Cammell Laird 1907 vs Ashville - Mon 26/12/22 - Matchday programme #17

Club history

Cammell

1907 FC can trace its

back to 1899 when a team from the Upper Boilers Shop of Laird Bros played in Birkenhead Park, before turning to the rugby code. It was not until June 1907 that the Cammell Laird Institute AFC was established, with its first fixture taking place on 2nd September 1907 against Tranmere Rovers, finishing 9th in the West Cheshire League in their inaugural season (1907/08).

In the early years, the Club played at a number of grounds and won their first trophy, the Shipley Cup, in April 1921, before in the summer of 1922 they moved to St Peters Road (which still remains their current home) as Kirklands FC. They disbanded in 1939 but reformed in 1946. The Club had their most successful period during the 1970s and 80s, winning the West Cheshire League on a regular basis. 1994/95 saw the club reach the FA Vase quarterfinals before losing to Arlesey Town.

The 21st Century

The early part of the new millennium saw the Club reach new heights. They started the rise through the pyramid, making history by becoming the first

one

Having fought relegation battles successfully, the Club finished bottom of the Evo-Stik Division One North in 2011/12, but were reprieved, and bounced back the following season by finishing league runners up before losing on penalties in the play-off final against Trafford.

Season 2013/14 saw Lairds finish 11th, but the decision was taken to resign from the Evo-Stik NPL and form a new Club: Cammell Laird 1907 FC. New club,

new era

The new Club was formed on 28th May 2014 and entered the NWCFL Division One for their inaugural campaign in 2014/15. In October, the Club lost manager Tony Sullivan to Witton Albion, and appointed Paul McNally in the same month. He ably guided the team to promotion, which was achieved on Saturday 4th April. In the end, Lairds finished 21 points clear of 3rd placed AFC Darwen.

2015/16 saw the Club finish 15th in its first season in the NWCFL Premier Division. Early on, Lairds didn’t get the results that their performances deserved, drawing or even losing games that they largely dominated. However, they soon found their feet in the Premier Division. Their best result was an emphatic 4-0 victory against eventual champions Colne in October. In February, Tony Sullivan returned to replace Paul McNally as manager, and the Club ended the campaign with a solid mid-table finish.

At the end of the season, Sullivan departed and was replaced by former Prescot Cables and AFC Darwen manager Neil Prince. The new man in charge made an excellent start, two fine performances deservedly seeing off the challenge of AFC Darwen in the FA Cup. It is fair to say that luck was not on the side of Prince’s team at the start of the league campaign, with several fine performances not getting the results that they deserved. However, after the 3-1 defeat to Squires Gate in September, Prince resigned on good terms with the Club, who were very appreciative of his efforts, and both parties wished each other well for the future.

Prince was replaced by former Lairds striker Mick McGraa, who had taken

Laird

history

Club to win the championship of the Second and First Divisions of the North West Counties League, which they achieved in 2004/05 and then 2005/06. In the same year as that First Division triumph, the club reached the FA Vase semi-finals, losing to eventual winners Nantwich Town, and two years later, the Club gained promotion to the Unibond Premier League. However, they were relegated after just

season due to ground grading.

over the Reserve Team in the summer. McGraa has worked tirelessly to assemble a very promising young side, and again with a tad more luck in games that Lairds dominated, they could have picked up more points. Everything finally came together on Saturday 18th March 2017, as a brilliant performance saw Lairds beat AFC Darwen 4-1 to record their first league win of the season, which they followed up three days later with a 2-1 victory against in-form Hanley Town. Ultimately, results elsewhere consigned Lairds to relegation by the end of March, but the Club was now in a much stronger position ahead of the Division One campaign to follow in 2017/18.

