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What’s In The Wider View Harrogate Railway AFC Station View, Harrogate HG2 7JA

CONTENTS

CLUB OFFICIALS Chairman

NIGEL CORNER Treasurer

CHRIS PARKES

The Editor’s Wider View 5 Harrogate Railway Clubhouse 11 2014/15 League Table 12 2014/15 Results 13 Clitheroe Match Report 14 Burscough’s History 18

Club Secretary

ANN KIRK

Football Secretary

DAVID SHEPHERD Committee

GARY JOHNSON SIMON MERCER ALAN SMITH BEN DRURY CHRIS WATT Media/Press Officer

MARK P DOHERTY HAL BOXHALL-DOCKREE Clubhouse Manager

TERI BUSSEY GARY JOHNSON

FIRST TEAM Manager

LEE ASHFORTH Assistant Manager

SIMON WOOD MARTIN POWELL Director of Football

STEVE GRIME Physio

ALEX FARRELL

@THERAILFC

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HARROGATERAILWAY

THERAILFC

The Editor’s Wider View

Of Record Books, Performances and History

We are counting down the weeks to the end of the season and most teams have around nine or ten games left to play.

As I write this, Warrington look well placed to win the league and rightfully earn the automatic promotion place.

Spennymoor, Glossop, Northwich and Clitheroe sit in the play-off places. Lancaster, Ossett Albion, Farsley and Mossley are just behind those four, looking to continue on their good form and take one of those places.

At the bottom of the league, New Mills could have their relegation mathematically confirmed in the next two to three games and it looks like either Harrogate Railway or Ossett Town will occupy the second bottom place.

It is unfortunately, the bottom of the league that we are concerned with. A season of rebuilding has

meant that we have not had the consistent form required to pull us clear of the relegation zone.

However, with nine games to go our fate is still in our hands. With a home game against New Mills still to come and two massive games against Ossett Town.

Win those games and pick up a couple of results in the other matches and that could mean we survive in the Evo-Stik league.

Looking at the results on paper over the course of the season would show that we’ve had a lot of defeats, however, that would only be part of the story.

Yes we’ve been on the wrong end of a few big scores, however, we have also come away from some games with no points when we deserved a lot more.

The performances the players have put in during some of the games

against the top sides have been brilliant.

Recently we travelled to Northwich Victoria and earned a fantastic draw and fought for a brilliant point against Witton Albion at Station View.

Indeed, we can consider ourselves unlucky in other matches throughout the season - such as the home tie against Northwich Victoria when we conceded a goal in the 94th minute. A game we actually deserved to win, not lose.

Football can be cruel. Results record one thing for history, but the performance on the day can tell a different story.

With nine games to go, let’s hope that the record books show some wins and the performances mean that we deserved them.

We believe they will.

5

2015/16 EVO-STIK LEAGUE ONE NORTH FIXTURES

2015

2016

August

Sat 15 Tue 18 Sat 22 Mon 24 Sat 29

1-1 1-1 3-1 0-6 0-0

D D L L D

Droylsden Spennymoor Town Brighouse Town Scarborough Athletic Spennymoor Town

H A A H H

2-0 4-1 2-0 6-0 3-2 2-1 2-4

L W W L L L L

Spennymoor Town Radcliffe Borough Mossley Trafford

Burscough Ossett Albion Glossop North End

A H H A A A H

EMIRATES FA CUP REPLAY

1-0 4-1 6-3 0-1 2-2 1-1 3-0

L W L L D D L

Mossley Glasshoughton Welfare Warrington Town Northwich Victoria Scarborough Athletic Brighouse Town Clitheroe

