United Review 5

AMATEUR CUP WINNERS

HONOURS BOARD Amateur Cup Winners 1970-71 Amateur Cup Runners up 1966-67 Amateur Cup Semi Finalist 1968-1969, 1969-70 Liverpool County Combination League Winners 10 Occasions Liverpool Challenge Cup Winners 8 Occasions Lancashire Junior Cup Winners 1914-15 Lancashire Combination Division Two Winners 1955-56 Cheshire League Champions 1968-1969, 1969-70 Lancashire Challenge Cup Winners 1969-1970, 1970-1971, 2008-09 Lancashire Floodlite Cup Winners 1969-70 FA Cup 1st Round Proper 1966-67, 1968-69, 1971-72, 2020-21 European Amateur Cup Winners 1971-72 North West Counties League Cup Winners 1999-2000 North West Counties League Cup runners-up 1982-1983, 2004-05 North West Counties Division Two runners up. 1997-1998 Northern Premier League (North) Champions 2012-13 Liverpool Senior Cup Winners 2014-15

Welcome to the 5th a final United Review, obviously as its April the Amateur Cup is well celebrated, with reports and pictures from both 67 and more importantly 71 when we, if anyone didn’t know, picked up the famous silverware.

To the players and staff from that momentous day 50 years ago on April 24th 1971, we salute you.

You put Skelmersdale United on the footballing map, since then there have been some good times as we see in “Cup Finals”, How many have you been to ?

Alan Mansley is a name to conjure up some fond memories, he was a star for us and also Brentford FC, we look back at his career and share some thoughts with supporters of the South London club.

One player from not so long ago, Shaun Foster made a name for himself in the “Good Ol US of A” we take a look a what the lad has been doing whilst on distance shores.

Groundhopper “The Travelling Fan” was at Luton in 2013, for the FA Trophy game, we catch up with him and his report from that great day out “Darn Sarf”, good read it is to.

Plus there are bits and pieces dotted about for your amusement, if you have time then please read and listen to some of the tracks highlighted in “Football Clips you wont have heard” Some are Barmy to say the least and you will no doubt have a few spinning in your head for days on end. Don’t say I didn’t warn you Well that’s it from me, we have some football back with the St Luke’s Cup games, supporters still not allowed so enjoy the United Review and I will hopefully see you all, come the end of July when the North West Counties League resumes…………Hopefully Cheers Kev Oh and the issue is interactive, so interact, you never know what you might find.

WEMBLEY 1971

SKEMTASTIC DICKEN JOINS WEMBLEY IMMORTALS Skelmersdale Utd 4 Dagenham 1 FA Amateur Cup Final April 24th 1971.

Not bad for a man whom Skelmersdale manager Roy Rees admitted after the game, is probably a better full back than a forward!!. Ted Dicken whose 1971 diet of Cheshire League goals has been at starvation level “came good” in the big game that really mattered and joined such Wembley immortals as Geoff Hurst and Stan Mortensen with three goals, which earned him an illuminated congratulations on the scoreboard “Well done Ted Dicken. A fine hat trick” writes Geoff Howard.

Skelmersdale the more professional, the better prepared the more determined after one final and two semi final defeats, the more composed in the stress of pre match preliminaries, astutely guided from the touchline in perfectly timed decision by their manager, erased the scar of that 1967 defeat with a throttle hold on the game which only for two short periods looked anything like being snapped.

Any goal coming after only five minutes is enough to set the opposition off on the wrong foot, Turner’s superbly flighted 40 yards ball to where Dicken and Dagenham captain Denis Moore were alone in the middle. By any standards he did well to beat Moore to the cross and Ian Huttley three or four yards of his line, saw the ball sail over his outstretched hands.

Click on the Match Day programme cover to view the Final

Skelmersdale were to open the second half as they had the first, with an early goal, Turner swung a long centre in the middle. It dropped behind the Dagenham defence, Dicken, who had raced 15 yards hurtled full length in a horizontal dive which sent the ball flashing past Huttley. There was no answer to brilliance like that. Dicken’s goal was compared with the best seen at Wembley in recent years.

That goal came after 12 minutes, just five minutes later Windsor replaced Swift and almost immediately Bass took a short pass and with plenty of space in which to move hit a magnificent low shot into the corner of the net. Frankish had no chance.. 2-1 Clements’ centre dropped between two defenders, was only a half chance for Windsor but he made a courageous dive between them and saw his header bulge the netting For Windsor it was far from over as it was Windsor who set up Dicken’s third, collecting the ball near the halfway line, and still comparatively fresh, raced 45 yards with the Dagenham defenders trailing in his wake. He drew Huttley before slipping the ball across the face of the goal to Dicken. Dicken in fact seemed to have to have left it too late as he turned and lined up the ball for the shot, but when it left his boot it flew with absolute accuracy into the net.

The closing stages saw Skelmersdale’s best football, partly because of the confidence of a commanding lead; they relaxed and began to stroke the ball around really effectively.

