April Edition 2015
Inside Non League Football Inside an Exclusive Interview with Warrington Town chairman Toby Macormac
We take a look at Southport as they prepare for a relegation scrap
Warrington Town FA CUP heroics, the inside story from chairman Toby Macormac The magic of the FA cup has been thrown into question over the past decade with many of the footballing world simply writing off the competiton in order to re focus their efforts on their league form, However despite over 100 league placings seperating the sides Warrington brought the magic of the cup truly back in the public eye beating league 2 side Exeter City 1-0. The fact Warrington even made it thus far was an achievement on its own given the club hadnt reached the first round proper of the cup for an astonishing 64 years and at the time were the lowest ranked side left in the competition. They went on to progress to the 2nd round before unfortunatley losing out to Gateshead 2-0, however this did not dampen the outstanding achievement for Warrington Town and for sure hasnt dampened the spirits of chairman Toby Macormac, in a quite enthralling interview i asked Toby several questions surrounding the FA Cup triumph and he gave me a real insight to just what it meant to the club and for what the future will hold for his beloved club.I firstly asked him what the historic victory meant to him the club and the fans and he respsonded by saying. “ It meant the world to me, just to see Warrington on the TV was fantastic alone by itself but to go the extra step and see us win was a dream come true, that goes for everybody associated with the
club, we are all still in shock to this day to be honest.” Everyone associated with the club will always remember that historic night and it underlined the progress the club has made after making the playoffs for the first time in our history last season.” I then went on to ask Toby how he felt the players handeled all the sudden media attention and being in the limelight he responded by saying, “ The players responded really well to the media attention, always being available when required and operating with great
professionalism, no player was fazed and they all gave 100% , The most media attention came at the second live game away at Gateshead after the historic victory where some national newspapers actually travelled and stayed the weekend with us.” I further went on to ask from a personal point of view how did it feel seeing his team live on BBC national television he replied, It was an immensely proud moment for me, it takes some 20 hrs a week to run the club and I have many different idea’s to take the club forward,
I watched our players being carried around on supporters shoulders, a truly great moment.” Of course given the club been such in the public limelight you would expect a rise in attendance and according to club Chairman they have, “ Attendances had risen by 20% straight after the FA Cup and once the Rugby League season recently started they have dropped off to 10-15% above previous season figures. As for the financial aspect the club have gained signifficantly he went on to talk more in depth about the money/ Financial
impact for the club he said, “ The club netted circa £190k across the total of 8 matches in the FA Cup which included two replays, this financial injection and exposure has led to businesses investing in us and enabling us to ringfence the money for future promotions up the League pyramid.” Of course all good things have to eventually come to an end and it did with Warirngton bowing out of the Cup to Gateshead however Toby didnt seem too disapointed in replying, “ Gateshead are seasoned non league side and fully expected
what was coming to them when we visited and home advantage was huge for them. In a way we had already won before we got to Gateshead as we were the lowest ranked team left in the competition, I suppose if I could label any disappointment it would be that we were technically only 90 minutes from the 3rd round!! And as for the rest of the season he remained positive about the finale saying , “ I feel realistially we could finish 5th in the league which is the target as that gets us involved in the playoffs.”