A H A H A H A

FA TROPHY PRELIM WRCC EMIRATES FA CUP 3Q

2-3 W 2-3 L 1-3 L Postponed Abandoned

Droylsden Stocksbridge Park Steels Kendal Town New Mills Ossett Town

A H H A H

EMIRATES FA CUP 1 INTEGRO LEAGUE CUP 1

Postponed Postponed 1-3 L Postponed Postponed

Kendal Town Trafford Ossett Albion Farsley Celtic Clitheroe

A H H A H

5-0 L 1-0 L 3-1 L 0-0 D Postponed

Witton Albion Lancaster City Farsley Celtic Radcliffe Borough Burscough

A A A A H

Tue 2 Sat 6 Sat 13 Mon 15 Sat 20 Tue 23 Sat 27 Mon 29

5-0 L Postponed 5-1 L 0-4 L 1-2 L 0-3 W 1-1 D 0-7 L

Bamber Bridge Warrington Town Glossop North End Spennymoor Town Bamber Bridge New Mills Northwich Victoria Warrington Town

A H A H H A A H

Sat 5 Mon 7 Sat 12 Sat 19 Mon 21 Sat 26 Mon 28

4-2 2-2 1-3 1-3

Prescot Cables Witton Albion Lancaster City Clitheroe Burscough Mossley Farsley Celtic

A H H H H A H

Ossett Town Prescot Cables New Mills Trafford Ossett Town Kendal Town

A H H H H H

September

Tue 1 Sat 5 Mon 7 Sat 12 Sat 19 Sat 26 Mon 28

October

Sat 3 Mon 5 Sat 10 Sat 17 Tue 20 Sat 24 Sat 31

November

Sat 7 Mon 9 Sat 14 Sat 21 Sat 28

December

Sat 5 Sat 12 Sat 19 Sat 26 Mon 28

January

Sat 2 Sat 9 Tue 19 Sat 23 Sat 30

February

March

April

May

Sat 2 Mon 4 Sat 9 Sat 16 Mon 18 Sat 23 Sat 21 Sun 22

L D L L

EMIRATES FA CUP PRELIM

EMIRATES FA CUP 4Q

Twitter watch: Great halftime entertainment penalty shootout with the mini @ therailfc boys

EMIRATES FA CUP FINAL FA TROPHY FINAL

Nikki Lovegreen @xJustNikkix

HD

HL

AW

AD

AL

W

D

L

F

A

Diff

Pts

Adj

15

2

1

13

2

2

28

4

3

101

28

73

88

0

Spennymoor Town

33

12

4

2

9

5

1

21

9

3

88

25

63

72

0

Glossop North End

33

13

3

2

6

5

4

19

8

6

62

29

33

65

0

Northwich Victoria

32

12

2

2

11

2

3

23

4

5

82

31

51

64

-9

Clitheroe

32

10

0

5

9

2

6

19

2

11

77

63

14

59

0

Burscough

33

10

1

6

8

2

6

18

3

12

55

41

14

57

0

Lancaster City

35

9

5

4

5

8

4

14

13

8

63

50

13

55

0

Ossett Albion

35

9

2

6

8

1

9

17

3

15

47

51

-4

54

0

Farsley Celtic

34

10

2

6

5

5

6

15

7

12

68

37

31

52

0

Mossley

33

9

2

4

6

3

9

15

5

13

62

53

9

50

0

Trafford

34

9

4

5

5

3

8

14

7

13

60

44

16

49

0

Brighouse Town

34

9

3

5

5

4

8

14

7

13

62

58

4

49

0

Bamber Bridge

31

6

7

3

6

3

6

12

10

9

57

42

15

46

0

Witton Albion

34

6

3

7

7

3

8

13

6

15

64

58

6

45

0

Prescot Cables

33

7

3

7

5

3

8

12

6

15

59

75

-16

42

0

Kendal Town

33

5

4

7

5

4

8

10

8

15

50

69

-19

38

0

Scarborough Athletic

34

5

3

10

4

3

9

9

6

19

33

51

-18

33

0

Droylsden

33

6

2

8

3

3

11

9

5

19

56

112

-56

32

0

Radcliffe Borough

33

3

5

6

5

0

14

8

5

20

38

59

-21

29

0

Ossett Town

31

2

6

9

3

0

11

5

6

20

32

81

-49

21

0

Harrogate Railway Athletic

33

2

3

10

2

4

12

4

7

22

38

93

-55

19

0

New Mills

32

0

0

15

0

1

16

0

1

31

20

124

-104

1

0

THIS WEEK...