The rebuild commences

That season started off perfectly, the 4-1 win against a higher-ranked Maltby Main side in the Emirates FA Cup a sign of things to come! Lairds were eliminated from that competition despite a valiant effort at Evo-Stik League outfit Leek Town, but after a slightly shaky start, they went from strength to strength in the league. From 5th September to 21st April, they dropped just two points at Kirklands, also defeating Premier Division Congleton Town with ten men on their own patch in the Macron Cup. Lairds initially struggled on the road, but also improved on that front after the turn of the year. They finished the regular campaign as one of the division’s form teams, securing the final play-off place courtesy of a sensational 4-1 victory over championselect Silsden. The Cammells also enjoyed a run to the final of the LWC Drinks Cup, recording a notable 4-0 triumph at fellow top six challengers Alsager Town along the way. In the final against Prestwich Heys at Runcorn Linnets FC, Joe Malkin’s header drew Lairds level at 1-1 just before the hour mark. Despite hammering at the Prestwich door for much of the second half, there was a sucker punch as a brilliant late strike from John Main, followed by an even more incredible save by Heys’ Russell Saunders, saw McGraa’s men on the wrong end of a 2-1 scoreline. However, Lairds responded brilliantly in the play-off semi-final just three days later, stunning the division by going to a Prestwich side, who had hammered them 3-0 on the opening day and finished the season on 91 points, and coming from behind to win 4-1. That set up an all-or-nothing midweek play-off final away at Whitchurch Alport. There was to be more heartbreak as a nightmare start saw Lairds fall 2-0 behind within ten minutes. It just didn’t click for the visitors on the night, and despite Charlie MacInnes giving them hope late on, it was a case of so near yet so far. Two defeats in finals were a horrible ending to what was an outstanding campaign which saw McGraa’s team restore the pride around Kirklands, and deliver long-lasting memories.

opportunity to compete in the Wirral Senior Cup Final, which they had reached courtesy of victories over Poulton Royal, Ellesmere Port Town and Mersey Royal.

For the 2020/21 campaign, the club’s home at Kirklands was renamed the Prabhu Ventures Ltd Arena as part of a new sponsorship deal, while former player Stuart Humphreys was appointed as Director of Football. After a solid start to the delayed season, the North West Counties Football League was suspended from the start of November until mid-December as lockdown restrictions were re-imposed. During that time, Phil Burton and his backroom staff resigned after two-and-a-half years in charge. The season briefly resumed in December, but the season was soon curtailed due to Covid-19 after Lairds had played just seven league matches, with them team placed 13th in the table.

Silverware returns to CH42

With Lairds unable to play competitive football until May 2021, the club took their time before making a permanent managerial appointment. Stuart Keir was chosen as the man to take the club forward, the former AFC Liverpool boss’ CV impressing the committee as well as his strong reputation for developing youth players.

The Cammells finished 14th after a mixed season in the First Division South, but their exploits in the cup competitions were astonishing and made it a campaign to remember. A 3-0 victory over Heswall in the Wirral Senior Cup Final on 23 April 2022 clinched the first team’s maiden piece of silverware under the 1907 name, which was an afternoon to remember for all concerned. However, their season did not finish there, and an astonishing set of results sent them into the cup finals of both NWCFL cups. A famous comeback win in the A41 Derby at Vauxhall Motors was secured in the last minute by Jay Harvey, and featured in a successful Macron Cup run. Two semi-final wins in the space of four days – against Ilkley Town on penalties in the First Division Cup and Premier Division outfit Congleton Town in the Macron Cup – ensured that Lairds’ campaign would finish with two cup finals. The Macron Cup represented a remarkable feat for Keir’s team given that it included all 60 NWCFL clubs, but sadly the final against Charnock Richard, played at Chorley FC, proved a bridge too far as their opponents ran out 5-0 winners. The First Division Cup Final proved a more closely-fought affair away to promoted FC Isle of Man. Despite matching their opponents throughout, the Cammells unfortunately went down to a 1-0 defeat and they had to settle for finishing as runners-up. However, the incredible end to the season and appearance in three cup finals provides strong evidence that Keir’s team are on the right track going into the 2022/23 campaign.

Cheshire Senior Cup history-makers

An eventful close season saw McGraa depart for Vauxhall Motors, who rejoined the Hallmark Security League. The majority of the squad followed the manager to Rivacre Park, but the Committee acted swiftly and made a very exciting appointment in Phil Burton. He guided the club to a solid 15th place finish in the new First Division South, two cup quarter-finals, and extraordinarily Lairds became the lowest ranked team ever to reach a Cheshire Senior Cup Final, where they lost out to Nantwich Town. The 2019/20 campaign started off brightly for Burton’s team, and they were just outside the promotion places at Christmas, but their form then dropped off and only began to pick up shortly before the league was suspended in March due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Lairds were 13th after the final fixtures were played, but the decision was made by the FA to null and void the season. The premature end to the season meant that Lairds missed the

A new clubhouse facility opened in July 2022 also provides a welcome boost to the club. It will be open throughout every matchday, and significantly improve the experience of visitors to the renamed KR Couriers & Transport Ltd Stadium.