United lined up, Frankish, Allen, Poole, Turner, Bennett, Mcdermott, Swift, Wolfe, Dicken, Hardcastle, Clements; Sub Windsor.

CELEBRATION EVENING 17th July 2021 @JMO Welcome Home to the lads who won the Cup

The celebrations that began at Wembley at 4.40pm on Saturday had been carried on all through Saturday night, Sunday saw little let up and the climax came when United appeared in front of the Town Hall in an open top coach. Fans who had waited a couple of hours at the corner of Sandy Lane and Clayton Street broke into a tremendous cheer as the coach went past to begin the team’s triumphant victory lap of the New Town and “Old” Skelmersdale. Once the circular tour of the town had been completed, Skelmersdale United stopped outside the Town Hall and let their fans roar their welcome. Players held the Cup aloft for the fans to see, it was a proud moment for United, and a tremendous occasion for their fans.

Shortly after being appointed manager of Skelmersdale United, Roy Rees promised that he would bring the Amateur Cup to Skelmersdale within four years….he went one better and did it in three, chairman Bill Gregson told a room packed with players, officials, guests and supporters at the Wembley celebration dinner in London on Saturday night. “We have won the FA Amateur Cup, something which I’m sure the entire population of Skelmersdale and district would ten years ago never have believed possible”, said the delighted Skem chairman, pointing to the magnificent trophy which had the place of honour at the top table.

Mr Gregson, who was proposing the toast to the United players and managerial staff, paid tribute to them for the feat that had been achieved by teamwork. “What has resulted today has been Skelmersdale United’s greatest victory. I want to say a big thank you to the coach Tony Sanders for the wonderful job he has done and to our trainer Ted Williams for the part he has played. I must thank our groundsman and gatekeeper, supporters club and my directors for all their efforts they have each put into making this victory possible”.

CUP FINALS How many Cup Finals have you been to? As a Liverpool supporter probably quite a few, Everton fans not as many but as a Skem supporter how many times have you seen the team walk out at a Cup Final.

I had to think long and hard about this, back in 1971 & 72 there were two

Lancashire Cup victories over Wigan Athletic at Chorley both won by United and the memories are of travelling with Fletchers Coaches, there being a bit of “bother” around the ground and lots of singing in the shed at Victory Park.

You can also add a European Final to the list as United beat Monte Belluna back in 1971.Famous for the Teddy Bears picnic, I don’t recall much of the game at all, probably did not realise the importance of the match.

I missed the 1982 North West Counties Cup Final so it took a while before the next for the “Boys in Blue” and the North West Counties League Cup again, Robbie Holcroft the hero of the night as we beat Newcastle Town on pens in 2000 (team above) and in the same competition five years later losing to Cammell Lairds 2-0, United after playing every other day for two weeks were well of the pace.

We reached the NPL Cup Final in 2008 only to be undone by a very good Eastwood Town team who roared into a 3 goal lead and never looked back, whilst victory was achieved in the Lancashire Cup at Leyland, (below) in a thriller against Radcliffe Boro, Whitey opened the scoring only to be pulled level within minutes. The game went to extra time and Mark Houghton popped up with 3 minutes to go to send the fans delirious

2014 saw another NPL Cup Final, played at Stockport on a Sunday against AFC Fylde, the game was a tedious affair, dull as dishwater some would say. Fylde won 1-0, just glad it didn’t go to extra time.

I had missed the Final of the Liverpool Senior Cup against Liverpool in 2010, AFC Liverpool 2013(was it a final, lost 3-0) and Everton in 2016, I was still busy on the cricket field, although not taking as many wickets, still scoring runs.

There was a final in 2015, 3 goals in the first 5 minutes, shots reigning in from everywhere, a great advert for football as United beat AFC Liverpool 5-4, It is fair to say that nobody went home early.

So I make that 9

Forgot Wembley, the two Amateur Cup finals of 67 and 71, although being only 8 at the first one, all I remember was crying when Alan Bermingham missed the penalty and stopping of at a chippy just outside London somewhere, whilst the ladies queued up for some sustenance for the journey home, the blokes all piled into a pub next door, just for a quick half.

71, was even more of a blur, going down on the train from Lime Street.

Mum had made a tin foil “Cardboard Cup” and dad had made a large rattle.

I couldn’t hold the “Cup” up as those behind couldn’t see and the rattle was out of the question as mum was frightened, I might knock the person in front’s head off.

Oh and do we count the replay from 67, lost to Enfield but many supporters locked out or unable to get to Manchester on the day due to heavy traffic.

The two trip’s to Wembley shaped the football club, either for good or bad and no doubt shaped the town itself, no longer did people say “Where the hell is that” people knew, they were one of the greatest Amateur teams of the era.

We shall pay tribute to the lads who appeared in the finals, when the club holds a special Presentation night on July 17th this year More details to follow but its sure to be a good night.