Tuesday 22 March 2016

19:45 Bamber Bridge v Northwich Victoria 19:45 Clitheroe v Glossop North End 19:45 New Mills v Ossett Town 19:45 Prescot Cables v Spennymoor Town 19:45 Radcliffe Borough v Trafford 19:45 Witton Albion v Farsley Celtic

EVO-STIK LEAGUE ONE NORTH

Lee’s Ashforth’s Clitheroe Post Match Reaction

HW

35

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Nine games to go in the Evo-Stik League One season

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Harrogate Railway Clubhouse

2014/15 First Division North League Table

Home

12

Away

All

Goals

#

Team

Pd

W

D

L

W

D

L

W

D

L

F

A

Diff

Pts

Adj

1.

Salford City

42

17

2

2

13

3

5

30

5

7

92

42

50

95

0

2.

Darlington 1883

42

16

3

2

12

4

5

28

7

7

99

37

62

91

0

3.

Bamber Bridge

42

14

3

4

11

5

5

25

8

9

88

58

30

83

0

4.

Northwich Victoria

42

12

5

4

13

2

6

25

7

10

75

39

36

82

0

5.

Spennymoor Town

42

13

5

3

9

6

6

22

11

9

76

45

31

77

0

6.

Scarborough Athletic

42

14

1

6

9

5

7

23

6

13

80

61

19

75

0

7.

Mossley

42

12

2

7

11

4

6

23

6

13

79

63

16

75

0

8.

Harrogate Railway Athletic

42

11

5

5

8

5

8

19

10

13

85

75

10

67

0

9.

Warrington Town

42

10

5

6

9

3

9

19

8

15

65

55

10

65

0

10.

Droylsden

42

13

2

6

7

1

13

20

3

19

98

84

14

63

0

11.

Lancaster City

42

10

3

8

8

5

8

18

8

16

65

53

12

62

0

12.

Farsley AFC

42

12

5

4

6

2

13

18

7

17

73

64

9

61

0

13.

Clitheroe

42

8

7

6

6

3

12

14

10

18

73

81

-8

52

0

14.

Brighouse Town

42

9

3

9

5

6

10

14

9

19

64

81

-17

51

0

15.

Burscough

42

6

5

10

6

7

8

12

12

18

62

73

-11

48

0

16.

Kendal Town

42

8

5

8

4

5

12

12

10

20

81

92

-11

46

0

17.

Ossett Albion

42

8

3

10

5

4

12

13

7

22

49

72

-23

43

-3

18.

Ossett Town

42

9

2

10

3

4

14

12

6

24

48

83

-35

42

0

19.

Radcliffe Borough

42

6

7

8

2

4

15

8

11

23

49

91

-42

35

0

20.

Prescot Cables

42

5

9

7

2

3

16

7

12

23

47

86

-39

33

0

21.

New Mills

42

3

3

15

3

4

14

6

7

29

56

107

-51

25

0

22.

Padiham

42

4

3

14

2

3

16

6

6

30

50

112

-62

24

0

2014/15 Results Date

Opponents

H/A

L/W/D

Score

Kick Off

Competition

21-Aug

Scarborough

A

L

3-2

19:45

League

16-Aug 23-Aug 30-Aug 30-Aug 06-Sep 08-Sep 13-Sep 20-Sep 22-Sep 27-Sep 01-Oct 04-Oct 07-Oct 11-Oct

14-Oct 18-Oct 25-Oct 28-Oct

01-Nov 03-Nov 08-Nov 15-Nov 22-Nov 24-Nov 29-Nov 01-Dec 06-Dec 13-Dec 20-Dec 26-Dec 28-Dec 01-Jan 03-Jan 10-Jan 24-Jan 19-Jan