Good afternoon, and a warm welcome back to the KR Couriers and Transport Ltd Stadium for today’s Boxing Day derby against Ashville. We hope that the players, staff, officials and supporters from our visitors enjoy their stay with us here.

After a couple of years without what you would call a derby game on Boxing Day, it is nice to be hosting such a match again following Ashville’s promotion to the NWCFL. The Macron Cup tie here against today’s opponents back in October featured our highest gate of the season, and hopefully the 12pm kick-off can encourage supporters who may be going on to watch Tranmere or Everton to boost the crowd. It promises to be a brilliant way to start Boxing Day.

It’s been more than two weeks since our last outing, which featured a cruel finish away to Sandbach United. Having been a little unfortunate to be heading into the break 2-0 behind having created some decent chances of our own, our hopes of taking anything from the midweek road trip appeared to have taken a huge blow when Kieron Frost was sent off, and then Jake Doran sinbinned to compound our misery. However, the lads found the character and the quality to stun Sandbach with quick-fire goals from Jay Harvey and Joel Ogiugo to have us on course for what would have been an excellent point. Sadly, the hard work did not get the ending it deserved as Brian Barton struck with virtually the last kick of the game to consign us to a 3-2 defeat. However, the performance

against one of the division’s high flyers has to be a source of encouragement going into the second half of the season.

On the Saturday prior to that, we ran out 2-0 winners at home to Alsager Town thanks to goals from Kieran Hamm and Jack Kelly. It was a tough one for both teams with the bleak conditions on the day, but a welcome three points to keep us moving in the right direction.

We required an injury-time winner from Kalif Koura to settle October’s Macron Cup tie 2-1 in our favour, but Ashville head into this one in a decent place having gone unbeaten in their last three matches. They have adapted well to life in the NWCFL, and sit two places above us in 13th place.

Tonight is our final scheduled game of 2022, so I would like to take the opportunity to wish everyone a very happy New Year. I hope you had an enjoyable Christmas and were able to spend time with your nearest and dearest. For Lairds, it has been a year to remember, helped by our Wirral Senior Cup triumph in April and incredible runs to the final of both NWCFL cups. I look forward to seeing what 2023 brings.

I hope you enjoy today’s issue and the game. Up them Cammells.

All the best, Patrick Burke

Photo credit: David Blackwood (Twitter: @David_JB_1965)

Cammell

J. Wood, Hulley ©, Edwards, Mon 08 Aug Maine Road

NWCFL First Division South D 3-3 161 Davidson, Kerr, King ›››, Hulley ©, J. Wood, Kubwalo, Smith, Sat 13 Aug Stockport Town

NWCFL First Division South L 0-3 78 Davidson, Kerr ›››, Rodgers ››, Hulley ©, J. Wood, Kubwalo Tues 16 Aug New Mills H NWCFL First Division South W 3-2 71 Davidson, Kerr, Rodgers, Waring, Doran ››, Stephens, Smith Sat 20 Aug Barnton

NWCFL First Division South L 2-1 101 Davidson, Kerr, Bolton, Waring, Stephens ››, Hulley ©, Smith, Sat 27 Aug

Wythenshawe Amateurs

Stockport Georgians

Sat 03 Sept Stafford Town

A NWCFL First Division South

H NWCFL First Division South

L 3-0 212 Davidson, Kerr, Rodgers, J. Wood, Kubwalo, Jones ›, Smith

A Isuzu FA Vase First Qualifying Round W 1-1* 160 Davidson, Kerr, Rodgers, Hulley ©, Kubwalo, Waring ›, Mon 29 Aug (3pm)

L 0-3 52 Davidson, Downey ›››, Rodgers, Waring, J. Wood, Kuwablo, Galt

Tues 06 Sept Cheadle Heath Nomads

H NWCFL First Division South

D 3-3 55 Davidson, Waring, Bolton, J. Wood, Kubwalo, Jones, Rubin, Tues 13 Sept Ellesmere Rangers

H NWCFL First Division South L 0-5 38 Davidson, Hulley ©, Frost, Waring, Stephens, Kubwalo, Downey, Sat 17 Sept Brocton

H NWCFL First Division South D 2-2 78 Davidson, Hulley © ››, Rodgers ›, Waring, Humphreys, Stephens, Sat 24 Sept Retford

H Isuzu FA Vase Second Qualifying Round W 1-1** 102 Davidson, Kerr, Rodgers ›››, Hulley ©, Doran ››, Kubwalo, Sat 01 Oct Alsager Town