WEMBLEY 1967 WE’LL DO IT NOW Enfield 0 Skelmersdale Utd 0 FA Amateur Cup Final 22nd April 1967 Attendance 75,000

“Wembley has never known a finish like this. With 90 seconds of extra time to go, the unknowns from Lancashire had the game in their grasp when referee Jennings pointed to the penalty spot. Up strode the Skem’s right back Alan Bermingham, to take it as Payne one of the Enfield heroes lay sobbing on the ground. He had handled and as far he was concerned the game was over. Most of the Skelmersdale team couldn’t bear to look as Bermingham carefully placed the ball, blasted it to the right and Enfield’s goalkeeper Wolstenholme brought off the save of a lifetime. He threw himself like an acrobat towards the ball and was engulfed and mobbed by his exited colleagues as Bermingham lay flat on his face, beating the ground in anguish. That’s how close Skelmersdale, the shock team in the Amateur Cup came to winning the trophy.

Alan Bermingham later admitted “Although I placed the shot I didn’t hit it hard enough, the goalkeeper shouldn’t have had a chance. It’s the first penalty I have missed for a very very long time”.

United team; Crosbie, Bermingham, Bridge, Unsworth, Wade, Moorcroft, Whitehead, Worswick, Bennett, Burns, Mansley; Sub Alan McDermott.”

The despair in the changing rooms was short lived as Eric Morecambe dropped in to cheer the players up, “I’m a bit hoarse from shouting for Skem, I was very disappointed they didn’t win. I follow Morecambe in the Lancashire Combination and have seen Skem play before.

But United are here representing the Combination” before getting down to scrubbing Dave Moorcroft’s back. By the time Eric had finished joking the previously glum looking players were all smiles. It was also reported that Stan Boardman, a United player 12 months ago was there to wish the boys well.

United arrived back at Skelmersdale Town Hall on a Sunday evening as thousands of hero worshipping fans gathered to welcome the boy’s home.

For many of the supporters it was the culmination of a weekend which will be told over and over again to their grandchildren. They will tell of the mighty roar that greeted Bill Gregson that heralded the appearance on the Town Hall balcony, and with baited breath they will recall the few stumbling words that penalty misser Alan Bermingham spoke “I’m choked, just choked, what a wonderful bunch of supporters”

PLAYERS SPONSORS 2020-21 Would you like Your Company Logo here, Phone Norman on 07949 582262 Would you like to Sponsor one of the Players for the 2020-21 season Then for just £20 you can See Kev Panther or any committee person on Match Days with YOUR selection PLAYER Alex Davies Alex Griffiths Alex O'Neill Ben Barnes Callum Preston Cameron Glennon Daniel Murphy Danny Mitchley Gabriel Ellis Ged Traynor Harry Jones Jack Grimshaw James Webb Joe Herbert Josh Peat Lloyd Ellams Lloyd Ellams Michael Grogan Mini Adegbenro Richard Brodie Stephen Wainwright Tom Croughan Tom Grimshaw

HOME SHIRT Mikey (AFC Liverpool) ALL STAR Mal Hodkinson Kate Finch GEORGE GREEN SOLICITORS KB Andrews Laundrette Norman Fenney DnM Bargains Skem Utd Under 18's GEORGE GREEN THE SAFETY TEAM SUFC China Supporters Mike & Linda Alan McDermott P&B Landscapes Jacob O'Connor Gary Wilkins Mike Sweeney Claire O'Connor

AWAY SHIRT FUNDING SOLUTIONS Mal Hodkinson Kate Finch KB Andrews Laundrette Paul Griffiths

SOLICITORS GEORGE GREEN SOLICITORS

Boardman Alan McDermott P&B Landscapes Jacob O'Connor Mike Sweeney Claire O'Connor

Keith O'Dwyer

Paul McNally Heather Vearncombe

Rebecca Turner Kath Fenney Gordon Vearncombe

Kath Fenney Avril Panther

Graham Hastings Alex Marr

ESPFA Andrews Laundrette

Andrews Laundrette

If you are a little bit bored during lockdown, and fancy getting your teeth into some football reading then why not order some of these books from your local Bookstore.

(Remember if you order of Amazon then please register with Easyfundraising, all purchases gain a small donation for Skelmersdale United)

PROVIDED YOU DON’T KISS ME – DUNCAN HAMILTON ‘One day you’ll write a book about this club. Or, more to the point, about me. So you may as well know what I’m thinking and save it up for later when it won’t do any harm to anyone.’

Brian Clough’s twenty years as Nottingham Forest manager were an unpredictable mixture of success, failure, fall-outs and alcoholism. Duncan Hamilton, initiated as a young journalist into the Brian Clough empire, was there to see it all. In this strikingly intimate biography – William Hill Sports Book of the Year 2007 – Hamilton paints a vivid portrait of one of football’s greatest managers: from Nottingham Forest’s double European Cup triumph to the torturous breakdown of relations at the club and Clough’s descent into alcoholism.

Sad, joyous and personal, Hamilton’s account of life with Brian Clough is a touching tribute to a brilliant man.

QUIET LEADERSHIP – CARLO ANCELOTTI Carlo Ancelotti is one of the greatest managers of all time, with five Champions League titles to his name. Yet his approach could not be further from the aggressive theatricals favoured by many of his rivals. His understated style has earned him the fierce loyalty of players like David Beckham, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Cristiano Ronaldo.

