Cammell Laird 1907 vs Eccleshall - Sat 11/03/23 - Matchday programme #23 2022/23

Lairds vs Eccleshall

Saturday 11 March 2023

Matchday programme #23 2022/23

1907 competitive fixture #394

Welcome to the KR Couriers and Transport Ltd Stadium

Cammell Laird 1907 Football Club

St Peter’s Road, Rock Ferry, Birkenhead, CH42 1PY

Club directory

Legal entity: Unincorporated association

President: Roy Williams

Vice-president: Eddie Trotter

Chairman: Lee Atherton

Vice-chairman: Tommy Potter

Junior section chairman: Andy Grant

Director of Football: Stuart Humphreys

Secretary: Anthony ‘Toddy’ Wood

Treasurer: Shaun Holmes

Other committee members: Geoff Quick, Tony Thelwell, Chris Wood

Media officer: Patrick Burke

Manager: Stuart Keir

Assistant manager: Jordan Scott

Coaches: Josh Hine

Goalkeeper coach: Judd Lewis

Physio: Matthew McDonald

Website: https:// www.cammelllairdfc1907.com/

Twitter: @cammelllairdfc

Facebook: Cammell Laird 1907 FC

Email: toddywood@hotmail.com

Cover photo credit:

Tommy Potter

Club history

Cammell Laird 1907 FC can trace its history 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

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 one season due to ground grading.

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

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 game against Eccleshall. We hope that the players, staff, officials and supporters from our visitors enjoy their stay with us here.

Since I last wrote for the programme, we picked up a much-needed victory in the league at home to Rocester. We squandered opportunities early in the game, and it looked as though it was going to be one of those days when the visitors took advantage and went into the lead on the hour mark. However, with five minutes remaining, we found the spark and the finishing touch that we needed, and goals from Kieron Frost and Jason Clark ensured we took all three points.

We followed that on the Tuesday with a home match against highflying Sandbach United, and I must say I thought we played really well and were unfortunate to be on the wrong end of a 3-2 scoreline. The players matched in-form opposition and caused problems for the visitors throughout the evening. I thought we made it a tough evening for them, and a draw would have been deserved, but sadly we had nothing to show for our efforts.

There was then disappointment on Saturday as our defence of the Wirral Senior Cup came to an end at the semi-final stage away to Capenhurst Villa. The scores were level at half-time, but it was the home team who pushed on in the second half, striking early through Nathan Lightfoot and doubling their lead just after the hour

mark through Dominic Hoppe to give us too much to do. It was a shame to exit the competition, but congratulations must go to our opponents for their performance, and we wish them the very best of luck for the final.

Back to league matters today, and we face another crucial match against Eccleshall. While several of our recent performances have been encouraging and we have probably deserved more points than we have picked up, results are all important and we are in need of them to steer ourselves clear of any danger and ensure we finish as high up the league as possible.

Our season started all the way back in July away to today’s opponents, when we were beaten 1-0 to a first-half goal. Since then, the Eagles have been a tough nut to crack and are currently sitting in 10th place. They have picked won their last three matches, so should be travelling to the Wirral full of confidence and we will have to be wary of the threat they pose.

Many thanks for your valued support, without which we as a club could not survive and thrive.

I hope you enjoy tonight’s issue and the game.

Up them Cammells.

All the best,

Patrick Burke

Photo credit: David Blackwood (Twitter: @David_JB_1965)

Cammell Laird

1907 2022/23

 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

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 ››››, A. 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

Waring ››, Downey, Harvey, Smith ©, B. Wood • McGregor ‹‹, J. Wood ‹, Koura ‹‹‹, Hughes • 68’ Smith ››, Downey ›, Hamm, Smith ©, Koura • Lancaster, McGregor ‹, Oguigo ‹‹, B. Wood, Clewlow

Wincer (72’) • 7’, 84’