A NWCFL First Division South W 1-2 42 Davidson, Kerr, Rodgers, Hulley ©, Doran, Waring, Rubin

H Edward Case Cup Second Round South L 1-2 90 Robson, Kerr, Rodgers ››, Hulley ©, Doran ›, Waring, Rubin, Sat 15 Oct Ashville

Sat 08 Oct Abbey Hey

H Macron Cup First Round W 2-1 176 Davidson, Hulley ©, Frost ›, Stephens, Doran, Cain, Jones Sat 22 Oct Squires Gate

A Isuzu FA Vase First Round

L 2-1 75 Davidson, Hulley ©, Frost, Stephens, Doran ›››, Cain, Waring, Tues 25 Oct Abbey Hey

A NWCFL First Division South

L 1-0 83 Davidson, Kerr, Hulley ©, Stephens, Doran ›››, Cain, Waring Sat 29 Oct Stafford Town

A NWCFL First Division South W 1-2 87 Davidson, Kerr, Hulley ©, Stephens, Doran, Cain, Waring Sat 05 Nov Foley Meir

H NWCFL First Division South W 5-1 67 Davidson, Kerr, Bolton ››, Stephens ››, Doran ©, Cain, Waring

H NWCFL First Division South L 0-1 109 Davidson, Kerr, Frost ››, Stephens, Doran © ›››, Cain, Waring, Sat 12 Nov Maine Road

Tues 08 Nov Wythenshawe Amateurs

H NWCFL First Division South W 4-3 85 Davidson, Kerr, Frost ››, Stephens, Doran ©, Cain, Waring, Sat 19 Nov South Liverpool H Macron Cup Second Round L 1-4 106 Davidson, Kerr, Ogiugo ››››, Hulley ©, Doran, Cain, Smith, Tues 22 Nov (7:30pm) Sutton Athletic H Wirral Senior Cup First Round W 2-0 69 Dineley, Kerr, Hulley ©, Stephens, Cain, Waring, Frost › Wed 30 Nov Abbey Hey H NWCFL First Division South

Kick-off times are 3pm for Saturday games and 7:45pm for midweeks unless stated  Substitutions indicated by ›/‹ arrows  Goal times as per the NWCFL website  Man of the Matches as awarded by the opposition  * = won 4-3 on penalties  ** = won 3-1 on penalties