In Quiet Leadership, Ancelotti reveals the full, riveting story of his managerial career - his methods, mentors, mistakes and triumphs - and takes us inside the dressing room to trace the characters, challenges and decisions that have shaped him. The result is both a scintillating memoir and a rare insight into the business of leadership.

JURGEN KLOPP – THE BIOGRAPHY "It is the intensity of the football, of how the people live football in Liverpool, all the Liverpool fans around the world. It is not a normal club, it is a special club." Jürgen Klopp Jürgen Klopp is the charismatic German manager who singlehandedly overthrew the accepted order in German football, taking Borussia Dortmund from nowhere to back-to-back Bundesliga titles and the Champions League final. He had long been admired in the Premiership and was finally wooed by Liverpool in the belief he could bring back the glory days to the Kop. Klopp is revered as a master tactician with his own unique playing philosophies. He is loved by his players for his passion and man-management skills, and adored by fans for his charm, wit and exciting football on the pitch.

Here is the definitive story of Jürgen Klopp - the normal one - and his footballing genius.

SIR ALF- LEO MCKINSTRY Since England’s famous 1966 World Cup victory, Alf Ramsey has been regarded as the greatest of all British football managers. By placing Ramsey in an historical context, awardwinning author Leo McKinstry provides a thought-provoking insight into the world of professional football and the fabric of British society over the span of his life.

Ramsey’s life is a romantic story of heroism. Often derided by lesser men, he overcame the prejudice against his social background to reach the summit of world football.

The son of a council dustman from Essex, Ramsey had been through a tough upbringing. After army service during the war, he became a professional footballer, enjoying a successful career with Southampton and Tottenham and winning 32 England caps.

But is was as manager of Ipswich Town, and then the architect for England’s 1966 World Cup triumph, that Ramsey will be most remembered. The tragedy was that his battles with the FA would soon lead to his downfall, a broken man ostracised by the football establishment, left to die alone in 1999 in the same modest Ipswich semi he’d lived in for most of his life.

If you are purchasing books online at either Waterstones or Amazon, then please remember to use Easyfundraising REGISTER HERE When ever you shop online for whatever reasons, shop through Easyfundraising, and make a few bob for the club

Shaun Foster: the goal to stay Anyone remembers Shaun Foster, the red headed defender who graced “Stormy Corner” from the back end of the 2006-07 season, making his debut at Wakefield and going on to make 155 appearances, scoring 7 goals before taking up a scholarship in the States in 2010, whilst at Skem Shaun picked up 3 straight Supporters Player of the Year awards and was in the side that beat Radcliffe Borough in the Lancashire Cup Final in 2009 Shaun made 1 more appearance in a blue shirt, whilst back at home he managed to fit in the Liverpool Senior Cup Final against Liverpool, held over from the previous season, United fell to a spirited 3-2 defeat.

Shaun made an immediate impression in his new found country as the Long Island Pulse reported in November 2010 “Hofstra freshman defender Shaun Foster, a native of Southport, England, earned both the Colonial Athletic Association Men’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Year and the Rookie of the Year honors.

Foster becomes the first player in CAA Men’s Soccer history to win two major awards in the same season. No freshman has ever previously won either the Player of the Year or the Defensive Player of the Year.

Foster’s efforts helped Hofstra to a late-season surge into the CAA Tournament, In addition to his two major awards, Foster was chosen to the All-CAA first team, the only freshman to earn that accolade. In fact, the other 10 players on the All-CAA first team were all seniors, as were two of the three second-team defenders.”

Shaun followed up in 2011: as he was named Colonial Athletic Association Defensive Player of the Year…First team All-Colonial Athletic Association selection First team, and was just the third player in CAA history to receive Defensive Player of the Year honors two times and just the second to win it in back-to-back years…Played in 15 games, notching a team-high five goals.

Shaun continued to make records in his new found country as in 2012 was the CAA's Co-Defensive Player of the Year recipient, making him the league's first threetime winner of the defensive award. He was also named to the league's all first-team in 2012. Foster was a key part of a Hofstra defensive unit that allowed only 21 goals in 19 contests

Hoping to stay in the states Shaun spoke to The Long Island Revue in 2014 Shaun Foster, a Hofstra student from Liverpool, England, came to the United States to play soccer and earn a degree. After spending four years here, he has decided he wants to stay and find his dream job.

Shaun Foster found that with his degree in Rhetorical Studies and his interest in sports, he has more opportunities in America to succeed. “In England there aren’t many paid sporting jobs outside of the professional tier, here, there are numerous college positions,” said Foster. “There are also many more companies in the communications department compared to England. In England there is only five major cities to get a job with my degree.”

“Not only are there more opportunities here, I’ve also really enjoyed my time,” said Foster.

Shaun Foster worries that if he leaves, he may not have the chance to come back.

“If I returned to England I would probably have to move to a big city and work for someone in a communication department of a big company. There would be very little chance I’d end up coming back here due to the difficulties of securing a visa,” said Foster.