Koura ›, Downey, Galt, Koura ››, Smith ©, J. Kelly • Clewlow ‹, W. Lyons ‹‹, Rodgers ‹‹‹, Hughes • 45+1’, 52’, 67’ Downey, Galt ››››, Hamm, Smith ©, J. Kelly ››› • J. Wood ‹, Rodgers ‹‹, Koura ‹‹‹, W. Lyons ‹‹‹‹, Clewlow • 28’, 90+1’ Downey Waring, Downey, Koura, Smith ©, Frost › • J. Kelly ‹, Galt, W. Lyons ‹‹, Rodgers Frost (38’), Koura (52’), Smith (57p) • 75’, 85’ Downey Waring ›››, Downey ›, Koura ››, Smith ©, Frost • Galt, Rodgers, W. Lyons ‹‹‹, Hamm ‹‹, J. Kelly ‹ Smith (48p), Stephens (81’) • 12’, 79’

Dineley Galt ›, Downey, Hamm ›››, Smith ©, Frost ›› • W. Lyons ‹, Ogiugo ‹‹, Koura ‹‹‹, Clark ‹‹‹‹ Hamm (60’) • 7’, 53’, 73’ Hamm Waring, Downey, Hamm ›, Smith © ›››, Koura ›› • J. Wood, Clark, W. Lyons ‹‹‹, Frost ‹, J. Kelly ‹‹ Koura (67’) • 7’, 77’

Koura Waring, Downey, Koura ›, Smith ©, J. Kelly • Clark ‹‹, Rodgers, W. Lyons, Hamm, Ogiugo ‹ • 14’, 46’

Downey ››, Waring, Hamm © ›, Downey ››››, Ogiugo ››› • B. Hughes, Rodgers ‹‹‹, J. Kelly ‹‹, Koura ‹, Jones ‹‹‹‹ Ogiugo (38’) • 85p ›, Waring, Downey, Koura ››››, Smith ©, Frost ››› • Cain ‹‹, Clark ‹, Nunn ‹‹‹, Fitzsimmons ‹‹‹‹, B. Hughes • 21’, 25’, 38’, 61’, 82’

Orumaa ››, Downey, Hamm ›››, Smith ©, Ogiugo • Lancaster, J. Wood, Nunn ‹‹‹, Frost ‹, Koura ‹‹ Frost (84’), Clark (85’) • 60’

Downey Waring ›, Downey, Hamm, Smith ©, Ogiugo • Lancaster, J. Wood, Koura ‹‹, Frost ‹, McGregor Hamm (45’), Wincer (73’) • 22p, 40’, 67’

Ogiugo Speed, Downey ›, Hamm, Smith ©, Ogiugo • Clark, Frost ‹, Koura ‹‹, McGregor ‹‹‹, Rodgers • 48’, 62’

Club factfile

Year formed: 1971

Nickname: The Eagles

Ground: Pershall Park

Record attendance: 2,011 (vs FC United of Manchester, 5.November 2005)

Chairman: Neil Washington

Secretary: Jim Tunney

First team manager: Liam Kelly

Twitter followers: 5,560 (@EccleshallFC)

2021/22

NWCFL First Division South: 17th/20, 39 points.

Macron Cup: First round

Edward Case Cup: Second round

Staffordshire Senior Cup: Quarter-finals

2020/21: 19th/20, one point. Curtailed after four games

2019/20: 7th/20, 45 points. Curtailed after 29 games

Record vs Lairds

Lairds wins: 8

Draws: 0

Eccleshall wins: 4

Aggregate score: Lairds 33-13 Eccleshall

Eccleshall

Eccleshall visit the KR Couriers and Transport Ltd Stadium in buoyant spirits having won their last three matches in all competitions, which has moved them back into the top half of the table.

Recent seasons

Eccleshall are an established NWCFL First Division South club, having played in the League’s second tier since joining it in 2003/04. They enjoyed a fine season in 2019/20, when they were seventh at the time of its curtailment and on course to at least match their best finish in what was then the First Division in 2011/12. They finished 17th last season, although were 10 points clear of Alsager Town a place below them.

The campaign so far

It has been a very solid season from Eccleshall, with their run of just one defeat from their opening 12 matches in all competitions a sign of things to come. There have been spells of good and bad form since then, epitomised by a run of three defeats on the spin in February which has been followed by three impressive wins against Abbey Hey, Barnton and Cheadle Town.