07-Feb 10-Feb 14-Feb 23-Feb 28-Feb

07-Mar 14-Mar 21-Mar 04-Apr 06-Apr 11-Apr

14-Apr 18-Apr 25-Apr

Mossley

Droylsden

Farsley AFC

Garforth Town Burscough Clitheroe Clitheroe

Prescot Cables Brighouse

Colwyn Bay

Darlington 1883

Warrington Town Ossett Albion Kendal Town

Bamber Bridge

Spennymoor Town Droylsden Clitheroe

Brighouse

Scarborough

Radcliffe Boro Salford City

Ossett Town Goole

Northwich Victoria Frickley Athletic Lancaster City New Mills Brighouse

Spennymoor Town Salford City

Farsley AFC

Ossett Albion

Warrington Town Bamber Bridge

Spennymoor Town Padiham

Ramsbotom Utd Darlington 1883 Prescot Cables New Mills

Ossett Town Padiham

Kendal Town Burscough

Spennymoor Town Radcliffe Boro Mossley

Northwich Victoria Lancaster City

H A H A A H H A H A A H A A H H H A H H A A H H H H A H A H H A H A A H A A H H A A H H H A H A A H

D L L

W W W W D L L L L

W L

D L

W L

D

W L

W W W W W W W W D

W L

W D

W W D L L L

W L

W D

W W L

D D

W

5-5 6-1 2-4 1-2 1-3 1-0 3-1 2-2 1-2 3-2 7-1 1-2 2-3 4-3 1-1 2-3 4-3 2-1 1-1 3-0 4-3 1-4 4-0 2-1 2-1 7-1 0-1 3-0 1-4 1-1 1-0 4-2 2-1 0-0 1-2 5-1 1-1 3-1 1-5 1-2 1-2 3-1 2-0 0-0 4-0 1-3 0-1 2-2 2-2 3-0

15:00 15:00 15:00 15:00 15:00 19:45 15:00 15:00 19:45 15:00 19:45 15:00 19:45 15:00 19:45 15:00 15:00 19:45 15:00 19:45 15:00 15:00 15:00 19:45 15:00 19:45 15:00 15:00 15:00 15:00 15:00 15:00 15:00 15:00 15:00 19:45 15:00 19:45 15:00 19:45 15:00 15:00 15:00 15:00 15:00 15:00 15:00 15:00 15:00 15:00

League League League

FA Cup League League

FA Cup League

WRCFA Cup FA Cup League League Leagur

League League

FA Trophy League League League League League League League

Doodson Cup League

Doodson Cup League League League League League League League League League

Doodson Cup League

Doodson Cup QF League League League League League League League League League League League League

13

Clitheroe Match Report

Louis Mayers’ hat-trick prevented Harrogate Railway moving out of the drop zone on Saturday afternoon as they were beaten 3-1 by fifth placed Clitheroe.

Mayers produced a contender for goal of the season after 11 minutes, sending a left footed volley swirling into the far corner, though Amar Purewal pulled Railway level from the spot in first half stoppage time.

Clitheroe’s number ten restored The Blues’ lead three minutes after the re-start, scrambling in a low cross before completing his hat-trick after the hour mark when Brandon Barski was brought down inside the area.

14

Simon Garner’s side were forced to play the final ten minutes a man down after goalkeeper Ben Woodhead sustained an injury, but the

visitors saw out the rest of the game with full back James Walker between the sticks.

pass to run across his body before arrowing a volley into the opposite corner.

Lee Ashforth made three changes from last weekend’s defeat to Lancaster City, replacing Dan Barrett, Daniel Devine and the suspended Harry Coates with Chris Ovington, Will Peers and Luca Mellor.

Sefton Gonzales almost doubled Clitheroe’s lead just three minutes later, looping a header goalwards only for Peers to head off the line.

It was the former Ossett Town man Ovington who had the first shot of the afternoon, shooting over after running half the length of the pitch and cutting in on his right foot.

Mayers then sparked the contest into life as he allowed a cross field

Purewal then showed a glimpse of why his move to Railway caught the eye of so many as he outmuscled a defender on his way towards goal before shooting into the arms of Woodhead.

Just after the half hour mark, Chandler Hallwood showed fine reflexes to deny Barski after the wide man had produced some

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Harrogate Railway 1-3 Clitheroe nice footwork to get his shot away, but it was Railway who went into the break with their tails up.