Shaun Foster said his dream job would be to coach a big soccer club in either America or Europe.

He has been playing soccer since he was three-years–old. He played on Hofstra University’s’s Men’s Soccer team for three years and was a volunteer assistant his fourth year. He now plays on the New York Greek American’s soccer team and coach’s youth teams on Long Island. “He has a lot of experience and knowledge about the game that he shares with his teammates,” said Botte.

Shaun Foster is optimistic and determined to follow in his friend’s footsteps and stay in the United States. “I have to admit that not being sponsored would be my worst nightmare, but there are other ways to stay in America such as going to grad school and extending my student visa for another two years,” said Foster.

--------------------Having left Hofstra he then joined the men's soccer staff at Molloy as an assistant coach in June 2016, planning and run team practices as well as helping recruit. He has also worked as a coach in the Massapequa Soccer Club since August 2010, where he has coached his U16, U17 and U18 teams to three straight New York State Championships.

Returning to Hofstra in 2018, Currently Shaun plays for the New York Greek Americans in the Cosmopolitan League and made the headlines last season with a First Round Goal of the week, NY Greeks defensive midfielder Shaun ‘Fozzy’ Foster levelled the game with unarguably the goal of the first round as he unleashed a 25-yard volley to the top corner of the net.

A native of Southport, England, Foster graduated from Hofstra in December 2014 with a bachelor's degree in rhetoric. Foster serves on the Hofstra Diversity and Inclusion Committee.

Meet FC Brickstand

the new Lego football club on the block From matches against Blockport County and Plastic Thistle to a fan-designed kit and a stadium compete with safe standing, FC Brickstand are bringing some fun to the season During February’s so-called Beast from the East and the havoc it wreaked upon the footballing calendar, Chris Smith tweeted a photo of some Lego Minifigures clearing Lego snow from a Lego pitch. Among those hard at work were R2-D2, a knight and, aptly, the Simpsons’ Groundskeeper Willie. The Altrincham-based Crystal Palace fan didn’t quite know it then, but he had just come up with a great idea.

Already known for his project to build all 92 English League grounds out of Lego, Brickstand, Smith had just conceived what is steadily becoming a fully fledged Lego football club.

With the new season now underway, FC Brickstand are competing in their maiden campaign in the Diorama Conference, where they will come up against the likes of Blockport County, Makersfield Town and Plastic Thistle.

Their ground (Brick Lane, of course), kit (a slick-looking sash-bearing number) and manager (determined, sharply dressed character Felix Schmidt) are all in place, all having been voted for by the fans. In fact, when it came to deciding upon a strip, followers were invited to get creative and submit their own designs. Through the Builders, as they are naturally nicknamed, Smith is showing how democratic football might be in an ideal world.

While Brickstand – which has now reached more or less the halfway mark – has proved very popular as a creative exhibit, FC Brickstand takes that combination of Lego and football to a new level of fun. Competing in a 24-team league, they play 46 fixtures over the course of the real season – albeit most likely on Sunday evenings, Smith explains, “just to detach it from anyone watching their teams in real life”. From tweeting in-play updates, to recording stop-motion footage of the goals, the plan is to make the whole world of FC Brickstand as immersive as possible. Much of the beauty of Lego lies in the remarkable creations that can arise from its intrinsic simplicity, and Smith is making the most of that. He even floats the possibility of an “open day where people can come along and [meet] the players, and maybe try and get involved in a bit of the building, just to make it an interactive thing.”

The construction of the aforementioned Brick Lane was regularly shared on social media for fans to see. From a small Lego construction crew “breaking ground” on the site, to the installation of rail seating for safe standing areas – the level of detail really is superb – it’s been a thoroughly enjoyable and intriguing process to follow so far. The finished product has an impressive capacity of around 2,000 (Lego) spectators, and Smith is already thinking about how to pull in the punters, so to speak. “People could maybe send in a figure that they have lying around at home,” he suggests, “and that could be their season ticket.” Look out for astronauts, Harry Potter characters and members of the emergency services watching on intently from the stands.

Right – Non League Frickley in Brickland As non-League as the general feel of FC Brickstand is intended to be, it’s not without its commercial side, perhaps expectedly. “I’ll try and sell advertising boards around the perimeter of the pitch,” says Smith. “I’ll be able to take people’s company logos and get them printed onto the Lego.” It’s another rather inspired idea, and one he hopes will generate at least “a couple of extra pounds” to go towards infrastructure. A membership pack featuring physical club merchandise is also being planned for the future, while being an official affiliate partner of Lego means FC Brickstand receive a small cut from Lego Shop purchases made by anyone who clicks through adverts on the club website.

As the club took shape, a prestigious friendly with Olymbrick de Marseille marked the opening of Brick Lane. Now a few matches into the season, with some thrilling matches so far, the project has really come to life and piqued the curiosity of would-be supporters. FC Brickstand might only be in its infancy, but in a sport so often all too divided and detached, it already seems more than capable of providing some united, involved and, most importantly of all, lighthearted relief. Tom Hancock This article first appeared in WSC 378, September 2018.