Ones to watch

Eccleshall have been a tough side to play against this season, and the performances of goalkeeper Aaron Woolrich and midfielder Callum Feeney have helped in that regard, both winning four Man of the Matches. Leading the goalscoring charts is Christopher Boast, who has an impressive 10 from his 16 appearances since joining at the start of December. He scored in the midweek win at Cheadle, adding to a double from Luke Lewis Mitchell Glover is another goal threat with eight to his name, and Lucas Green-Birch scored twice to win this fixture 2-1 for Eccleshall last season.

Last three

Cheadle Town 1-3 Eccleshall

Tuesday 7 March 2023

NWCFL First Division South

Eccleshall 2-1 Barnton

Saturday 4 March 2023

NWCFL First Division South

Eccleshall 4-2 Abbey Hey

Wednesday 1 March 2023

NWCFL First Division South

Eccleshall club history

There has been football in the town of Eccleshall for over 100 years but very little archive material is available from those early years. However, we do know that Eccleshall Football Club was reformed in 1971 with the team being made up of locals and staff from the Eccleshall Secondary School, which also provided training and playing facilities. At that time the club was called Eccleshall Old Boys Football Club.

In 1974, the team won their first trophy - the Mid-Staffs Third Division Cup - and were also runners-up in that division, gaining promotion to Division Two.

Old Boys was dropped from the club’s name and in 1979 the first team joined the Staffordshire County League (North) and a third team was formed.

In 1981, with the help of grants, fund raising and a loan, a fouracre field was purchased at Pershall. Manager Ted Dickinson was the driving force behind the fund raising. In the same year, the first team moved into the Premier Division of the Staffordshire County League (North). Work began converting the field into a football ground. In 1982, a building was purchased from British Telecom and, with a lot of hard work over the next couple of years on the building, car park and pitch, Pershall Park, as it was christened, was ready.

In the 1983/84 season, the first team won the Staffordshire County League Premier Division championship, the Premier Division Cup and the May Bank Cup. During the 1989/-90 season, the first team won the Staffordshire Senior League title and the 1990/91 season saw the club entering the FA Vase for the first time.

In 1991/92, the club reached the FA Vase Second Round having gone through all the preliminary stages, but lost at home to Wisbech Town 2-0 in front of a then record crowd of 368.

The first team fared well in the league in the mid to late 1990s, finishing third (1997/98), sixth (1998/99), second (1999/00) and third (2000/01). Eccleshall Reserves won the Staffordshire County League (North) in 1999/2000, moving to the West Midlands (Regional) League Division One (North) for the start of the following season. In the 2001/02 season, the first team won the Springbank Vending Midland League Championship.

In 2002/03 Eccleshall’s first team joined the North West Counties Football League after securing both the Springbank Vending Midland League title and Staffordshire FA Vase. In proba-

bly the most successful season in the club’s history, the second team were also Staffordshire County League champions and the under 18s won the Sentinel Cup. For good measure, the under 16s won the Staffordshire FA County Cup, the MidStaffordshire League Cup and the Sentinel Shield. Regarding the Sentinel competitions, the last time a club had won both trophies in the same season had been some 25 years previously – a great achievement.

The 2012/13 season marked the completion of 10 years in the North West Counties League and saw the club achieve its highest ever placing of sixth in Division One.

In the 2017/18 season the under 17s had a very successful campaign, winning the Potteries Junior Youth League Cup, Staffordshire FA Youth Cup and finishing runners-up in the league.

Over the years since 1981/82, significant work has been undertaken to develop both the ground and the facilities to the standard which the club now enjoys. This includes enclosing the ground, the installation of floodlights, building a covered seated stand and pitch levelling. In 2017/18, the clubhouse was refurbished and upgraded with the addition of a treatment room and a security system. Prior to the 2018/19 season, a new kitchen and refreshments bar was added. In 2019, a new toilet block was installed and, in readiness for the 2021/22 season, the team dugouts have been replaced and more spectator improvements made. Further developments are planned for the future. All of this has been achieved by a strong committee management team behind the scenes, a number of which have given many years of service to Eccleshall FC together with the addition of new members who are helping to take the club forward.