Goals for • Goals against MOTM

Kelly, Carr-Lowe ›, Hamm, McGregor, B. Wood ›› • Koura ‹‹, Philpott ‹, B. Kelly, Hughes • 25’ Kubwalo Edwards, Galt ›, J. Kelly ››, Hamm, B. Wood • Carr-Lowe ‹, Koura ‹‹, Doran, Hughes Hamm (15’) • 39’, 58’, 87’ Edwards Smith, Carr-Lowe ›, Hamm, B. Wood ››››, Koura ›› • Doran ‹‹‹, J. Kelly ‹, Frost ‹‹, Waring ‹‹‹‹, Hughes Kubwalo (51’), Frost (65’), Doran (78’) • 13p, 18’, 28’ Smith Kubwalo ›, Smith, Edwards, Hamm ››››, B. Wood, Waring • Doran ‹‹‹, Bolton ‹‹, Hughes, Frost ‹, Koura ‹‹‹‹ • 36’, 64’, 85’ Waring Smith ©, Edwards ››››, J. Kelly ›››, Downey, Koura › • J. Wood ‹‹, B. Wood ‹‹‹, Bolton, Frost ‹, Galt ‹‹‹‹ J. Kelly (4’), Rodgers (53’), Smith (61’) • 39p, 64’ Kerr Smith, Edwards ›››, Koura ›, Downey, Frost ›››› • J. Wood ‹‹, B. Wood ‹, Galt ‹‹‹, Philpott ‹‹‹‹, Hughes B. Wood (55’) • 31’, 41’ Smith Smith, Rubin ›››, B. Wood ››, Downey, Frost • J. Wood ‹, King, Jones ‹‹‹, Koura, Hamm ‹, Hughes Frost (34’) • 76’ Smith © ››››, Rubin, Hamm ›››, Downey ›››››, Frost ›› • Galt ‹‹‹‹, Edwards ‹, B. Wood ‹‹, Koura ‹‹‹, Carr-Lowe ‹‹‹‹‹ • 75’, 82p, 84’ Rubin Galt ›››››, Jones ››››, Lyons, Hamm © ››, B. Wood › • Bolton ‹‹‹, Frost ‹‹, Rubin ‹‹‹‹,, Koura ‹, Carr-Lowe ‹‹‹‹‹ • 5’, 44’, 67’ Waring Rubin, Downey, Hamm ©, B. Wood ›, Frost • Carr-Lowe, Koura ‹, Philpott, Hughes Frost (3’), Rubin (12’), Hamm (72’) • 39’, 45+5’, 79’ Downey Downey, Bolton ›, Hamm, B. Wood ›››, Koura ›› • J. Wood ‹, Carr-Lowe ‹‹, Rodgers ‹‹‹, B. Kelly, Hughes • 8’, 65’, 79’, 88’, 90’ Stephens Stephens, Downey ›››, Bolton ››››, Koura, B. Wood, Frost • J. Wood, Kerr ‹‹, King ‹, Carr-Lowe ‹‹‹, B. Kelly ‹‹‹‹ Koura (10’), Bolton (18’) • 36’, 89’ B. Wood Kubwalo, Waring, Bolton ›, Koura, B. Wood, Downey • Smith ‹‹, King ‹‹‹, Carr-Lowe, Rubin ‹, Stephens B. Wood (87’) • 33’ Rubin ›, Downey, Koura ››, B. Wood, Harvey • Cain, Jones ‹‹, Carr-Lowe ‹, B. Kelly, Hughes Koura (11’), Rubin (21’) • 17’ Hulley Rubin, Jones ››››, Koura ›››, Downey, Harvey • Cain, Stephens ‹‹, B. Wood ‹‹‹‹, Bolton ‹, Hamm ‹‹‹ Harvey (5’) • 51p, 76’ Jones ››, Bolton, Hamm, Downey, Harvey ››› • Kerr ‹, Waring, B. Wood ‹‹, Koura ‹‹‹, Dineley Hamm (38’), Koura (90+4’) • 79’ Waring, Bolton ›, Hamm ››, Downey, Harvey • Kerr ‹‹‹, Smith, B. Wood ‹, McGregor, Koura ‹‹, Rodgers, Dineley Hamm (20p) • 41’, 81’ Waring ››, Downey, Koura, Frost ›, Harvey • Rodgers, Smith ‹‹, B. Wood ‹‹‹, McGregor ‹, Hughes • 38’ Doran Waring ›, Downey ››, Hamm ›››, B. Wood, Harvey • Smith ‹, McGregor ‹‹, Frost ‹‹‹, Koura ‹‹‹‹, Dineley Hamm (52’), Harvey (74’) • 82’ B. Wood Waring ›, Downey, Hamm ››››, McGregor, Harvey • Smith ‹, Jones ‹‹, Frost, Koura ‹‹‹‹, Rodgers ‹‹‹ Harvey (18’), Hamm (31’, 68p, 70p), Doran (60’) • 22’ Hamm Waring, Downey ›, Koura, Smith, Harvey • Bolton, McGregor ‹, B. Wood, Rodgers ‹‹‹, Ogiugo ‹‹ • 73’ Harvey Waring, McGregor ›, Harvey ›››, Smith ›››››, B. Wood ›››› • Downey ‹, Jones ‹‹‹‹‹, Hamm ‹‹‹, Koura ‹‹‹‹, Ogiugo ‹‹ B. Wood (8’, 31’), Harvey (60p), Downey (90’) • 20’, 32’, 47’ B. Wood Smith, Waring ›››, Hamm ›, B. Wood, Koura ›› • Bolton ‹‹‹‹, J. Kelly ‹‹‹, Frost ‹, McGregor ‹‹, Dineley Hamm (12p) • 24’, 66’, 73’, 90+2’ , Jones ››, Harvey, B. Wood ›››, J. Kelly ›››› • Smith ‹‹, McGregor ‹, Hamm ‹‹‹, Galt ‹‹‹‹, Davidson Harvey (26’, 74’) Waring, Jones ›, Hamm ››, Smith, Harvey • McGregor ‹, J. Kelly ‹‹, B. Wood, Frost ‹‹‹, Galt • 13’, 31’, 90+3’ Waring ›, Smith, Hamm, B. Wood ››, Harvey • Frost, J. Kelly ‹‹, Jones ‹, Galt, Downey Hamm (60’), J. Kelly (90’) Harvey Downey ››, Smith ›››, J. Kelly, B. Wood, Harvey • J. Wood, McGregor ‹‹, Frost ‹, Ogiugo ‹‹‹ Harvey (80’), Ogiugo (84’) • 23’, 28’, 90+4’ B. Wood

