AFC Liverpool from Yesteryear

I had previously been a couple of times to Burscough's old place Victoria Park, just next door to the Community Ground. We had won in dramatic fashion earlier that calendar year with an Ollie Sanderson winner. Now known as Oliver Sanderson-Rigby, he had a new chant about his name being too long! Before kick off I was about to ask Mr Chairman if he needed money the following Saturday for a new shirt. He jokingly cut me short at the money bit indicating the money would be very welcome indeed! And we got flying out of the traps. Within a couple of minutes Tom Douglas made a run at the Burscough defence from the right.  He set up Elliott Hughes who fired us into the lead. The talk on the terrace that first half especially amongst Steve Fraser and Chris Brooks turned to new chants. Elliot Hughes apparently had an Ian Rush look about him! For most of the first half, the Reds were second best. Burscough were getting a lot of joy down their right with Rich Wincer deputising at left-back. T...

It was the opening day of the season, and I had feared it was a match I would miss due to a qualification at work I was doing.  As it was I was 5 minutes late, due to trying to find my way around Chorlton.  After all, Brookburn Road is a very nice set-up, but a bit hidden away.  Plus, the third Ashes Test at Old Trafford was not particularly helpful with regards the running of Greater Manchester's Metrolink Tram service! As I arrived in the ground, I was told by Dave The Rattler that we had just had a decent penalty appeal turned down. For the first half hour or so we were the side most comfortable on the ball.  However, it was West who had the first shot in anger, which did not trouble Steven Longrigg in our goal. One player making his debut this day was Paul Brown, the cousin of Anthony Brown.  It was Paul who gave us the lead, after beating their keeper to a loose ball, before slotting home.  That was just before the half hour mark.  He had a second...

Not for the first time we were facing Prestwich on the same weekend Liverpool were about to play Man U on the Sunday. We had been on a bad run, having lost 6 out of the previous 7 games in February. By contrast, Prestwich Heys had won 5 games out of 6. But maybe the new month of March would mark a change of fortunes for the Reds. Plus, the boys had delivered a very spirited performance the previous Saturday in very difficult circumstances at Kendal Town. I was still performing turnstile duties when Tom Croughan put us in front on 7 minutes.  As I walked round the corner Goalkeeper Jack McGovern was in a fair bit of pain as Skipper James Howell was being substituted. Apparently Jack made a crucial save with his private parts! A Luke Stephens header just after 20 minutes put us two goals to the good up. A few minutes later a cross from the left found Tom Douglas unmarked. He shot over. On 40 minutes it was Tommy Douglas who did put us 3-0 to the good. He placed his shot into the corn...

After driving from work in Speke just before 5pm, it took me about an hour to drive through the traffic to Crosby. I Arrived at Dace Coffee Shop just in time before Chris was due to shut, and was most grateful that he was able to serve me my usual bacon and egg on granary. Speaking to Alan Harrison and Steve Fraser, apparently that evening's opponents Prestwich Heys had recently changed their Manager for the second time that season. After my stint on the turnstile, I had just arrived at the Crossender Road End, was chatting to Kenny "Blow your Whistle ****" about City of Liverpool's declining attendances when Cockerline was through. He squared the ball for Kyle Schorah, who scored on the turn. It was a competitive first half. Our effort at extending our lead probably came courtesy of a Prestwich defender, whose over hit back pass needed the keeper to swiftly move back to get hold of it. Their best effort saw their number 10 played through. But, he was denied by Lee Ca...