Runcorn Linnets flying high at the top of the North West counties league as the season finally draws to a near
It has been a wonderful season so far for the Run- the clubs avaerage attendances and given the clubs recorn Linnets with the club currently flying high 15 cent great form had they seen any gradual increase over points clear at the top of the table with promotion in the season and he replied by saying, “The attendances sight, in an interview done online over Skype with have risen this season, its been a gradual progresion but one of the clubs repersentatives i asked him several they have risen slowly but surely, over the past few years questions regarding the linnets including what his if i had tyo give numbers on it, our stats show it has thoughts were on the clubs chances of promotion, increased on average of 5-10% each season, our fanbase the general attendances, and a look into what the is growing. more and more people are hearing about future may hold for the Runcorn linnets. the club” I then went on to ask him his thoughts on the I firstly asked the chairman about his thoughts on clubs progression since they were founded 9 years ago the clubs chances of making promotion this season back all the way in 2006 he responded extremely posiand what he has so far made of the clubs season as tively saying, “ it was for sure slow at start, we struggled a whole so far and he responded positively saying, at first, managing in our first few campaigns finishing “ Its been fantastic so far, we have enjoyed some mid table however slowly but surely we have progressed great preformances throughout the season and i do really well gradually climbling the league table over feel we have a great chance of promotion at the end the years and we were very unfortunate missing out on of the season, however i dont want to say anything top spot last season to Norton United.” Of course this more on the matter as i dont want to Jinx anything! i cannot be made possible without the players and i asked would never live it down1 I then went on to discuss
who he felt where the outstanding preformers this sea- last season they never went away! the same can be said son, he responded initially by saying “all of them!” but for this season to be honest with you, despite having then went in more in depth with me about the players an healthy lead you can never be too sure in foothe felt have progressed and have been key in the clubs ball anything can happen!, Ashton Athletic too i felt progression this season. “its hard to nail down partic- wouldnt be too far behind, they have improved a lot ualr names like i mentioned above all members of the over the years and this season have flourished.” squad have contributed well to the team and it would As for what the future may hold for the club i was unfair to leave out other players, but if i had to name keen to ask his opinions on the matter and in his names i would say Fredie Potter, he has played excep- response was great and can only seing the club going tionallywell and scored us some curical goals of late from strength to strength, “ Nobody can ever know whats going to happen in the future its near imposespecially against AFC Blackpool” Despite been well clear at the top of the table i asked sible to predict not just in football tersm but life in who he felt would be runcorns main rivals ahead of general! however im failry confident this club can continue to keep progressing, aslong as we keep the the new campaign and who he felt likely would be stability and the right personal at the club , its been a up there with Runcorn challenging for top spot he said, “ Glossop North end i always felt would be our fantastic season so far and i see no reason why it can main rivals this year. they were right up our noses last not continue to get better and better over the coming season they never went away! the same can be said for years, our dream is to get into the football league and over the next decade is believe its achievable.”
The story of Widnes Football Club, up and on the rise Widnes has always been known as a rugby league kind of town and with many respects you can see why with the Widnes vikings displaying a glittering history over the past decades, however things are slowly but surely starting to change in Widnes as its new and upcoming football team Widnes Town are starting to catch the public eye as they aim to progress throughout the leagues over the coming years. The club itself formerley known as the Widnes Dragons AFC was originally aimed at the younger generation for children aged between 6-16, However only 3 years ago back in 2012 the club was reastablished into a full side and even joined the Widnes Vikings to become part of the vikings brand changing its name to “ Widnes Football club” with the age of the players now ranging from 17-35 and the club are now competing in the North West Counties division asked Billy his thoughts on the clubsbecause we’ve got links with the 1. In an online interview with the recent results and his opinion on Widnes rugby league team, when Clubs secretary Billy Morley, he the clubs latest result , he said “This they open the new Sports Centre on explained orignially why he wanted weekend saw us drawing 1-1 but Liverpool Road we are hoping to be to start up a football team in the bear in mind this was a team that able to use that, so we will have refirst place and how he came about beat us 10-1 in December 2014, that ally good facilities”.Being associated the idea, “I used to go for walks itself shows how we have improved with the Widnes Vikings rugby team with my Dad and we used to speak over the past few months, we should also helps the club sponsorship-wise, about starting a team that we could have even won!. I next asked about as Billy said, “the Vikings definitely be part of together. When I had my the training facilities and where benefits us, not just from a financial own son, Anthony, I did something the club trains for the matches, he aspect but it also puts the club more about this dream and with the help responded by saying “It changes known on the football ladder. We of my Dad we formed the Dragons, from winter to summer. During the admittedly at the moment are small, from then on its gone from strenght winter months we often train at the but I can see the club growing from to strength and now obviously we Select Stadium, which used to be the strength to strength over the next have formed Widnes FC, I have no Stobart Stadium. Playing on the as- few years” With the rise in season regrets and am immensely proud of tro pitch benefits us a lot, especially tickets prices for professional footwhat we have done so far. I then when it’s raining, snowing, outside ball asked Billy if he had seen an