You can follow all the weekly action in the Diorama Conference, with match reports and more at BRICKSTAND FC

Luton Town vs Skelmersdale United (12/01/13) FA Trophy 3rd Round Out of the 25 games I’ve seen this season, 14 of them have been in some form of cup competition. (Always supplying those useless statistics!) I’ve already discussed some of the reasons why I probably prefer these knockout clashes to a normal league game but there was a time when I enjoyed frequenting a league in the north of the country. A time when life was a little easier (actually it wasn’t) and where one could watch 22 northern blokes kick the shit into each other. That was the Unibond League. Now under a new sponsorship name of Evo-Stik, one of it’s teams had made a storming FA Trophy run and were playing at a ground I’d wanted to get to for a while – easy choice!

Luton are again up in the higher reaches of the Blue Square Premier this season and despite the slow start, they found themselves in 5th place during this cup break. While 8 points off leaders Wrexham, they did have 3 games in hand on them so Luton are “in the mix”. While the FA Trophy isn’t their highest priority, the week previous to this game they had beaten Championship Wolves 1-0 at home in the FA Cup to set up a 4th Round tie at Norwich City. Therefore showing their cup credentials. Their Trophy campaign had seen them beat Dorchester Town after a replay before winning a tricky away tie at Matlock Town to set this game up against the Skem.

Despite playing 3 levels lower than Luton in the Evo-Stik 1st Division North, Skelmersdale United are currently having a brilliant run and should (from the position they are in now) achieve promotion into the Northern Prem Prem for 2013/14.

Losing only once in 2012 was impressive enough but their league campaign going into this game was played 17, won 15, drawn 2. They weren’t top of the table however, but only 4 points off first and with 6 games in hand means by the time they have caught up the Skem should be out of sight.

One of the things I have been looking forward to when coming to Luton has been the famous away end that is built into the row of houses on Oak Road. It’s one of the reasons why I haven’t come here for a game until now as I wanted to stand in the away end with a team I can support.

With my love for the Evo-Stik it was a no brainer. Stick on a Scouse accent and support the Skem. The away end is a strange one – Oak Road Stand being a former terrace that seating was stuck on. Therefore the leg room in the stand is shocking, however massive credit to the Luton stewards for allowing us to stand all game.

While it is now an all-seater stadium, it is a shame that the home fans have no designated standing area – however if Luton see themselves as a Championship side then all-seater, sadly, is the way to go.

You can read more of Steven’s travels HERE at TRAVELLING FAN BLOGSPOT

In games like this, the one thing you don’t want to see is for the massive underdog to have a dreadful start and concede a daft early goal. I felt that Skem actually started quite slowly and panicked a few times early on. This allowed Luton to create some good chances with James Dance having the first shot when he fired wide following a good run from him. Skem though settled and backed by 220 fans (+1 plastic) ex Lancaster City striker Mark Jackson fired a volley over and then bizarrely they hit the post direct from a corner. Luton reacted well however and should have really done better when some excellent link up play between Scott Rendell and Alex Lawless created a chance for Jake Howells at the back post, but he headed wide.

While Skem were stubborn and beginning to frustrate Luton, they did have to defend a free kick on the edge of the area when Lawless was brought down. This came to nothing however and apart from one long range effort which was easily saved by Skem goalie Sam Ashton, the Evo-Stik side were well worth the 0-0 scoreline at half-time.

Luton clearly didn’t fancy a midweek replay in Lancashire and so brought on Andre Grey to try and provide them something new for the 2nd half. It looked a good decision early on too from Paul Buckle as Grey had two chances which saw one deflected wide as his pace clearly troubled the away defence. Skem though started to push a few more men forward as they were still clearly in this game and Jackson had a glorious chance in the penalty area from a corner but he scuffed his shot and it was easily saved by Dean Brill.

With time ticking on and Luton fans worried they would have to locate Skelmersdale on a map to visit, they brought on Stuart Fleetwood and his presence caused Ashton to flap a cross and Grey fired the chance over. Luton were getting a little closer now as both sides began to leave more space across the field. Lawless managed to whip a cross in and Grey flicked on into a packed penalty box but before Luton could take advantage, Ashton had collected the ball.

Skem had that golden chance on 83 minutes to make history as a chance at the back post was fired towards goal and Howell headed off the line and over as Brill looked beaten. From the corner though, it turned from dreams to disaster as Luton counter attacked through Fleetwood who found Adam Watkins on the right wing.

He cut inside and fired a low shot towards the far post which beat Ashton who probably expected a shot towards the far post.

Skem nearly had the audacity to grab an equaliser late on as Matty Hughes took advantage of a defensive mix up and while he lofted the ball over Brill, it just bounced wide. Now into injury time, Luton added an undeserved 2nd when they counter attacked again through Fleetwood who set up Grey to dink the ball over Ashton to send the Hatters through to the 4th Round.