With seconds remaining until the whistle, Clitheroe player-manager Garner conceded a spot kick as he tripped Nathan Curtis, moments after the striker had deceived defenders with a neat turn inside the area.

Purewal stepped up and sent Woodhead the wrong way for his third Harrogate goal to give Railway a lift just before the interval.

The lead was short lived however, as three minutes after play resumed, a low cross from the left was not dealt with, allowing Mayers to scramble in his second, despite the best efforts of Alex Low on the line.

The visitors were then given the chance to extend their lead on the hour mark when Mellor was fractionally too late and body checked Barski a few feet inside the area.

With the confidence of his earlier brace, Mayers never looked in doubt from the spot and expertly

found the bottom right corner.

Curtis almost found an instant response to going two goals behind on his 10th start for the club as he directed a low right footed drive towards the near post that Woodhead did well to tip around the post.

It was Clitheroe who continued to look the more dangerous though, as Low cleared Barski’s teasing cross and Peers made a crucial block from Scott Harries.

in ‘keeper in the closing stages, and now look ahead to Monday’s meeting with Clitheroe’s play-off rivals Burscough.

Harrogate Railway: Hallwood, Lovegreen, Hunter (Bromley 66), Low, Mellor, Thirkell, Youhill (Mason 25), Peers, Purewal (Barrett 78), Ovington, Curtis Subs not used: Clamp, Devine, Barrett Goals: Purewal 45+1

With ten minutes to go, Woodhead suffered what looked like a serious injury when clattered into by his own defender and had to be replaced in goal by Walker, as Garner had no more substitutes available.

Booked: Low, Curtis

Despite the man advantage, it was Clitheroe who came closest to adding to the score-sheet when substitute Michael Hampson found himself one on one with Hallwood but slid his finish inches wide.

Goals: Mayers 11, 48, 62

Railway couldn’t test the stand

Clitheroe: Woodhead, Haywood, Walker, Benjamin, C Lynch (Brady 71), Garner (Willoughby 69), Harries, D Lynch, Gonzales, Mayers, Barski (Hampson 75)

Booked: Garner Referee: N Hawksby

17

Burscough’s History

The first Burscough Association Football Club was formed in 1880, playing in Liverpool & District League football before folding in 1900.

In 1905 Burscough Rangers were founded and moved to the present Mart Lane ground in 1908. They established many of the traditions carried on by the current club, playing in green and known as the Linnets.

18

In the 1920s they had tremendous success winning the Liverpool County Combination Championship three times. In 1926 Rangers purchased a grandstand from Everton and erected it on Victoria Park.

The following year they joined the Lancashire Combination but never experienced the same level of success and began to run into financial difficulties, finally folding in 1935.

Following the Second World War the present Burscough club was founded in 1946, starting life in the Liverpool County Combination and by the end of the decade had made a major impact in the non-league soccer world.

In only their second season, 1946/47, they achieved a unique treble, winning the Lancashire Junior Cup, George Mahon Cup and the Liverpool Challenge Cup. Two years later they again claimed

the Junior Cup and also won the County Combination title for the first time. In 1952 they won the Liverpool Challenge Cup for a second time.

In 1953/54 Burscough joined the Lancashire Combination winning the Second Division Championship in their first season and scoring 155 goals in the process.

1955/56 saw arguably the club’s greatest ever achievement as they won the First Division Championship of a league containing giants of the non-league world such as Wigan Athletic.

Another milestone was reached in 1959 when they reached the First Round Proper of the F.A. Cup for the first time before going down

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More action from the Clitheroe game

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3-1 to Crewe Alexandra in front of a 4,200 gate at Victoria Park.

Another trophy winning spell commenced in 1966/67 season under manager Bobby Langton, the former England winger, as the club completed a hat trick of Junior Cup successes against South Liverpool at Wigan. The Lancashire Combination First Division title was regained in 1969/70 season.

In 1970/71 Burscough joined the Cheshire County League, finishing runners-up to Rossendale United.

The following season they won the Liverpool Non-League Senior Cup and in 1974/75 the Cheshire League Cup was lifted.

