Full Circle

This is a piece I have written for a as yet unpublished book of supporters accounts from the 2006-07 FC United season. Hopefully this book and piece will see the light of day at some point.

For most people, their journey in North West Counties started in 2005. My journey in that league started in the mid 80s, at Crilly Park watching Atherton LR.

The manager at the time was a family friend, and when their game didn’t clash with MUFC home games, I would go along to Crilly, with my dad, and watch them. I barely remember much to be honest, but there are a few things that stand out.

I remember the league was sponsored by Bass in those days, and the LR programme had a sort of yellow/orange front cover.

They had a keeper called Martin Henegan, and the left back used to be a chimney sweep, who used to drive round the local area in his van.

I’ll always remember going to watch them win the Bolton Hospital Cup final at Burnden Park, and also a night game they played against Vauxhall Motors. This game was on the same night as the 1985 FA Cup semi final replay vs Liverpool. Of course in those days, these games weren’t shown live, and you had to wait until Midweek Sports Special to see the game. The LR game kicked off early, as Crilly Park had no floodlights. After the game, I was in the bar with my mum and dad, bottle of coke and crisps in hand listening to the radio commentary. When Liverpool scored, the place erupted, due to the Vauxhall team all being scousers, so we drank up and left.

It seemed fitting that when the Leigh Branch decided to organise a coach to an away game, it would be versus Atherton LR at Chorley.

The branch had been holding their branch meetings at LR. We thought that it was a good way of bringing close relationships between the two clubs, as well as the members putting a little bit of money over the bar once a month.

Our meetings usually took place in the home dressing room, with dirty kit hanging up, and a dripping shower. They would have ideally been in the bar, but as Monday is bingo night in the LR clubhouse, the changing rooms had to do.

During one of these meetings, it was decided, due to the game being moved to Chorley, we maybe put on some transport up to the game, from the Leigh/Atherton area, for branch members, and also LR fans, who may otherwise struggle to get up to Chorley for the game.

It was actually a shame that the game wasn’t held at Crilly Park, especially considering the games that actually took place at the home grounds of the clubs later in the season. Looking at grounds we played at, Crilly Park is of a slightly higher standard than those, and probably suffered from being an early game in the season, when no one had a full grasp on how many FC would take away.

Leigh branch chair John had a contact at a bus company, ironically in Chorley, and set the wheels in motion to get it sorted. The plan was to pick up in Leigh, then onto Atherton, to pick up at Crilly, then onto Hindley and Westhoughton, arriving in Chorley in good time to take in a few pre-match drinks.

The 1^st pick up was in Leigh town centre, so a leisurely breakfast was eaten, and off we went for the coach. Well, we thought it was a coach, we were expecting a coach. What we saw as we turned the corner was a bright red double decker Ribble bus. Quality, all we needed was Cliff Richard and Melvin Heyes and we had a film.

So we left our FC (Indian) summer holiday. The second pick up was at Crilly Park. In the weeks leading up to the game, I had been in touch with Tim, who edits the programme at LR as well as being involved in the club, for rough numbers who would be travelling. We were possibly hoping for around 15-20 from LR to come along with us for the ride, the actual number, was in single figures, which to be honest was a little disappointing. The idea behind the trip, as said, was to help fans of a club in our local area get to a game that had been moved from their home ground. Anyway, the fans that did join us seemed grateful, and so with scarves hanging from windows, onto Victory Park we headed.

On arrival at the ground it was straight off the bus and into the delights of the Chorley FC club house. We had arrived at the ground early, which was a bonus as it gave us opportunity to have a drink or two before it got taters deep later on. I was happy to see that the offer of two filled barms for £1 was again available, and after these and a few cool beers it was out to the game and into the second disappointment of the day.

The LR programme has always been a good one, and usually wins awards in the NWCL. This however, didn’t give them the right to put up the cover price to £2. I appreciate that the game had to be moved to Chorley, with the associated costs it incurs, but the admission price had been put up, to cover this, so surely the programme could have stayed as it usually was. It’s sad that I have programmes from the season featuring Atherton LR, but not one that was from the game played against my club.

The game itself was pretty much over in the first 9 mins, as FC raced into a 3-0 lead. By half time, the score was 5 nil, and all credit to Atherton, who put up a decent fight in the second half, as the game ended 7-0.

The bus was only due to leave Chorley, so it was back to the clubhouse for a few post game beers (well if the truth be known, it was back in about 10 mins towards the end of the game, to find it half full already.)

The journey home was spent talking to the LR fans that had joined us on the bus, and how they had appreciated the day, had a good time and were thankful we had put the bus on.

My NWCL journey had now come round full circle, I had enjoyed many a day out when I was a younger at Crilly Park, when MUFC were away, and now I was watching my club, the club I part own play LR in a competitive match.

Now, if only they had charged £1 for the programme……