Five Things We Learned 2023/24 - Gameweek 24
Thu 11th January 2024 | Five Things | By Jay Cooper
1. New Year is done, what about the new season?
In the past week, the applications for promotion to step 6 ahead of the 2024/25 season (wow, that feels as though it should be about 5 years into the future but it will start in June, that's scary) have closed, and we have been left with 97 clubs from across the country who want to make the jump to semi-pro football.
Whilst it's highly unlikely that the NWCF will wind up playing host to the likes of Beer Albion from the Devon League Premier Division East, there are still an array of teams that we could be being introduced to next season. Both Cleator Moor Celtic and Foley Meir, who we lost from the league pyramid ahead of 2023/24, are amongst the applicants, as well teams from the Cheshire, West Cheshire, West Lancashire and Liverpool local league systems, and that list is nowhere near exhaustive.
2. Sandbach's China Anniversary
For those who don't know what that means, it has nothing to do with the country of China. Instead, it's the term for a 20th anniversary, in the same way that a Golden anniversary marks 50 years. Anyway, the reason for this entry in the list is because, as a 20th birthday present, Sandbach United have announced that they will take on an XI of players who've all worn the colours of Manchester United.
It will be quite the occasion at Hind Heath Road on May 25th, and tickets are available now. Sandbach certainly aren't the oldest club in the NWCFL, not by a long shot, but when your 2nd decade in existence garners the attention of the most successful team in English football history, you have to hold your hands up and say "fair enough".
3. High Five's in the Prem
In a weekend of fairly uninterrupted NWCFL action (great way to start the year), the headline makers in the NWCFL Prem consisted of Cheadle Town, Colne, Longridge Town and Charnock Richard. All of Cheadle, Colne and Longridge were playing at home in the first weekend of 2024 and all bagged 5 goals, with only Longridge shipping one in return to West Didsbury and Chorlton.
In the late kick-off of the day, Charnock Richard, away at FC Isle of Man, clearly also fancied themselves as 5-goal getters, but their hosts would place more than a few hurdles on that road. In an incredible 2nd half, 8 goals were scored, with 3 coming for FC Isle of Man and 5 for Charnock to seal a memorable victory.
4. Big wins at the head and foot of the First Division North
Like Cheadle and Colne in the Prem, there were two sides from the First Division North who also managed to mirror one another in thrashing their visiting opponents in league action this weekend. You might expect it from FC St Helens, to be fair, with the runaway league leaders slotting 4 past lowly Shelley, who could only muster 1 strike of their own in return.
You might not expect it, however, from even more lowly Nelson, who began the day right at the bottom of the table - more fool Garstang if they expected to take 3 points from their clash at Little Wembley (which is up there with the very best ground names in the entire NWCFL). Sam Langford bagged 2 as Nelson stormed to a 4-1 victory to snap their winless run and leapfrog AFC Blackpool at the base of the division.
5. Eccleshall are party crashers
I dedicated an entire entry to Sandbach United earlier in the list and discussed their 20th year as a football club, which they are due to celebrate in May, but if they thought they would be celebrating on Saturday, they were sorely mistaken. The current play-off place occupiers travelled to Eccleshall for their first weekend of the new year, and were a goal up going into half time, not having a clue what was about to happen.
Just after the hour mark, they found themselves 3-1 down at Pershall Park, but a Harry Cain penalty (apparently all Harry Cain/Kane's know what they're doing from 12 yards) and a 90th minute goal from Kieran Alley was enough to nearly confirm a draw. And then, 1 minute later, Eccleshall's Joseph Minshall scored a 4th for his team to claim all 3 points. A great start to the year for the now-12th placed team in the First Division South.
Five Things We Learned 2023/24 - Gameweek 24
Thu 11th January 2024 | Five Things
By Jay Cooper
1. New Year is done, what about the new season?
In the past week, the applications for promotion to step 6 ahead of the 2024/25 season (wow, that feels as though it should be about 5 years into the future but it will start in June, that's scary) have closed, and we have been left with 97 clubs from across the country who want to make the jump to semi-pro football.
Whilst it's highly unlikely that the NWCF will wind up playing host to the likes of Beer Albion from the Devon League Premier Division East, there are still an array of teams that we could be being introduced to next season. Both Cleator Moor Celtic and Foley Meir, who we lost from the league pyramid ahead of 2023/24, are amongst the applicants, as well teams from the Cheshire, West Cheshire, West Lancashire and Liverpool local league systems, and that list is nowhere near exhaustive.
2. Sandbach's China Anniversary
For those who don't know what that means, it has nothing to do with the country of China. Instead, it's the term for a 20th anniversary, in the same way that a Golden anniversary marks 50 years. Anyway, the reason for this entry in the list is because, as a 20th birthday present, Sandbach United have announced that they will take on an XI of players who've all worn the colours of Manchester United.
It will be quite the occasion at Hind Heath Road on May 25th, and tickets are available now. Sandbach certainly aren't the oldest club in the NWCFL, not by a long shot, but when your 2nd decade in existence garners the attention of the most successful team in English football history, you have to hold your hands up and say "fair enough".
3. High Five's in the Prem
In a weekend of fairly uninterrupted NWCFL action (great way to start the year), the headline makers in the NWCFL Prem consisted of Cheadle Town, Colne, Longridge Town and Charnock Richard. All of Cheadle, Colne and Longridge were playing at home in the first weekend of 2024 and all bagged 5 goals, with only Longridge shipping one in return to West Didsbury and Chorlton.
In the late kick-off of the day, Charnock Richard, away at FC Isle of Man, clearly also fancied themselves as 5-goal getters, but their hosts would place more than a few hurdles on that road. In an incredible 2nd half, 8 goals were scored, with 3 coming for FC Isle of Man and 5 for Charnock to seal a memorable victory.
4. Big wins at the head and foot of the First Division North
Like Cheadle and Colne in the Prem, there were two sides from the First Division North who also managed to mirror one another in thrashing their visiting opponents in league action this weekend. You might expect it from FC St Helens, to be fair, with the runaway league leaders slotting 4 past lowly Shelley, who could only muster 1 strike of their own in return.
You might not expect it, however, from even more lowly Nelson, who began the day right at the bottom of the table - more fool Garstang if they expected to take 3 points from their clash at Little Wembley (which is up there with the very best ground names in the entire NWCFL). Sam Langford bagged 2 as Nelson stormed to a 4-1 victory to snap their winless run and leapfrog AFC Blackpool at the base of the division.
5. Eccleshall are party crashers
I dedicated an entire entry to Sandbach United earlier in the list and discussed their 20th year as a football club, which they are due to celebrate in May, but if they thought they would be celebrating on Saturday, they were sorely mistaken. The current play-off place occupiers travelled to Eccleshall for their first weekend of the new year, and were a goal up going into half time, not having a clue what was about to happen.
Just after the hour mark, they found themselves 3-1 down at Pershall Park, but a Harry Cain penalty (apparently all Harry Cain/Kane's know what they're doing from 12 yards) and a 90th minute goal from Kieran Alley was enough to nearly confirm a draw. And then, 1 minute later, Eccleshall's Joseph Minshall scored a 4th for his team to claim all 3 points. A great start to the year for the now-12th placed team in the First Division South.
