Basking in exhaustion! More midweek action for Chorley and The Moors ahead of the big match. Both still going well

On Saturday Spennymoor Town will host Chorley in the third qualifying round of the FA Cup. I will be there as my next stop on the Road to Wembley from Scotland. Both teams were in midweek action over the last two nights and both confirmed that they are in fine form ahead of the big match.

On Tuesday night Spennymoor Town visited near neighbours and promotion rivals Blyth Spartans in an Evostik League Premier Division fixture. Croft Park in Blyth attracted a healthy crowd of 818 spectators for this North East Derby match. The game was fairly uneventful and finished honours even in a 0-0 draw. Both sides will be fairly happy with the result as it consolidates their top-five positions in the league.

Croft Park Blyth: Scene of  Blyth Spartans 0 The Moors 0 on Tuesday

Last night Chorley travelled to Prestwich Hays for a tie in the relatively low profile Lancashire Challenge Trophy. With Saturdays huge tie just over the horizon I expected Chorley manager Matt Jansen to rest many players. Although ex Greenock Morton Jason Walker was given the night off the Chorley gaffer surprisingly put out a very strong team. Eight of the side who knocked out Dunston UTS were on duty last night and the Magpies won at a canter by five goals to nil. Gonzales, Lynch, Teague and Carver (twice) were all on the scoresheet. The match was notable as it was the first time that Prestwich Hays had staged a match under their new floodlights. In the next round of the Lancashire Challenge Trophy Chorley are on their travels again and they will visit Squires Gate.

Last night's progamme: Chorley are the first opposition team to play under the new Prestwich Heys floodlights

The new floodlights are switched on in Prestwich last night

Both Spennymoor and Chorley have had a very busy and successful start to the season. The Moors have already played 11 games in all competitions and have only lost twice. Chorley have now played 14 competitive games in season 2016-17 and have lost only once. The next match for both teams is the FA Cup tie on Saturday. You would imagine that with so many good results under their belts both teams would be basking in glory. However given the number of games that they have played I suspect that both teams are basking in exhaustion! Only two sleeps to go until the gladiators do battle. Brewery Field Spennymoor on Saturday here I come. Cannae wait.

Chorley and The Moors - there are similarities. Also, how Chorley are benefiting from the Souness work ethic

As we build up to the FA Cup Third Qualifying Round tie between Spennymoor Town and Chorley, I present a little bit more about the similarities between the two clubs and also how Scottish football icon Graeme Souness has influenced Chorley manager Matt Jansen. More also on The Moors links with SPFL clubs.

Both Spennymoor and Chorley are clubs on an upward curve. Both have progressed well in the FA Cup (obviously) but both teams are going really well in their respective leagues. The Moors are currently sitting 5^th in the Evostik Premier Division with games in hand over all of the teams above them in the league. They are well placed to secure an amazing third promotion in four seasons. Chorley are going great guns in the Vanarama National League North (the division just above the Evostik Premier). They also sit fifth in the league and they could return to the top flight of non league football at the end of the season. If they do achieve this it will probably be through the play offs. The similarities don’t end there. The two clubs both wear the famous old stripey black and white kit made famous by Newcastle United and Juventus among others.

 

Moors fans in the famous Old Stripey kit celebrating FA Vase success in 2013

A Chorley FC Cheerleader proudly wearing the black and white stripes

In a recent interview with nonleaguedaily.com Chorley manager Matt Jansen recalls his time with Blackburn Rovers and the effect that Graeme Souness had on his play and subsequent managerial career. Matt recounts: "Graeme Souness took over when we were relegated under Brian Kidd. Souness came in, he was stern but you took it because he had done it all in the game. He was great for us and I got on very well with him. He drove us forward and I agree with his 'It's free to work hard' ethos and that is what he demanded from his players. We had a good squad and he created a great dressing room environment. We did everything together, we socialised and before a big game against Burnley he took us to Dubai. He got hammered for that but we came back refreshed and beat them 5-0. He was all about the team and I have taken that on board and still use some of his methods in my role at Chorley. He was probably the manager I learnt the most from in my career.” Jansen managed to take his Football League form into the Premier League with Rovers, something many strikers struggle to do in a promoted side. A mid-table finish was secured and for the first time in the club's history they won the League Cup, then known as the Worthington Cup. The rest as they say is history! Chorley are certainly currently benefiting from the Souness influence.