increase in attendance for the famously known as a rugny league what his thoughts where on the clubs matches, “Because a lot of town he responded by saying clubs future prospects and posour supporters are young local unfortunatley our club hasnt sibly even getting to the football lads who play football themquite reached limits of Manches- league in the future, he responded selves over the weekend, we ter United yet! but no joking by saying. normally get bigger attendances apart Rugby league will always “ it may sound silly but you have in mid week rather than the be the main sport in Widnes in got to dream havent you! everyweekend, it has been increasing my opinion, in fact i would say body has to have an ambition, i though on average since we first the north west too you cant really admit its a long shot on us getting started playing in 2012, its been replace the Rugby league culture into the football league buts its nothing phonomenal but its im- its too strong, Our club i really do been done in the past ,nothing is proved.” I was rather interested feel will continue to grow over the impossible of course it will take to know how he felt the balance next few years it wont compare time but if we keep gathering moshift between football and Rugby with the premier league sides but mentum the way we are i dont see league had been affected since our fanbase im confident will take why we cant keep progressing, i the club was formed and like i off, more and more people are am already pleased on how far we mentioned originally at the be- starting to know our club name.” have come in this short period of gininng Widnes has always been finally i was interested to know time, we should all be proud.”
Not so Sunny by the Sea side as Southport Battle to beat the drop It’s a case of here we go again at Southport Football Club as we enter the final stages towards the end of the season, the club are yet again battling to stay in the Conference. Southport are no strangers to relegation scraps with, over the past two seasons, the club managing to just about survive the dreaded drop. With this season, the club are battling against the likes of Welling and Alfreton. Given Alfreton’s impressive late season run, Southport may be in for more than they bargained for. I sat down with one of Southport’s longstanding fans, John, aged 56 years, who had supported the club for more years than he cares to remember. John gave his thoughts on the club’s chances of surviving the drop, the club’s star performers this season, his thoughts on Southport’s downfall and what are the future prospects for the club. First things first, we discussed the club’s relegation scrap this season, he said, “I am remaining optimistic we can survive. Unfortunately this isn’t our first relegation scrap. We’ve had a habit over the last few seasons of being right down there in the thick of it. You could almost say its déjà vu to be honest.” I was rather intrigued to know why the club kept getting involved in the relegation battles as for the past two seasons they have only narrowly avoided going down
John replied I’d like to know myself. We can be our own worst enemy at times and this can’t keep happening every season. Eventually something will give, just look at Wigan Athletic in the Premier League, they kept avoiding relegation by the skin of their season several times, but eventually something has to give way”. It maybe somewhat of another miserable season, however, it be wrong not to ask who has been Southport’s star performers this season “Richard Brodie has impressed for us. He’s netted, think, about 11 goals so far and they could be crucial towards the end of the season. Joe Connor is
another good lad and has chipped in with a fair few of important goals, This isn’t particularly having a go at the lads but Foster and George’s behaviour on the field needs to be calmed down a touch, both have totted up yellow cards this season and it all means they will be missing vital games for us over the next few weeks when it really matters it’s the last thing we need really is suspensions”. However, it isn’t all doom and gloom as despite being involved in many relegation battles the club did endure a hugely successful season back in 2012 where the club finished a very respectable 7th place, I was
curious to know how this came about (given it was very much a freak season), in terms that Southport had been previously involved in a relagation battle since entering the division his response was equally with confusion! “I don’t think any of us expected us to leap frog up the league table like we did but we for sure, enjoyed it every single minite of it and to be honest with you i thought we could have got promoted that season, we were unfortunate to miss out. Many said it was because there was a drastic change to the club’s training schedule this could be very true but if that was the case then
why can not we go back to that training style now if thats all it took, we dont just want that season to be a pure one off season and then rest we are left scrapping a relagation battle. As for the future of the football club, I asked what were his realistic ambitions for Southport for not just this campaign but for the long term he replied, “For this season alone, obviously, surviving relegation will be the key without any doubt as if we were to go down it would be a total disaster, keeping hold of our key players too in the summer will be crucial as any clubs needs stability not constant chopping and changing,
but the whole thing of constantly fighting to stay up in the division has to stop the last thingwe want is to be left biting our nails towards the end of the next season its a nightmare!!!” As for next season, I don’t see why we cant aim higher, we are more than capable and we could even have a shot at the play offs as I talked about before, we’ve done it before in the past it woudlnt be beyond any wild dream for it to actually happen, and finally when put on the spot i asked him directly ( hand on heart) if you where whether he felt his beloved football club would stay in the division and he replied....... YES!