The Linnets also reached the F.A. Cup First Round Proper on three other occasions. In 1977, a 1 -0 defeat at Blyth Spartans, in 1979, a 3-0 defeat at Sheffield United in front of 14,000 spectators and in 1980, a 2-1 defeat against Altrincham.

In 1982 the Club became founder members of the North West Counties Football League and had the distinction of becoming the Leagues first ever Champions

under Bryan Griffiths.

A new grandstand seating 250 was built in 1986 to replace the old wooden stand which had stood for 60 years and no longer met ground safety regulations.

In 1989/90 season Burscough were to suffer their first ever relegation, however, the appointment of Russ Perkins as manager in 1991 was to bring about a change in the club’s fortunes as Burscough reached the League Cup Final and gained promotion back to Division One. In 1992/93 Burscough lost 2-1 to Conference bound Southport in the Liverpool Senior Cup Final at Goodison Park before 2,000 spectators. Success was achieved by winning the League Challenge Cup with a 2-1 victory over Nantwich Town.

1993/94 was one of the most eventful seasons in Burscough’s history as three players, Gary Martindale, Kevin Formby and Alex Russell, joined Football League clubs for substantial fees.

Further covered standing accommodation for 500 spectators was erected at Victoria Park during the close season.

In May 1995, Burscough appointed John Davison as Manager. In his first season Burscough went on to win the League Challenge Cup for the second time, beating League Champions Flixton 1-0 at Bury.

In 1996/97 season the club celebrated its Golden Jubilee with a dinner attended by nearly 200 former players and officials and also published a 320 page club history, ‘Green Village Heroes.’

Frank Parr completed 50 years with the Club and was presented with The Football Association 50 Year Long Service Award.

The following season after finishing runners-up in the North West Counties League the club made history by being promoted to the Unibond League. They also won the League Floodlit Trophy and reached the final of the Liverpool Senior Cup against Liverpool.

Promotion to the dizzy heights of the Unibond League Premier Division in 1999/2000 season exceeded most supporters wildest dreams as Burscough went through the season unbeaten away from home and lost only two

23

Dan Thirkell blocks an attempted clearance during the Clitheroe game

games in total.

In 2000/01 season the Linnets won the Liverpool Senior Cup for the first ever time after beating Conference side Southport.

The club has a youth development programme second to none in the non-league game and one graduate, 19 year old Lee McEvilly, signed for Rochdale in December 2001 for a club record £20,000 fee.

Within 116 days of signing McEvilly had won full international honours for Northern Ireland against Spain.

Following the resignation of John Davison the club appointed Shaun Teale as player/manager in May 2002 and the ex-Aston Villa defender went on to sensationally lead the club to its greatest ever achievement as Burscough became the smallest club to ever win the FA Trophy following a tremendous 2-1 victory over Tamworth at Villa Park on Sunday 18th May 2003.

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Played in front of a crowd of 14,296 spectators and televised live on Sky it was the Linnet’s twelfth game in an unforgettable cup run that had included one in-

credible result as the 400-1 outsiders shocked the non-league world by beating runaway Conference winners Yeovil Town 2-0 at Huish Park in the quarter-finals.

During the summer Frank Parr stepped down after 30 years as chairman with local businessman Chris Lloyd taking over at the helm.

There were incredible scenes as almost 2,000 fans welcomed the team home to Victoria Park that evening but celebrations were dampened less than six weeks later as the club found it necessary to relinquish Teale of his managerial duties.

The following season ended in controversy as the Linnets were denied a play-off place following a widely ridiculed decision to award three points for unplayed games against Spennymoor United who could not complete their fixtures.

Season 2005/06 was another Former Liverpool, Galatasary and historic one for Burscough F.C. as West Ham United midfielder Mike they went on to reach the Second Marsh was appointed manager Round proper of the F.A. Cup for but after a poor start to the season the first time in their history.

Marsh resigned and ex-Southport defender Derek Goulding took In reaching that milestone they over in October 2003. defeated League One side Gillingham 3-2 on a never to be An incredible end to 2003/04 forgotten day at Victoria Park. season saw Burscough finish with Further excitement was to follow a remarkable run of victories that as a postponed 2nd round tie at saw them claw their way out of the Burton Albion allowed Burscough bottom three into the play-offs for to appear in the Third round draw.

