Issue #11 - v Skelmersdale United (14/12/2024) by hobafc

SATURDAY 14 DECEMBER 2024

NWCFL First Division North vs SKELMERSDALE UNITED

KO 3:00PM

“LET’S GET BEHIND THE LADS”

THOUGHTS FROM THE DUGOUT

Good afternoon and welcome back to Rakesmoor Lane for today’s North West Counties Football League fixture against Skelmersdale.

Today, we are looking to show a reaction to our dip in form over the last five games. The lads are frustrated with their performances and the run of results over a significantly disrupted period and have been working hard. I hope they can get the rewards for it today.

People may look at the result in the return fixture and expect an easy game, but we fully expect a tough game today with an improved Skelmersdale team, fresh from a win against Maine Road.

There are a couple of things on the injury front. Unfortunately, Mitch will be out for a period after fracturing his cheekbone last time out. However, we do welcome Reidy back into the squad today after a long spell out. We will be building him up carefully, and let’s hope he can make a big difference for us in the latter stages of the season.

Let’s get behind the lads and head into Christmas on the back of a home win!

KEVIN WATKIN

GOLD PARTNERS

SILVER PARTNERS

FACTSHEET

COLOURS

Blue

NICKNAME

Skem

GROUND NAME

The Community Ground

CAPACITY

1,500

RECORD ATTENDANCE

7,500 (v Slough - 1967)

LEAGUE POSITION 18th

EYES ON OPPONENT

ON THE OPPONENT

THEIR HISTORY

Skelmersdale United Football Club has a very rich pedigree and an extensive list of honours since we were founded in 1882. The Club had its genesis in a team of players brought together by the teachers of the Skelmersdale Wesleyan Day School and was originally called Skelmersdale Young Rovers. The name was then changed to Skelmersdale Wesleyans, but subsequently, the minister expressed his disapproval, and the team became Skelmersdale United.

United have had a long and varied past. Playing at the Sandy Lane Ground in the early part of the 20th Century, we competed in the Liverpool County Combination, winning the title on ten occasions, the Liverpool County Cup eight times, and the George Mahon Cup five times.

We moved to our spiritual home, White Moss Park, in 1957, and progression to the Lancashire Combination saw us clinch the Division Two title in our first season.

Steady progress was made in the Combination as United became a force to be reckoned with. Chairman Bill Gregson had a dream to make progress in the Amateur Cup, and with the appointment of Manager Bernie Banks in 1966, he saw United become one of the most respected non-league sides in the Country, reaching a first Wembley final in 1967. After drawing 0-0 against Enfield beneath the Twin Towers, United lost the replay at Maine Road 3-0. Unperturbed, Gregson led us to two more semi-finals in the following three years.

The Appointment of Roy Rees in 1970 saw an all-conquering side finally return to Wembley. They emerged victorious as Dagenham were comprehensively outplayed in the final. A Ted Dicken hat trick gave United a 4-1 win.

One of the everlasting memories of the successful Amateur Cup days was the tremendous support the Club attracted. Crowds between 1,000 and 1,500 were the norm for league games, and this rose to several thousand for cup games. The record gate saw 7,500 fans pack into the ground to witness a 1-0 quarter-final victory over Slough Town in March 1967.

The Amateur Cup was not United’s only success in the late 1960s and early 1970s, as our roll of Honour included two Cheshire League titles, two Lancashire Cup wins, two Cheshire League Shield wins, and three appearances in the First Round of the FA Cup.

Undoubtedly, the 1967-1971 period was a golden era for Skelmersdale United, with many players progressing into the Football League. Steve Heighway, Mickey Burns, Norman Whitehead, Dave Moorcroft and Alan Mansley are among those who made the step up to league football.

EYES ON THE OPPONENT

The Club joined the Northern Premier League in 1971, but it was to be an unhappy time, bringing financial problems that the Club would have hanging around its neck for the next two decades. Performances on the pitch, too, were less than impressive, and we had to wait until 2000 to claim our next piece of silverware, the North West Counties League Cup.

We left our beloved White Moss Park in 2002 and eventually moved to the newly named Westgate Interactive Stadium (Stormy Corner). Our fortunes changed, and we became a potent force in the North West Counties. We eventually gained promotion to the Northern Premier League in 2006 and enjoyed the success that followed.

From that platform, ‘Skem’ went on to win more trophies, winning the Lancashire Cup in 2009, the Northern Premier League North in 2012-13, and the Liverpool Senior Cup in 2015 under the guidance of mercurial manager Tommy Lawson.

However, success could not be maintained, and with the eviction from Stormy Corner, we found ourselves homeless and back in the North West Counties as Manager Paul McNally looked to rebuild the Club while it played out of town in Prescot.

A return home to JMO Sports Park was briefly interrupted by the COVID pandemic, but after the return of normal football, McNally’s team started to earn itself a reputation for fast-flowing, exciting football.

In the 2020-21 season, we made headline news as we battled through to the 1st Round of the FA Cup for the first time since 1971. The Club even featured live on BT Sports, going down to Harrogate 4-1

Skem were involved in a rip-roaring battle for the 202122 NWCFL Premier Division title with big-spending Macclesfield. United eventually had to settle for second and a play-off place against Cinderford Town of the Hellenic League, but on the day, Utd ran out emphatic 5-1 winners to earn a place back in the Northern Premier League.

Last season got off to a nightmare start, with United forced to leave the town once more and play its fixtures at Burscough FC due to pitch issues at the JMO. Things got worse as Paul McNally left for new pastures and steadily took most of his promotion-winning squad with him.

We turned to popular ex-player Richard Brodie to steady the ship, and along with our talisman flying winger and skipper Elliot Morris, we ended our first season back at the higher level in a creditable 11th spot.

Sadly, the ground grading hoo-doo struck the Club once again in the summer, as its current home was ruled insufficient for the standards required by the Northern Premier League. We have had to accept relegation back to the North West Counties League for 2023-24.

Despite the turmoil of the last few years, Skem continues to strive for success off and on the field. The main goal is to return to playing in our home town as soon as possible.

We will re-acquaint ourselves with old friends in the NWCFL and hopefully make new friends playing entertaining football and offering a cheery welcome to all who come to see us, no matter who they support.