Skem deserved a replay from this as they held out well against a side three levels higher than them. The 220 roared their team off the field as despite the scoreline they were proud of that performance and putting the Evo-Stik on the map. Luton’s “reward” of winning that tie is an away trip to fellow promotion challengers Grimsby Town which could be good for the Trophy as two of arguably the stronger sides are meeting before the final. Despite the place probably having more atmosphere for a proper league game, it was still good to finally get to see a game at Kenilworth Road.

A ground that is showing its age but still a decent place to watch football. Hopefully I’ll be back here next season with Morecambe, for a Football League game but good luck to both sides. I expect you’ll both be celebrating promotion at the end of the season.

Ashton, Field, Corrigan, McIntosh, Hardwick (c), Strickland, Turner, Woolcott, Jackson (Burnett, 81), Phenix (Hughes, 76), Bellew Subs (not used) Wright, Morning, Hickey

You can watch some highlights taken by JOHN THOMPSON HERE

ALAN MANSLEY -ODE TO THE 5TH BEATLE Born in Liverpool in 1946, former Skelmersdale United winger Alan Mansley had a short but eventful career, adored at Skem and at Brentford, where the “Ode to the 5th Beatle” comes from, he was injured in an ugly incident with Chesterfield’s Keith Kettleborough and was never the same again, retiring in 1971, just 4 years after appearing in the Amateur Cup Final for United, aged just 26. Alan died of a sudden heart attack in February 2001 Alan Mansley began his career as a schoolboy with Everton and later spent time with league clubs Sheffield Wednesday and Crewe Alexandra He dropped into non-league football in 1966, when he joined Lancashire Combination First Division club Skelmersdale United. He reached the final of the FA Amateur Cup with the team during the 1966–67 season and caught the attention of Football League Second Division club Blackpool, with whom he signed a contract in June 1967. He departed Bloomfield Road in January 1968, after failing to make an appearance for the Tangerines.

Mansley dropped down to the Fourth Division to sign for Brentford in January 1968. He quickly established himself in the team and made 19 appearances during what remained of the 1967–68 season. Flourishing under the management of Jimmy Sirrel, he made what would be a career-high 46 appearances during the 1968–69 season, top-scoring with 17 goals. Becoming a crowd favourite with the Griffin Park faithful.

He held a regular place in the team until the appointment of Frank Blunstone as manager in December 1969, he was released at the end of the 1970-71 campaign. Mansley made 105 appearances and scored 30 goals during two-and-ahalf years at Griffin Park.

Mansley moved to Third Division club Fulham in November 1970 and was the club's first-ever loan signing, A short spell at Notts County and an even shorter spell at Lincoln City,in December 1971, marked the end of Alan’s career.

The Brentford View I have been watching Brentford, man and boy, for fifty years now and however much I have liked and admired so many players there is only one who I would actually class as a hero, and he and the others who come very close to earning that accolade all come from the same era – the late 60s and early 70s, a time when I was still young and impressionable and in those more innocent days I still saw some of the Brentford players in an heroic light.

My first couple of years watching the Bees passed by in a blur as the players were largely faceless and indistinguishable to me as I was still earning my spurs as a supporter and was not yet able to identify them as the individuals that they were.

Allan Mansley was the first Brentford player who truly stood out to me initially as much for his looks, as he had the long flowing locks and sinuous gait of a George Best, as for his ability. In an era of plebeian mediocrity when players with real flair and talent were the exception rather than the rule – particularly at Brentford, Ollie Mansley completely broke the mould. He played with passion and effervescent joy, galloped down the left wing with gay abandon and beat his opponents by virtue of a combination of pace, body swerves, dribbling ability, trickery and the precocity of youth.

He had an annus mirabilis in 1968 when he was touched by the Gods and scored goals of every hue – swerving free kicks, rasping volleys, solo runs, clinical angled finishes, even a looping twenty-yard header over a mesmerised Halifax goalkeeper.

I followed him with the rapture of a star struck thirteen year old and he could do no wrong in my eyes and I ached to be as talented and handsome as he was.

However like all the best heroes, his fame was glittering but transitory and shortlived as he was irrevocably hobbled by the thuggery of the pantomime villain, Chesterfield’s Keith Kettleborough and never truly recovered his pace and verve and within a year or so he was gone and his career withered on the vine.

Alan Mansley remains a hero to me to this day because he was the first Brentford player who stirred my emotions and made me realise that football was a beautiful art as well as a sport and that there was room for guile and intelligence as well as organisation and brute strength.

The fact that despite his outrageous ability his career never reached the heights that had once looked likely, was truncated through injury and that he also died tragically young, makes him even more of an heroic figure to me, if a more tragic one. I never spoke to him – I never dared to do so, and can only hope that the man himself lived up to the image. Thankfully I am reliably informed by others who knew him that he was indeed a lovely young man and I am glad to hear so.

