Cammell Laird 1907 vs Sandbach United - Sat 21/01/23 - Matchday programme 2022/23 #18

Club history

Cammell

1907 FC can

its

back

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

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

Laird

trace

history

to

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

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

Firstly, a very Happy New Year to everyone! This is our first home match of 2023. I hope you all had a relaxing festive period, and are ready for another 12 months on the Lairds rollercoaster!

It has been a frustrating few weeks on the pitch as we have had a run of matches stretched out over a couple of months in which we have played quite well but ended up on the wrong end of a narrow scoreline.

That began away to today’s opponents Sandbach United at the start of December, when we fought back brilliantly with nine men from 2-0 down to level the scores at 2-2, only to concede a winner deep into stoppage time.

We then performed well in the first half against Ashville and looked the side most likely to go on and win, particularly when our opponents had a man sent off just before half-time, but it was the visitors who came away as winners from the derby with a second-half goal.

Last weekend, we went to promotion-chasing Wythenshawe Amateurs, and despite falling a goal behind early on, performed well and levelled through debutant Richard Wincer’s superb chipped finish. It looked as though that was going to be enough for what would have been an excellent point, only for us to concede late on to lose 2-1.

On Tuesday, we went to Northern Premier League Premier Division outfit Stalybridge Celtic in the Cheshire Senior Cup, where a great first-half performance came with a sucker-punch as our opponents ranked three

tiers above us struck in added time. A controversial second was added after the restart, and a well-saved penalty from Kalif Koura showed it wasn’t going to be our night, with Stalybridge netting a third to seal the win.

Let’s hope that run of results can come to an end this afternoon, and we can get that bit of good fortune that we’ve perhaps lacked of late. The performances have shown there is certainly a hunger and desire in the squad to get back to winning ways, so it would be great to turn that into results.

It will be a tough game against a Sandbach side having a great season in fourth place and coming into this one with six wins from their last seven games, but one that promises plenty of drama and entertainment. We are back here on Tuesday night against Barnton, and it would be great to see another big crowd.

The support for the derby on Boxing Day was fantastic to see, and hopefully people enjoyed their visit and will keep coming back to the KR Couriers and Transport Ltd Stadium for more affordable football.

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

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)

NWCFL First Division South

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

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 ››››, 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’

Sandbach United

Club factfile

Year formed: 2004

Nickname: The Ramblers

Ground: Sandbach Community Football Centre

Chairman: Peter Colclough

Secretary: Mike Senior

First team manager: Declan Swan

Twitter followers: 3,446 (@SandbachFC_1st)

2021/22

NWCFL First Division South: 8th/20, 60 points.

FA Vase: Third round

Macron Cup: Second round

Edward Case Cup: Third round

Cheshire Senior Cup: First round

2020/21: 3rd/20, 16 points. Curtailed after eight games

2019/20: 16th/20, 30 points. Curtailed after 26 games

Record vs Lairds

Lairds wins: 1

Draws: 3

Sandbach United wins: 6

Aggregate score: Lairds 12-19 Sandbach United

Recent seasons

Sandbach have been pushing to climb into the Premier Division in almost every season since they joined the NWCFL in 2016/17, and won the First Division Cup back-to-back in 2018/19 and 2019/20. Two play-off appearances in what was then the First Division in 2016/17 and 2017/18 have been not been matched since though, with an early push for the top five last season not sustained and the Ramblers eventually finishing in eighth, 22 points adrift of Wythenshawe Amateurs in fifth.

The campaign so far

This season has so far proven the opposite to last. After a mixed start, Declan Swan’s team have made up plenty of ground to lift themselves up to fourth place going into today’s fixture. They have clicked into gear in recent months, and come into this one having won six of their last seven and three on the trot. A 2-1 home victory against high flyers Wythenshawe Amateurs in December is among their notable successes this season. Sandbach are the division’s second-highest scorers with 54 goals.

Ones to watch

The Sandbach squad is looking one of the strongest in the division at the moment and the return of Brian Barton gives them a dangerous weapon. He has scored four times in just five substitute appearances. Harry Cain is their leading goalscorer with eight to his name, and Joshua Klein-Davies’ performances have impressed with seven goals and three Man of the Matches.

Sandbach United travel to the KR Couriers and Transport Ltd Stadium looking to continue their strong recent form and record against Lairds.

Sandbach United club history

The club was formed in 2004 following the merger of Sandbach Albion and Sandbach Ramblers. They initially competed in the Staffordshire County League, but in 2011 they joined the Cheshire League. They were promoted to the competition's top flight in 2014, and in 2016 they were admitted to the North West Counties Football League Division One, at level 10 of the English football league system.

In the first season in the North West Counties Football League they finished in sixth position, missing out on promotion, and they reached the final of the Reusch First Division Challenge Cup.

In 2017/18 they entered the FA Vase for the first time, but were beaten 2–0 at home by AFC Emley. They also beat Tranmere Rovers 2–1 in the Cheshire Senior Cup preliminary round.

The 2018/19 season provided the club with its first trophy since joining the North West Counties Football League as they defeated Avro FC 4–2 to lift the First Division Challenge Cup. The club also made their debut in the FA Cup, joining the competition in the extra preliminary round, but got knocked out by Parkgate.

The 2019/20 season was very different indeed. Sandbach United were unable to replicate the high league position for most of the season and struggled with many player changes which disrupted the team. However, they did continue to impress in the challenge cup, and as holders it gave the team hope of some success.

The season was curtailed and declared null and void due to COVID-19.

This ironically was to be a blessing as it gave the team chance to regroup, and when the league decided to play out the remaining rounds of the cup in September 2020, Sandbach took the chance and went on to retain the cup in an exciting game against AFC Liverpool.

