AFC Liverpool from Yesteryear

After battling the traffic and struggling to find a car parking space in the industrial estate next to Bootle FC, I got into the ground with about 5 minutes on the clock. I found the Rimmers sat in one of the small stands in the end opposite the Dodge Kop.  Phil told me that CoL had missed a couple of decent chances. Phil had been to a midweek meeting concerning fans and management engagement involving Manager Chris Stammers, and felt that it had gone ok.  More chances soon came to the home side, including one effort which saw Jack Cookson save with his feet at the near post. Greg Armstrong came into the ground a few minutes later walking past us. I had earlier seen Greg struggle to park as I was parking up. I moved to around the dugouts where the rest of our people were congregated. This was with about half an hour on the clock. Although we had been largely on the back foot, we were putting in a battling performance. Yet another chance was missed by City of Liverpool, as a cl...

It was a first half where we weren't particularly bad. We did look threatening at times, especially with Alex Cherera very threatening down our left. Joe Cunningham at left-back also looked ok in advanced positions coming inside on his stronger right foot. But overall we were lacking in that final part of the field. By contrast, Charnock twice hit our woodwork. The first effort happened as I was walking past the tunnel, chatting to Billy Stirrup about his recent injury which saw him miss a rare game the other week, a game which was attended by 30 plus Sparta Prague fans just 24 hours after facing Liverpool in the Europa League. Charnock did also miss at least two other first half opportunities. One happened after Goalkeeper David Parkinson misjudged a cross, and got rescued by his defence. So when they did take the lead 6 minutes before the break, it was fully merited. After the break, it seemed Staffo got the boys fired up. We were suddenly on the front foot, with Alex Cherera sti...

After leaving Valerie Park following our 4-3 pre-season victory over Morecambe, I got a text off my brother in Northampton who had been aware of the scoreline from good old Sky Sports News.  He suggested it must have been a bit of a ding dong game.  Well, not exactly. Two well taken first half goals from Franny Barry gave the Reds a 2-0 half time lead, following an earlier tame shot with his weaker left foot which was saved by the Morecambe keeper.  Steve Williams was particularly influential in the first goal, playing a one two with John Lawless, before Barry was able to pounce to the loose ball and slot home.  The second was a stunning strike cum volley, which I felt had shades of Marco Van Basten in Euro 88. Morecambe did miss a few chances at the other end, including one effort which forced a goal-line clearance.  Of equal significance, the Reds were denied a third as Lee Madin was denied by the Morecambe keeper's fingertips. Their number 10 was put through ...