Alan, "the Fifth Beatle" Mansley came from Blackpool in what, 67/8?. He played for Skelmersdale in the old amateur cup final a year or so before. He was a real star at GP and I will always remember his two goals against Hull, who were two divisions above us then, in a league cup tie in 67(?) He got crippled by a slapheaded Chesterfield git called Keith Kettleborough and was never the same again. A huge mob waited for Kettleborough outside Braemar Road after the match I remember. I think he went to Notts County but was never up to much again. I once got his autograph outside Stamford Bridge when Chelsea were playing midweek, a small crowd gathered and he ended up signing about a dozen Chelsea programmes. What a star!

FOOTBALL CLIPS YOU WON’T HAVE HEARD. In 1994/94 the top Football Magazine at the time, Total Football released two covered mounted Cassette’s (who remembers Cassettes?)

On the first release featuring George Best on the cover you were treated to some classic footballing ditties, starting of with Jane Asher’s “Cake of the day” !!!! There was more, obviously with George on the front cover there were plenty of tracks that featured the boy wonder “Ballad of Georgie Best” and “You cant keep Georgie out” both featuring on side one.

Many of the tracks on the cassettes were little more than snippets lasting less than 10 seconds but you also had the pleasure of John Arlott, most famous for cricket, commentating on the 1927 Cardiff v Arsenal FA Cup Final, with the added attraction of the Welsh supporters giving us a rendition of “Land of Our Fathers” and the Vernon Pools Girls singing “We love the Beatles” (Click on the link to listen if you dare!!) its that kind of sonic experience.

Side two will certainly mix with your mind, starting of with clips on Baggio, Brian Clough and Denis Law, Who can forget the Norwegian Commentator after the hosts beat England in a World Cup qualifier, well that’s here to, you can listen all over again There is more obscure stuff to feat your ears on, including a Grace Fields (pictured) Football song “Pass Shoot Goal” Go on I dare you. You also get from Scotland, Clyde FC’s take on “Song of the Clyde” a hoot for hogmany, and now we know the reason for the club’s nickname “The Bullie Wee” It ends with the York City FC Squad singing “Here we go” which is followed by the faint cries of the Everton fans mournfully going through “Show me the way to go Home” It is certainly of its time, although Im not sure what time its from !!

Click on the BLUE links to listen to some of the clips, you wont be disappointed.

If you thought some of the stuff on the first issue was a bit “Out there” then the second cassette is even more bizarre, released in 1995 Starting off with the Queens Introduction at the 1966 World Cup Final, followed by a little ditty “Football, Football I like Football” by one Alan Randall, no idea who he is but you can listen by clicking on the blue link, you can also hear the late great Eric Morecambe, who just happened to be in the commentary box as Luton scored against Bristol City in 1975. Marvellous.

Jimmy Hill features twice, one talking with Malcolm Allison and the other his advert for the then popular “Remington Shaver”. Leeds United also get in on the scene with Ronnie Hilton and the Leeds United squad singing “The Leeds United Calypso”. Worth a listen even if you don’t like Leeds On this free cassette you also get the pleasure of Muhammed Ali on Brian Clough, and Cloughie’s advert for Shredded Wheat, along with David Coleman having a chat with the young Nigel Clough, its all-brilliant stuff, if you like that sort of thing. Play at any football themed party, obviously when lock down ends and you will have your guests either reminiscing about the past or falling on the floor laughing.

George Best again features strongly at the back end of side two with Diana Dors “You cant keep Georgie out”, alas no video of that is available, but what we do have is Chocolate Barry !!! “Georgie the Belfast Boy”. Next up is a band called HER, A pop song about Gary Lineker's move to Nagoya Grampus 8, this really is of its time.

You can listen to “Oh Gary Gary” as long as your hearts content but I would give it 30 seconds at tops.

If you have given any of the links a click and had a good listen then this one is one you must play, by The Strikers and Children of Selston Bagthorpe Primary School and their tribute to the great Charlie George “I wish I could play like Charlie George”, it is without doubt the stand out track from both the cassettes and well worth spending 2mins 54 seconds of your life giving it a listen.

The collection ends with Ed “Stewpot” Stewart and Junior Choice singing the England 1970 World Cup song “Back Home” again sadly there doesn’t seem to be any copies lying around “Youtube” but you can listen to the original “Back Home” If you have half hour to spend then please click on the links I can assure you it will be time well spent. And what’s betting you will be humming some of them tunes for days.

TOP FOOTY COMMENTARIES David Coleman: '1-0!'

Kenneth Wolstenholme: 'They Think It's All Over'

Barry Davies: 'And You Have to Say That Is Magnificent'

Brian Moore: 'It's Up for Grabs Now'

Barry Davies: 'Is Gascoigne Going to Have a Crack? He Is, You Know…'

Jonathan Pearce: 'Ready… Steady… Teddy…'

Martin Tyler: 'He's Cut Arsenal to Ribbons'

John Motson: 'Emile Heskey, Could It Be Five?'

Clive Tyldesley: 'Remember the Name Wayne Rooney!'

Martin Tyler: 'MACHEDA!'

To find out where these famous commentaries come from visit the site I nicked em from HERE

SKELMERSDALE UNITED LOTTERY JACKPOT TO BE WON