The club has now added a number of junior teams as they look to develop a junior section. The second pitch has been upgraded and improved to accommodate this.

2021 saw Eccleshall Football Club celebrate its 50th anniversary and, as can be seen from the above, much has been achieved over that time. They look forward to seeing what the future brings.

Eccleshall FC are considered to be a friendly club and look forward to welcoming visitors to Pershall Park in the future and hope they will enjoy the facilities and the football.

Match report

Report by Tommy Potter

Despite having the better of the first half, Cammell Laird 1907 relinquished their hold on the Wirral District FA Senior Cup when being outmuscled by a physical Capenhurst Villa. Early exchanges were fairly even, but a goal bound effort from Dan Stephens was deflected clear by a teammate and then Ryan Smith had a 30 yarder tipped over by Will Ebbrell and the score line remained goalless at the break. A poor start to the second half saw Villa take the lead within three minutes of the restart

from a debatable offside position as Nathan Lightfoot fired home.

With emotions running high Lairds conceded a second goal as Dominic Hoppe scored following a corner only minutes later.

The remainder of the game saw very few chances for either team and holders Lairds were eliminated in this semi-final tussle.

NWCFL 2022/23

Next up

Lairds face a lengthy midweek away trip to Staffordshire on Tuesday to play high-flying Brocton.

The home side have had an excellent second season in the NWCFL First Division South, and are comfortably positioned in third place. The Badgers have won 14 of their 16 home matches in the league, most recently 1-0 against Stockport Georgians on Sunday. They have the division’s top scorer in Regan Smith, who has 25 goals to his name.

Lairds lost 3-2 in this fixture way back in August last season. They took a 2-0 lead and looked set to win the home match against Brocton this term, but a late equaliser made it 2-2.

Distance to Silkmore Lane Sports Ground: 77.5 miles

Directions: Leave the M6 at junction 13, travelling towards Stafford. Once into Stafford turn right at the Tesco garage onto Rickerscote Lane, over the railway bridge, and left at the roundabout onto Silkmore Lane. Follow Silkmore Lane until next roundabout, all the way around the roundabout back onto Silkmore Lane, then immediately left into Silkmore Lane Sports Ground.

Nearest train station: Stafford

Distance travelled so far 2022/23: 1,870.3 miles

The squads

Elsewhere in the NWCFL First Division South Today: Abbey Hey vs Ashville; Barnton vs Maine Road; Cheadle Town vs Alsager Town; New Mills vs Ellesmere Rangers; Rocester vs Foley Meir; Sandbach United vs Brocton; Stafford Town vs Cheadle Heath Nomads; Stockport Georgians vs Abbey Hulton United; Stockport Town vs Wythenshawe Amateurs

CAMMELL LAIRD 1907

Manager: Stuart Keir

Assistant: Jordan Scott

Colours: Royal Blue

Players No. Gls Notes

James Dineley (GK)

David Potter (GK)

Sten-Marek Orumaa (GK)

Dominic Cain

Jason Clark

Charlie Clewlow

Joseph Downey

Charlie Fitzsimmons

Kieron Frost

Ethan Galt

Kieran Hamm

Benjamin Hughes

Michael Jones

Kalif Koura

William Lyons

Cameron McGregor

Dean Nunn

Joel Ogiugo

Lee Rodgers

Ryan Smith ©

Daniel Stephens

Ross Waring

Richard Wincer

Jack Wood

ECCLESHALL

Manager: Liam Kelly

Assistant: Nathan WIlkes

Colours: Yellow

Players No. Gls Notes

Alexander Atton (GK)

Aaron Woolrich (GK)

Jordan Benton

Christopher Boast

Travis Capey

Jordan Darlington

Louis Downs

Lewis Dunn

Jordan Flattley ©

Mitchell Glover

Mark Groom

Oliver Hickman

Luke Lewis

Ryan Malbon

Ryan Pickup

Ethan Stanton

George Woodroffe