The game finished 2–2, with Sandbach coming from behind twice, the cup ultimately decided on penalties with Sandbach the victors with a 4–3 shootout score.

A further piece of luck saw Sandbach get another shot at promotion after the null and void season meant it was four to be

promoted again in the 2020/21 season.

The 2020/21 season started well with Sandbach maintaining a play off position until once again the campaign was brought to an end through the pandemic.

Sandbach, confident of promotion, sat in the top four, but the FA decided that promotion would be based on average pointsper-game over the last two seasons. This resulted in Sandbach dropping out of the top four sides, being replaced by Stone Old Alleynians who found themselves promoted and laterally moved.

Ironically, missing out on promotion probably saved Sandbach from a lateral move to the Midland League.

The 2021/22 season started well, with Sandbach holding the top spot by the end of the August. However through September the team slid down the league with a number of draws, falling to seventh place by December.

A positive for the season was an extended FA Vase run which saw Sandbach reach the third round proper for the first time in the club’s history, beating one of the favourites along the way in Hanley Town until finally succumbing to Loughborough University.

In January 2022, it was announced by the club that first team manager Andy Hockenhull would step down from his role after nine years in charge. The club swiftly appointed Declan Swan as caretaker manager whilst searching for a permanent manager for the 2022–23 season. Swan made an instant impact with a euphoric 5–3 victory away in the league to FC Isle of Man, Sandbach being the only team that secured a victory at the Bowl in the league.

After a rigorous interview process with a large number of applicants, Swan was appointed as the full-time manager for the 2022/23 season. The team spirit lifted and results improved towards the latter end of the season as Sandbach maintained their eighth place in the league.

Sandbach were disappointed to be knocked out of the Edward Case cCp despite having won it two years in a row to FC Isle of Man 1-2 in a closely fought game, their opponents going on to lift the trophy for the first time.

The 2022/23 season started with the club having once again made ground improvements with the installation of the Andrew Kimber Stand as preparations continue to get the ground to a step five grading.

Match reports

Following Lairds’ Boxing Day 1-0 defeat at home to local rivals Ashville FC to end the year, they hoped for better fortune in the New Year in their North West Counties First Division South fixture away at promotion hopefuls Wythenshawe Amateurs on Saturday.

A much-changed team with a number of debutants started badly and conceded a goal in the seventh minute as Saul Henderson found the net, but they fought back to ensure no further goals were conceded before the interval whilst making the game a level contest.

An improved second period saw Lairds take the game to the home team and on 72 minutes new boy Richard Wincer netted a fine equaliser that looked to have earned them a point, but the home team surged forward to regain the lead, with Edward Brown firing home an 85th winner to secure the points and keep them second in the division.

Lairds were left to rue some missed opportunities.

The Cammells’ hopes of success in this season’s Cheshire Senior Cup came to an end on Tuesday away to Northern Premier League Premier Division side Stalybridge Celtic.

Despite a strong first-half performance in which they limited opponents sitting three divisions above them to few chances, Lairds went into the break a goal behind as Domain Rouse struck in stoppage time.

Godwin Akadaki doubled Celtic’s lead on 52 minutes, although the goal had a suspicion of offside. Lairds were given the opportunity to get back into the game from the penalty spot, but home goalkeeper Greg Hall made a great save from Kalif Koura. Stalybridge made sure of their victory on 67 minutes as Harry Benns found the net to make it 3-0.

Next up

Lairds are back in action at home on Tuesday, with Barnton set to make the visit to the KR Couriers and Transport Ltd Stadium.

The Villagers’ season started superbly, a fine run of form including a 2-1 victory over Lairds at Townfield helping them to sit in the play-off places in the early months. However, a loss of form prompted a change of manager, with Danny Moss taking over from Liam Page in December. They are currently 14th in the NWCFL First Division South and looking to halt a run of five straight defeats in all competitions.

Barnton’s last visit here was a Macron Cup quarter-final in April, Cameron McGregor netting the only goal of the game for Lairds late on.

The squads

Elsewhere in the NWCFL First Division South

Today: Cheadle Town vs Brocton; Ellesmere Rangers vs Rocester; Foley Meir vs Stockport Town; Maine Road vs Cheadle Heath Nomads; Stafford Town vs Wythenshawe Amateurs; Stockport Georgians vs Ashville

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)

David Potter (GK)

Conor Robson (GK)

Dominic Cain

Charlie Clewlow

Jake Doran

Joseph Downey

Kieron Frost

Ethan Galt

Kieran Hamm

Jay Harvey

Benjamin Hughes

Jake Hulley ©

Michael Jones

Jack Kelly

Ben Kerr

Kalif Koura

Gabriel Kubwalo

Louie Lancaster

William Lyons

Cameron McGregor

Joel Ogiugo

Lee Rodgers

Ryan Smith

Daniel Stephens

Ross Waring

Richard Wincer

Ben Wood

Jack Wood

SANDBACH UNITED

Manager: Declan Swan

Colours: Maroon and sky blue

Players No. Gls Notes

Eric Merner (GK)

Kieran Alley

Brian Barton

Harry Burgess

Harry Cain

Callum Chapman

Niall Cope

Robbie Hatton

Oliver Jones

Joshua Klein-Davies

Kieran O’Connell

Joshua Oultram

Alexander Radcliffe

Rory Roberts

Jordan Stafford

Stanley Tatters

George West

Next up at the KR Couriers and Transport Ltd Stadium:

Lairds vs Barnton Tuesday 24 January 2023 // 7:45pm