Ashville

Club factfile

Year formed: 1949

Nickname: Villa

Ground: The Ray Parker Stadium

Chairman: Peter Reynolds

Secretary: Alan Skillen

Temporary first team manager: Steve Murphy

Twitter followers: 4,728 (@AshvilleFC)

2021/22

West Cheshire League First Division: 2nd/15, 69 points. Promoted

Pyke Cup: Runners-up

2020/21: 5th/16, 21 points. 15 games played

2019/20: 7th/14, 24 points. Curtailed after 17 games

Record vs Lairds*

Lairds wins: 1

Draws: 0

Ashville wins: 1

Aggregate score: Lairds 2-3 Ashville

*first team meetings under Cammell Laird 1907 name

Recent seasons

Wallasey-based Ashville’s set-up has been mooted for NWCFL promotion for a number of years. After a number of seasons challenging in league and cup in the West Cheshire League, they clinched promotion by finishing second in the First Division last season. They lost just one league game out of their 28 played, but finished second to Mersey Royal in a thrilling title race.

The campaign so far

Ashville have established themselves in the NWCFL First Division South as they approach the halfway stage of their first season, occupying 13th place after a three-match unbeaten run which included a 3-1 win at New Mills, 4-2 home victory against Cheadle Heath Nomads and 1-1 draw at Rocester. That followed a run of seven defeats from eight, although that included an impressive 20 triumph over then-league leaders Stockport Town and a 1-1 draw after 90 minutes at Witton Albion on their Cheshire Senior Cup debut.

Ones to watch

Josh Maldon, Lairds’ top scorer in the 2017/18 season, has been in fine form of late with five goals and two Man of the Match awards in Ashville’s last four games. He is now their top scorer for the season on eight, one more than another former Cammell in Ben Greenop Sam Hughes was the scorer of Ashville’s goal in the cup tie here in October, and now has six to his name for the season.

Ashville make their second trip of the season to the KR Couriers and Transport Ltd Stadium for the first instalment of what could become a regular derby fixture played on Boxing Day..

Ashville club history

Ashville Football Club was founded in 1949, by

ed ‘Cheshire Amateur Cup’ while finishing a creditable runner-up in the Division One championship.

John

and Joyce Dennett from 25 Ashville Road, Wallasey.

From that humble beginning they had immediate success in the Wallasey Youth League before progressing to the Bebington League in 1951. After winning the championship, Ashville moved to the Wirral Combination League and won the league for three consecutive seasons.

In the 1955/56 season Ashville were voted into the West Cheshire League Division Two, and in their first season won both the championship and the West Cheshire Bowl. In the following season they were promoted to Division One and amongst the honours collected at their Wallacre Park ground were the Wirral Amateur and Wirral Senior cups.

In 1962, Ashville moved to their present ground ‘Villa Park’, where they have had some success, notably the First Division championship in the 1967/68 season and more recently the 1997/98 season, winning the covet-

In season 2002/03 having been re-instated in Division One after finishing in a relegation place the season before, they went on to win the Pyke Cup for the first time.

In 2009/10, Ashville Reserves defied the odds to win the Auto Focus Challenge Shield 1-0.

In 2010/11 Ashville secured promotion back into the First Divison as well as winning the Cheshire Amateur Cup and Howarth & Gallagher Bowl.

After several years floating around the West Cheshire Football League, Ashville obtained their biggest achievement yet when they were promoted to the North West Counties Football League for the first time in their history. This was achieved after finishing as runners up of the West Cheshire League First Division and winning promotion to the NWCFL.

Year in review 2022

As 2022 comes to a close, Lairds can reflect on a calendar year in which long-awaited silverware returned to the KR Couriers and Transport Ltd Stadium, and Stuart Keir’s men stunned the NWCFL with their memorable runs to the finals of both cup competitions.

The year started with a bang as the Cammells racked up the goals in 6-0 and 5-1 victories at St Martins and Rocester, the long midweek trip to Hillsfield punctuated by heavy fog which descended with the visitors in cruise control at 4-0 but thankfully subsided to allow the match to be played to its conclusion. A 2-1 home win against Stafford Town lifted Lairds into ninth place in the First Division South, but progress was abruptly halted with heavy defeats at Cheadle Heath Nomads and at home to Maine Road.