Down but not Out as Hyde look to the Future To say its been a miserable season for Hyde Football Club would be somewhat of an understatement. With the club currently rock bottom of the Conference North with a mere 19 points it’s hard to show any positivity surrounding the club. It’s certainly a far cry from 3 years ago when the club was celebrating winning the Conference North league title, under then manager Gary Lowe. This has been on the cards for sometime now despite back in 2013 finishing a respectable 18th place, the club has slumped to new lows; only last year, in the Conference, managing a measly 10 points and suffering some embarrassing defeats along the way. This was further demonstrated as Hyde only managed one win in the entire campaign, setting an unfortunate new league record. This season, for sure, has not been much better as the club, barring a miracle, looks set for relegation.In an interview with a representative from the football club I discussed Hyde’s current dismal league campaign, what exactly had gone so badly wrong over the past 2 years, what his thoughts were on the re-appointment of Gary Lowe and much more. First things first I tried to narrow down with him and pinpoint why Hyde had suffered so badly over the past 2 seasons, “It’s hard to narrow down and put your finger on what’s happened here at Hyde. It doesn’t seem that long back since we were celebrating promotion and even had the likes of Manchester United coming down here for pre-season games. Last year was a tough one for the club, not just for me but for all the supporters. I don’t think anyone expected it to be as bad as it turned out. We just couldn’t get a run together at all.
It just seemed like we were running into brick walls.” I couldn’t, whilst interviewing him, not bring up the 7-1 defeat against rivals Stalybridge Celtic where, arguably, they hit the lowest point of what is turning out to be a dire season. He responded as expected, “With all due respect I would prefer not to talk about that game, for sure we got taught a lesson in how to put the ball in the back of the net, it was a day i would
rather forget.” Looking back to the start after the 2013/2014 campaign I was rather intrigued to know what his expectations were of the club given Hyde’s first season in the conference was a respectable one and a far cry from the dismal showings of what was to come. “I think, looking back, mid-table was always a possibility we felt. However, the prospect of being involved in a relegation
battle was inevitable I guess. Still, for what was to actually happen, that season I don’t think anybody at the club was prepared for, like I’ve already said, we just couldn’t get going. It was like Ground Hog day over and over again!” This may seem like a negative piece about Hyde Football Club, all doom and gloom, as it were. However, there was some light in this seemingly endless dark tunnel, as the club on January 2nd of this year they brought
back manager Gary Lowe who famously took the club up in promotion back in 2012. Since his return, unfortunately, results haven’t followed with the club in the last 10 games only managing to pick up 7 points from a possible 30 points. Despite that he still remained positive about Gary’s return and seemed confident the club will bounce back in time “Yes, of course, I’m delighted he is back. He is a bit of a folk lore legend around here
unfortunatley For this season his return to the club may have came too ate in the day to rescue the club this season however i can not see any reason why not, we can bounce back positively under him, aslong as we keep a steady group of positive players here at the club we can bounce back , theres no doubt in my mind about that as , lets face it, it can’t get any worse than whats happened this season now can it!!”