 

A young Matt Jansen gets instructions from Graeme 'Its free to work hard' Souness

 In the same article Jansen also recalls how legendary Scottish manager Sir Alex Ferguson tried to sign him and why he turned him down! He was recently at a charity golf day hosted by Sir Alex. Apparently Ferguson made a  point of coming up to talk to Matt."He said 'Hey you, you never signed for me when I wanted you'. "I said I knew I would have more chance of playing first team football at Palace and that was why I went there. "He then said why the hell would I sign you and put you in the reserves?. The full article is available via http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/top-stories/sir-alex-souness-and-sven-matt-jansen-interview-part-one.html A rattling good read.

More Moors links to Scotland are also coming to light. In previous posts it was reported that they hosted pre-season friendlies against East Fife and Arbroath. It transpires they also entertained Hamilton Accies as recently as 2014. In July of that year they lost 5-0 to the Accies at the Brewery Field. They clearly like to welcome visitors from north of the border and that is good news for me and my pal Howie Baby on Saturday.

It is going to be a good contest on Saturday. Will Silky Spenny be able to cope with the ‘dogs of war’ that are the Chorley midfield? It is going to be another great match on the Road to Wembley from Scotland. Catch up again on Thursday when I will report on how the two gladiators got on in their midweek matches.

The Moors win and Chorley draw as the two gladiators prepare for the big match

Next Saturday Spennymoor Town entertain Chorley in the 3^rd Qualifying Round of the FA Cup 2016-17, my next stop on the Road to Wembley from Scotland. Yesterday the two gladiators continued their build up to the big game and they were both involved in league action.

Spennymoor hosted Stafford Rangers in the Evostik Premier Division and recorded a 1-0 victory. This latest win has lifted them up into 4^th place in the league and they looking like warm favourites to achieve an incredible 3^rd promotion in 4 seasons. All reports suggest that they were well worth the win against Stafford and could have won by more goals.

 

Stafford Rangers manager Neil Kitchen: bemused as to why the Moors are so good !

 Chorley are also going well in their league, the Vanarama National League North and yesterday travelled south to take on Telford. Over 1000 fans turned up to see a 0-0 draw. A lack of goals seems to be the story of my weekend. I have been to two football matches over the last two days and seen my beloved Hearts frustratingly draw 0-0 with Ross County and in the Scottish FA Cup I have just seen Leith Athletic draw 0-0 against Cumbernauld Colts. I am still miffed that the Hearts could not manage to beat a team from a village that has a smaller population than Fishtoft. Enough of my woes and back to Chorley. The Magpies had no alternative other than to ‘park the bus’ in front of the goal in the second half after their striker Marcus Carver was controversially sent off just after the interval. The Chorley web site describes their subsequent play as a ‘defensive masterclass’

Chorley's Marcus Carver: Controversially sent off yesterday - The Magpies will appeal

Both Chorley and Spennymoor have a midweek match to play before the big game next Saturday. The Moors have a difficult fixture away at Blyth Spartans on Tuesday night in a top-of-the-table local derby clash. By contrast Chorley have a low-profile Lancashire FA Trophy tie against Prestwich Heys on Wednesday. Chorley manager Matt Jansen is expected to rest key players against Prestwich to ensure that the squad are raring to go on Saturday.