Conference North.

That draw, should they have Despite playing all their games overcome Burton Albion, would away from home the Linnets have given the Linnets a home tie went on to reach the play-off final against the mighty Manchester where they only went down at United. Sadly that further dream Bradford Park Avenue following never materialised as Burton Alextra-time. bion overcame the Linnets in the

re-arranged tie.

Having started the season impressively, with Burscough being amongst the favourites for promotion, the season unfortunately never quite reached the heights of the F.A. Cup run and long term injuries to key players meant the team finished 7th.

Derek Goulding`s tenure as manager ended in June 2006 when he was replaced by former Southport manager, Liam Watson.

The 2006/07 season was Burscough F.C`s Diamond Jubilee and one of the ways the club marked the event was by playing in a predominantly white kit with a specially designed badge.

The season was one of the most succesful in history when the Linnets won the Unibond Northern Premier Division and the Lancashire Co-Op Trophy, formerly the Lancashire Junior Cup, for the first time in 40 years when neighbours Marine were defeated.

The league success was only confirmed after a thrilling climax.

On the last day of the season the Linnets won at A.F.C.

Telford United in front of nearly 6,000 fans. The victory meant they overhauled the New Bucks Head side at the top of the table and won the title on goal difference by just 1 goal from Witton Albion.

Further and final success came when Unibond First Division champions Buxton were defeated 3-1 in the Peter Swailes Memorial Shield to round off a great season and confirm Burscough as Treble Winners.

In their first season in Conference North, Burscough finished in a very creditable 8th position but manager Liam Watson and many of the players departed during the close season. Assistant manager Joey Dunn took over as manager in July 2008, but was replaced by Andy Mutch at the beginning of October.

Burscough finished next to bottom of the league and were relegated back to the Unibond Premier with Andy Gray taking over as manager for the start of the 2009-10 campaign.

The season was completed under difficult circumstances after chairman Chris Lloyd stood down and

withdrew all funding. The Supporters Club accepted the raising of funds to complete the seasons fixtures, and were successful in this objective.

During the close season the ground was sold to Chequer Properties Ltd who in turn leased the ground back to the football club at a peppercorn rent, at the same time the property company purchased Chris Lloyd’s majority shareholding, but did not wish to be involved with the day to day running of the football side of the business, and asked Frank Parr to return as chairman and form a committee to carry out these duties.

New Chairman Gary Wright appointed at the end of the 2010-11 season to oversee the temporary move to groundshare with local neighbours Skelmersdale United.

The groundshare however would be short-lived, and the club would move back to Victoria Park half way through the season.

One of Wright’s first major decisions during his tenure was to find a replacement for manager Chris Stammers, who’s tenure ended

27

Chris Ovington takes a shot during the first half of the Clitheroe game

with his resignation after a poor start to the 2011-12 season.

After many applications, former manager Derek Goulding would make a return to the club.

Goulding started to galvanize the side during the season, but his efforts would not be able to stop the inevitable, and despite a promising end to the season the Linnet’s were relegated from the NPL Premier division.

August 2012 would see renewed optimism for Burscough. It would see the Supporters Club get back on board and help in the rebuild of the club.

Goulding would spend the summer rebuilding the team on the pitch, and a hard working Football Club committee would start to rebuilt the club off it.

Burscough FC finished the 2012-2013 season in mid table in 11th place and the following season they again finished mid table, this time in 14th position.

The club continued to play in the First Division North for the 2014-2015 season under Derek Goulding until he left for Bangor City in October 2014.

Mark Beesley was named Caretaker Manager till January 2015 when he was given the role of manager full time, he brought in Liam Blakeman as his assistant.

Get more about TheRailFC each week at issuu.com/therailfc Harcourt Day Nursery Sponsors Harrogate Railway’s Post Match Interviews To find out more call 01423 563969 or visit www.harcourtdaynursery.co.uk

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