In one of the highlights of the year, Lairds bounced back to become the only team in the First Division South to keep a clean sheet on their trip to FC Isle of Man. Despite the difficulties travelling to the island on the day due to the weather, a robust team performance yielded a well-deserved 0-0 draw and weekend to remember in Douglas.

With little to play for in the league, the campaign largely petered out, a 5-1 home triumph over Alsager Town thanks to a double from Michael Jones and hat-trick from Kieran Hamm the most enjoyable of the afternoons.

The Cammells had to settle for 14th place in a season which finished earlier than usual at the start of April, a decent return in Keir’s first season in charge especially given the changes in playing style and personnel. However, the season was in fact just getting underway for the Lairds faithful.

In the Wirral Senior Cup, a 3-1 semi-final victory over Ellesmere Port Town set up a final against Heswall at the KR Couriers and Transport Ltd Stadium and the chance for Keir’s team to put their names in history by lifting the first team’s maiden trophy under the Cammell Laird 1907 name. On a glorious day in which they were pushed hard for large periods by their opponents, three goals in the last 15 minutes did the trick. Hamm’s stunning header broke the deadlock, and he doubled the lead from the penalty spot before Pablo Martinez Palacios put a seal on proceedings.

Confidence was growing game-by-game, and Lairds were increasingly looking a team who feared no one. They progressed through the early rounds of the Macron and Edward Case Cups with victories against Stockport Town and Barnton respectively, and their reward in the first of those an all-NWCFL competition was an A41 Derby away to Vauxhall Motors.

Lairds had not beaten their local rivals since they rejoined the NWCFL in the 2018/19 season, and found themselves behind to an early goal from Michael Burkey for the hosts. However, they were more than playing their part against their Premier Division opponents, and levelled just before the hour-mark through Ellis Bolton. The tie appeared to be headed for penalties, only for Jay Harvey, who had returned to the squad a month prior, to write his name into A41 Derby folklore with a stunning last-minute winner to spark delirious scenes from the travelling players and supporters.

The scalps did not stop there in the Macron Cup, as Lairds welcomed Wythenshawe Amateurs in the next round. They fell 2-0 behind in that one, but a double from Harvey either side of an equaliser from Hamm kept the journey rolling on to a quarter-final against Barnton, settled by a late strike from Cameron McGregor.

The Cammells welcomed an experienced Premier Division outfit in Congleton Town to the KR Couriers and Transport Ltd Stadium for the semi-final, and again fell a goal behind in the first half thanks to Daniel Needham’s finish. A double from Hamm left the Bears stunned and turned the contest on its head, but Shakeel Jones-Griffiths levelled with 10 minutes remaining. However, the even-

ing was added to the list of famous nights under the lights thanks to Danny Stephens’ late header which, almost unbelievably, sent Keir’s men into the Macron Cup final.

The feat was all the more remarkable given the run in the Edward Case Cup taking place concurrently. It was Wythenshawe Amateurs and a 2-0 deficit again in the quarter-finals, this time away from home, but this was a team which just did not want the campaign to end, and a second-half hat-trick from Harvey turned the game in their favour before Kieron Frost wrapped it up to add another match to the calendar.

That was the semi-final at home to Ilkley Town, a tense affair which finished 2-2 after 90 minutes, and had another happy ending as Lairds kept their cool from the spot to reach the final.

First up on the two showpiece occasions was a trip to Chorley FC to play Charnock Richard in the Macron Cup final. Sadly, a 10th game in a crazy six-week spell proved a bridge too far as the game got away from Lairds in the second half and they were on the wrong end of a 5-0 scoreline.

The Edward Case Cup final sent the Cammells to FC Isle of Man for the second time, and the week rest enabled a performance which was much more like we had become accustomed to seeing. It ultimately proved a game of fine margins, as Ryan Smith smashed the crossbar on the half-volley with 20 minutes remaining, but a late goal from Jacob Crook ensured that Lairds had to settle for just the one trophy at the end of the campaign. But what an incredible period it was, and one that will always be looked back on with great fondness.

Hopes of carrying that remarkable form into the 2022/23 campaign grew after an encouraging pre-season featuring matches against higher-ranked opponents.

However, a lack of a settled squad through injuries hampered the opening months of the season, and led to a mixed start following on from the 1-0 defeat at Eccleshall at the end of July. A 3-2 home triumph over New Mills provided a first three points of the season, and there was more cup joy as the Cammells knocked out league leaders Wythenshawe Amateurs on penalties in the Isuzu FA Vase.