 

The Brewery Field in sunlight: The Moors are expecting a big crowd next Sat

I have received the excellent match by match previews of the forthcoming FA Cup ties from the excellent ‘FA Cup Factfile’ site. For the match in Spennymoor next Saturday they have noted that: “This is the first FA Cup meeting between the two clubs. The Moors are one win away from equalling their best ever FA Cup run since reforming in 2005, whilst Chorley have made the 2nd Round Proper twice and in the recent past and have reached the 4th Qualifying Round in both the last two seasons.” It is weird that two famous clubs with long histories have never met before in the world’s most famous football competition. However, here’s to the weirdness! It promises to be a great game next Saturday. Brewery Field Spennymoor is my next stop on the Road to Wembley from Scotland and I am looking forward to it with great anticipation. 

The Moors are covered in heather: Scots links aplenty at the Brewery Field

The unique sweet unique feature of this particular Road to Wembley is that for each match I am looking for links between the competing teams and Bonny Scotland. Links between Chorley and Bella Caledonia have been previously reported and their current link is that their centre forward Jason Walker represented Greenock Morton with distinction. The spotlight now turns on their opponents in the FA Cup third qualifying round Spennymoor Town who will welcome Chorley to their Brewery Field Ground on Saturday the 1^st October. I have had fantastic assistance from two Spennymoor Town fans on twitter (@SpennyToffee1 and @SpennyFanChris) in flushing out the links between The Moors and Scotland. It would appear that Spennymoor have had a number of former players who were Scottish, including Brian Healy and Alex Mathie and that they have hosted a number of pre-season games against Scottish opposition. Unfortunately for them none of their current first team squad are Scottish.

Midfielder Brian Healy was born in Glasgow but spent his entire playing career in England. He played for Spennymoor from 1993-96 following a short spell with Gateshead where he played 11 games and scored 2 goals. After leaving the Brewery Field in 1996 Brian progressed to league football and he played for both Torquay United and Darlington. He finished his career in County Durham playing for Bishop Auckland in 2002.

Scots Ex Moors player Brian Healey photographed representing Torquay 

With due respect to Brian, Alex Mathie was a much higher profile signing for the Moors. Bathgate born Alex started his career with Celtic as a youth in 1987 and by 1991 had progressed to the first team. With strong competition for places in the team at Celtic Park in that era Alex found opportunities limited and in total played only 11 games for Celtic.

 

A young Alex Mathie sporting the famous hoops

To further his career Alex went west to Greenock and between 1991 and 1993 played 74 times for Morton scoring 34 goals. His stupendous scoring rate drew the attention of Newcastle United and he signed for The Toon in late 1993 and went on to score 4 goals in 25 appearances for the St James Park club.

Alex Mathie of The Toon with the trademark bouffant hair do

Alex moved on to play for Ipswich Town, Dundee United, Preston North End and York City. In 2003, in the twilight of his playing days he signed for the Moors. He later went on to become manager of the club.

The other notable tartan link with Spennymoor Town is the fact that they have accommodated pre-season friendlies against Scottish clubs. I do not have access to the full records but I am aware that East Fife and Arbroath visited the Brewery Field. East Fife played against the Moors in County Durham in both 1994 and 2009.

