Longridge Town - First Division North Champions
Sat 27th April 2019 | Longridge Town | By Ian Templeman
Longridge Town are the First Division North champions, clinching the title at the end of their first season in our league with a 4-1 win over Holker Old Boys.
Town had started the day a point behind Avro, but Town's victory coupled with Avro's 1-0 defeat at AFC Liverpool ensured Lee Ashcroft's men ended the campaign in the top spot they have occupied for the majority of the season.
Paul Turner's opening goal on 27 minutes settled the home nerves), and he added a second goal eight minutes into the second half. Isaac Sinclair then made it 3-0 on 63 minutes before Turner completed his hat trick 11 minutes from time. John-Paul Stanway pulled back a consolation goal for Holker a minute from time.
Across on Merseyside, there was also a late goal in the game between AFC Liverpool and Avro, but signficantly it came from AFC Liverpool's James McGrane, whose last minute winner earned the Reds a 1-0 win over Avro which confirmed that Longridge Town were champions.
Longridge Town manager Lee Ashcroft said:
"It's been a hard season and the lads have been absolutely brilliant. We've been at the top of the league since August, and everyone wants to beat the league leaders.
"But fair play to Avro, it's not easy chasing someone and they have chased us all the way.
"At one point when we beat them at home we thought we had won it, but they kept coming back.
"They overtook us on Wednesday when they beat Darwen 5-1 and coming in to the game today we were talking about points per game, and thinking we have just got to win today.
"They had a difficult game at AFC Liverpool, it's a hard place to go, but we just had to make sure we did our business today and Lady Luck shone on us, and it all worked out well.
"We have done it now and it's a fantastic occasion for the football club. I'd like to thank our Chairman who has stood by me, and together we have done it.
"The planning for next season starts now. I have already agreed to meet two or three players next week, to try and make some additions to make us stronger and hopefully the players we have will stay around.
"It's going to be a difficult league we are going into, but hopefully what we have done this year will make us stronger and ready for the challenge ahead".
Longridge Town Chairman Kevin Harrison said:
"It's an unbelievable feeling and I can't really explain it. We have come a long way in a short space of time.
"Obviously we had slipped up in the last couple of weeks but we were confident coming into today's game that we would win, although for the first time in a long time it was out of our own hands.
"We knew how strong Avro are but we also knew they had a tough game going to AFC Liverpool. The saying goes that the best team wins the league, and if Avro had won today they would have been the best team.
"I'm just pleased that all the hard work Lee and Kieran, and all the committee, have put in on and off the field has paid off.
"I am the most biased man in England when it comes to Longridge Town Football Club but I do think that we have played some good football, we have entertained, and we have scored 144 goals.
"The crowds have been good, the town has supported us and they have been magnificent all season, and we can look forward to next season".
Image below courtesy of Longridge Town.
Longridge Town - First Division North Champions
Sat 27th April 2019 | Longridge Town
By Ian Templeman
Longridge Town are the First Division North champions, clinching the title at the end of their first season in our league with a 4-1 win over Holker Old Boys.
Town had started the day a point behind Avro, but Town's victory coupled with Avro's 1-0 defeat at AFC Liverpool ensured Lee Ashcroft's men ended the campaign in the top spot they have occupied for the majority of the season.
Paul Turner's opening goal on 27 minutes settled the home nerves), and he added a second goal eight minutes into the second half. Isaac Sinclair then made it 3-0 on 63 minutes before Turner completed his hat trick 11 minutes from time. John-Paul Stanway pulled back a consolation goal for Holker a minute from time.
Across on Merseyside, there was also a late goal in the game between AFC Liverpool and Avro, but signficantly it came from AFC Liverpool's James McGrane, whose last minute winner earned the Reds a 1-0 win over Avro which confirmed that Longridge Town were champions.
Longridge Town manager Lee Ashcroft said:
"It's been a hard season and the lads have been absolutely brilliant. We've been at the top of the league since August, and everyone wants to beat the league leaders.
"But fair play to Avro, it's not easy chasing someone and they have chased us all the way.
"At one point when we beat them at home we thought we had won it, but they kept coming back.
"They overtook us on Wednesday when they beat Darwen 5-1 and coming in to the game today we were talking about points per game, and thinking we have just got to win today.
"They had a difficult game at AFC Liverpool, it's a hard place to go, but we just had to make sure we did our business today and Lady Luck shone on us, and it all worked out well.
"We have done it now and it's a fantastic occasion for the football club. I'd like to thank our Chairman who has stood by me, and together we have done it.
"The planning for next season starts now. I have already agreed to meet two or three players next week, to try and make some additions to make us stronger and hopefully the players we have will stay around.
"It's going to be a difficult league we are going into, but hopefully what we have done this year will make us stronger and ready for the challenge ahead".
Longridge Town Chairman Kevin Harrison said:
"It's an unbelievable feeling and I can't really explain it. We have come a long way in a short space of time.
"Obviously we had slipped up in the last couple of weeks but we were confident coming into today's game that we would win, although for the first time in a long time it was out of our own hands.
"We knew how strong Avro are but we also knew they had a tough game going to AFC Liverpool. The saying goes that the best team wins the league, and if Avro had won today they would have been the best team.
"I'm just pleased that all the hard work Lee and Kieran, and all the committee, have put in on and off the field has paid off.
"I am the most biased man in England when it comes to Longridge Town Football Club but I do think that we have played some good football, we have entertained, and we have scored 144 goals.
"The crowds have been good, the town has supported us and they have been magnificent all season, and we can look forward to next season".
Image below courtesy of Longridge Town.