League form remained elusive, but a 2-2 draw with high-flying Brocton in a game in which Lairds were 2-0 ahead appeared to steady the ship, with a 2-1 win at Alsager Town in October providing a welcome result on the road.

There were exits from the Edward Case Cup and Isuzu FA Vase to Abbey Hey and Squires Gate respectively, but they were separated by another noteworthy afternoon in the Macron Cup as Kalif Koura headed home deep into added tie to settle the first derby against Ashville since they joined the NWCFL 2-1 in Lairds’ favour.

Three wins from four in the league had Keir’s men’s moving in the right direction, and included a superb 4-3 triumph against Maine Road with 10 men for more than half the match thanks to a late goal from substitute Joe Downey.

Lairds exited the Macron Cup to South Liverpool, but started their Wirral Senior Cup defence with a 2-0 win at home to Sutton Athletic.

Alsager Town were beaten by the same scoreline in the league, and late goals from Harvey and Joel Ogiugo appeared to have Lairds on course for a terrific point from 2-0 down at Sandbach United having been reduced to nine men through a sending off and sin bins, only for the hosts to strike with virtually the last kick of the game.

The year concludes with a derby at home to Ashville, and we cannot wait for the journey to continue in 2023.

Next up

It has been a decent season so far for Abbey Hulton, who sit 11th in the table after a run of six wins from eight in all competitions, most recently 2-1 at home to Alsager Town and including a victory by the same scoreline against league leaders Wythenshawe Amateurs in the Macron Cup.

Lairds were victorious on a January trip to

Hamm grabbing the game’s only goal.

Distance to Drayton Beaumont Park: 60.5 miles

Directions: Leave the M6 at junction 15 and turn left onto the A500 towards Stoke-on-Trent. Take the A52 Leek Road towards Leek, turn left onto Birches Head Road, go over the narrow bridge, continue past the junction with Redhills Road, then turn right into the ground.

Nearest train station: Stoke-on-Trent

Distance travelled so far 2022/23: 1,048.8 miles

Lairds’ first match of the New Year takes them to Stoke-on-Trent for a visit to Abbey Hulton United.

Drayton Beaumont Park last season, with Kieran

The squads

Elsewhere in the NWCFL First Division South

Today: Stafford Town vs Brocton (12pm); Cheadle Town vs Cheadle Heath Nomads (12:30pm); Stockport Georgians vs Stockport Town (12:30pm); Wythenshawe Amateurs vs Maine Road (2pm); Eccleshall vs Ellesmere Rangers; Foley Meir vs Alsager Town; Rocester vs Abbey Hulton United; Sandbach United vs Barnton

Tomorrow: New Mills vs Abbey Hey

CAMMELL LAIRD 1907

Manager: Stuart Keir

Assistant: Jordan Scott

Colours: Royal Blue

Players No. Gls Notes

Nathan Davidson (GK)

James Dineley (GK)

Conor Robson (GK)

Dominic Cain

Ben Carr-Lowe

Jake Doran

Joseph Downey

Kieron Frost

Ethan Galt

Kieran Hamm

Jay Harvey

Benjamin Hughes

Jake Hulley ©

Michael Jones

Ben Kelly

Jack Kelly

Ben Kerr

John-James King

Kalif Koura

Gabriel Kubwalo

Cameron McGregor

Joel Ogiugo

Lee Rodgers

Regan Rubin

Ryan Smith

Daniel Stephens

Ross Waring

Ben Wood

Jack Wood

ASHVILLE

Temporary manager: Steve Murphy

Colours: Black and white

Players No. Gls Notes

Michael Dixon (GK)

Dylan O’Brien (GK)

Matthew Croft

Liam Davies

Thomas Davies

Alfie Dwyer

Shaun Farrall

Joe Foster

Ben Greenop

Daniel Hardman

Tom Hartley

Nathan Haynes

Samuel Hughes

Sam Hunt

Thomas Johnstone

Ellis Jones

Mark Madden

Josh Maldon

Kynan Mason

Peter Morgan

Lewis Moynes

Michael Reynolds

Adam Sunners

Louis White

Max Williams

Next up at the KR Couriers and Transport Ltd Stadium:

Lairds vs Higher Bebington Kelma Tuesday 17 January 2023 // 7:30pm