has since left the club and signed for Merstham FC. Despite Frankie representing both Witham Town and East Thurrock United during season 2018-19, it transpires that he was never internationally cleared to play football back in England after representing a college team in the USA. 48
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Writing on the club’s website, Chairman Steve Skinner observed: “The outcome is a very bitter pill to swallow for us and it is difficult to come to terms with the fact that Grays Athletic are being punished when the player involved has made incorrect declarations on three registration forms, whether intentionally or not, then represented three football clubs whilst ineligible. “The club feel that the punishment we have received is disproportionate based on the fundamentals of the case. “However, it is what it is and we remain hopeful that we can overturn the verdict at a subsequent appeal.” The Essex side’s FA Cup Second Qualifying Round match away to Kingsto-
nian, which had been due to take place on Sunday, was postponed.
Sponsors of the 2019-20 Player of the Month Award w w w. p re s cotca b le s a fc. co m
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FROM CONCORD TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP David Richardson
This week’s column from The Non-League Paper celebrates the rise of the Cowley brothers, whose managerial journey started at Step 5
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t’s quite telling that Danny Cowley mentioned his and brother Nicky’s Non-League roots in the opening press conference as Huddersfield Town manager. From the Essex Senior League to the Championship in a little over a decade is some rise – and they will never forget where they came from.
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The Cowley brothers have now been at every level of English football from tier two down to Non-League’s Step 5. They even picked up back-to-back Manager of the Year honours at our annual National Game Awards! Their recent success at Lincoln City, who they took to the National League title and then League Two winners, has seen them linked
to a number of jobs higher up the ladder. For Imps fans, news of their departure would have been something they’d have known was eventually coming but would have done little to dampen the pain of seeing them leave Sincil Bank for pastures new last Monday. Of course, it all began at Concord Rangers with Danny as joint-manager
to Danny Scopes – the man back in the Beachboys’ hotseat this season – and Nicky as a player. Since then they’ve gone on to form a formidable partnership, taking Concord to National League South football before a third-place finish with Braintree Town in Non-League’s top tier and a subsequent move into the full-time management with Lincoln. Concord chairman Ant Smith told The NLP what stood them apart all those years ago and how a relentless quest to be as good as they possibly can has been the cornerstone of their success, which is why he thinks they’ll go right to the very top.
“Danny would only ask for that extra one per cent to make things better for the players or the club,” said Smith. “He wasn’t asking for thousands of pounds, just little bits and pieces that would make a big difference. “On a Thursday night after training we’d have ‘Pizza Night’. I’d order them in, a few of the committee would go down there and we’d have a laugh and it just helped that comradery and the bonding between us all. Little things like that. “Their desire to win games and their attention to detail was just incredible. For anybody in Non-League to watch what they’ve done
gives everyone hope. I truly believe they will manage England one day.” It would be a remarkable story should they go on to lead the Three Lions but for now we wish them all the best in their new challenge and know they continue to be great ambassadors for Non-League football. Like Chris Wilder in the Premier League at Sheffield United, it is a boost to NonLeague gaffers with big aspirations to see these examples. It shows there are sharp managerial minds outside of the Football League. Let’s hope more get a shot because of them.
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K-Bull’s Kids Korner Missing Letters K-Bull has taken away alternate letters from the names of some English, Scottish and Welsh football clubs. See if you can identify them all?
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) 12)
K-L-A-N-C– C-Y-T-L P–L-C– H-M-L–O- A-A-E-I-A– S-L-O-D C-T– M-R-C-M–E W-L-E-H-M-T–N W-N-E-E–S F-L-A– E-E-T–N A-L–A A–H–E–I– B-R-O- A-B-O– F-R-S- G-E-N R-V-R– N–W–O–T C–U–T-
Hi everyone! A warm welcome to all you Pesky Calves. It is brilliant to be back at Hope Street. Hello, as well, to any young travelling supporters who have come over from Widnes on a school night. There might be a couple of names on the Widnes team sheet that Cables fans know all about. Joe Herbert, especially, is remebered fondly here, as much for that goal as anything else. Josh Klein-Davies scored a bit more regularly than Joe and he is also more than welcome back - provided he doesn’t expect an easy ride out on the pitch! I hope you enjoy the game. See you soon!
K-Bull ANSWERS 1: Kilmarnock, 2: Crystal Palace, 3: Hamilton Academical, 4: Salford City, 5: Morecambe, 6: Wolverhampton Wanderers, 7: Fulham, 8: Everton, 9: Alloa Athletic, 10: Burton Albion, 11: Forest Green Rovers, 12: Newport County
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Br tann a Tax s are proud to Sponsor Prescot Cables
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Today’s Squads
Prescot Cables v Widnes Tuesday 24 September 2019, 7:45pm
Prescot Cables
Widnes
Amber & Black Striped Shirts, Black Shorts, Black Socks
White Shirts, White Shorts, White Socks NUMBER
GOALS
NUMBER GOALS
Ollie Taylor (GK)
Owen Wheeler (GK)
Will Avon
Mike Burke
Mosopeoluwa Awe
Sam Heathcote
Louis Barrow
Joe Herbert
James Cooper
Shaun Holden
Lloyd Dean
Phil Mooney
James Edgar
Keenan Quansah
Valter Fernandes
Jake Phillips
Danny Flood
Jay Roberts
Rio Gill
Danny Shaw
Josh Gregory
Harry Brazel
Jack Grimshaw
Michael Grogan
Matty Hamilton
Fisnik Hajdari
Sam Harding
Chris Lomax
George Hassall
Sam Sheen
Martyn Jackson
James Steele
James McCulloch
Danny Ventre
Reece McNally
George Webster
Sean Myler
Lewis Buckley
Liam Riley
Ben Hodkinson
Rodrigo Schmitdinger Mann
Josh Klein-Davies
Aaron Turner
Conor Ready
Billy Whittle
Kevin Towey
Steven Yawson Steven Yawson
Steve Pilling & Roy Grundy
MANAGERS
Kevin Towey & Steve Akrigg
ASSISTANT MANAGER Dom Finnigan & Garry Williams
COACHES
Tony Carroll & Michelle Kirby
PHYSIO / SPORTS THERAPIST
REFEREE: TBA ASSISTANT REFEREES: TBA
Next First Team match at Hope Street:
Cables v Brighouse Town Saturday 28 September 2019, 3:00pm BetVictor NPL North/West Division
Adam Judge Ron Cook