An East Fife fan outside Brewery Field in 1994

Arbroath visited the Brewery Field in 2000 and controversial Scottish football icon Andy Webster recalls the match with some affection. In a recent interview with the Daily Record the man who fell out with Hearts and hence spawned the ‘Webster Ruling’ reminisces about the match at the Brewery Field. “As a young boy, I loved my time at Arbroath. It was one of the best times in my life. That nine-month period when I was full-time, it felt like I was with a group of my mates. I was doing all the rubbish jobs around the football club. But I had an unbelievable laugh along the way. I was in there with some brilliant players. It’s ironic that I’m now playing with young Stevie Mallan at St Mirren. Because I had to tell him that I used to play with his dad Stevie at Arbroath. I actually met Stevie Snr the other week. As players, they’re polar opposites. I told young Stevie that his dad was one hardy guy. He was unbelievably hard. I told him the story about when Arbroath played Spennymoor United in a pre-season match. At the end, Stevie Snr came off the pitch and from under his sock pulled out a Spennymoor badge that he’d ripped off a guy’s shirt during the game! When I met Stevie Snr, he told me still had the badge – he’d kept it as a souvenir.” Lets hope there are no shirt ripping incidents when Chorley visit the Brewery Field. Andy Webster played for my beloved Hearts for 5 years between 2001 and 2006 and won the first batch of his 28 Scotland caps when turning out for the Jambos at that time. He became a controversial figure in Scottish football when he fell out with the Hearts madman Lithuanian owner Vladimir Romanov. To punish the player Mad Vlad vowed that he would not be picked for the first team again. Andy, a regular in the Scotland team at this time, called this restraint of trade and left the club in the middle of his contract to sign for Wigan. After a wrangle lasting 18 months the ruling was in Webster’s favour and years later with the dust settled on this unsavoury episode Andy returned for a second spell at Hearts in 2011.

Controversial Andy Webster in action for Hearts circa 2003

The ‘Webster Ruling’ is a test case in association football law involving Andy Webster. In September 2006 he became the first player to exploit the updated transfer regulations of FIFA, football's governing body, which stipulated that players are able to unilaterally walk away from a contract after a fixed period, regardless of the duration of the contract itself. Although the long-term effects of the decision remain unclear, it has been compared to the landmark Bosman ruling of 1995 in its potential significance. Those Moors fans watching the Spennymoor v Arbroath game in 2000 were no doubt unaware that in the opposition ranks was a teenage centre back who would years later turn football’s employment law upside down.

Hopefully there will be no need for the lawyers to get involved when Spennymoor Town take on Chorley at the beginning of next month. Who will win this intriguing tie? I could make a prediction but discretion is the better part of valour. One thing for sure it is going to be fascinating next stop on The Road to Wembley from Scotland.

The draw for FA Cup Q3 has been made: It is Spennymoor v Chorley next: What does Spennymoor mean to me?

Yesterday the draw for the 3rd Qualifying round of the FA Cup was made. There was a 50 50 chance that I would be heading for Lancashire to see my new team Chorley play a home tie. There was also a very good chance that I would be heading a long way from home to see Chorley play an away tie at a venue far from the Scottish border. Instead they have been drawn to play Spennymoor Town away. So once again I will be making the short hop over the border to the north east of England, this time to County Durham, to see Spennymoor Town entertain Chorley. That is serendipity! So what does Spennymoor mean to me?

The word Spennymoor has been in the Donkin family for over 50 years. When we were all much younger the family lived in Newcastle and my brother Brian (The Dook) remembers getting the bus from Newcastle bus station in the early sixties to go fishing and there was always one over-enthusiastic conductor who was in charge of the Spennymoor bus. "Any more for Spennymoor!" he would holler.

Their football team has a much more impressive history than the wailings of a mad Geordie bus conductor. In particular they have been very successful in recent years. In 2013 they emulated the feat of the 2012 Dunston UTS team by winning the FA Vase final at Wembley - beating Tunbridge Wells 2-1 under the arch.

The Spennymoor Town FA Vase winning team from 2013

In recent times Spennymoor Town have secured two promotions in the last three seasons to catapult themselves into the higher echelons of English non-league football. In 2014 they were champions of the Northern League and hence qualified to play in the Northern Premier Division - Division One North. After a season of consolidation when they finished fifth they were promoted to the Northern Premier Division in the summer when they emerged victorious from the play offs. They currently sit 6th in this highly competitive division and they are clearly a club on the up and up.

Regular readers will know that I lived in Boston Lincolnshire for 17 years between 1991 and 2008 before moving back to Scotland. During this time I was a regular patron of Boston United and did not miss many of their home games at York Street. For a short time Spennymoor were in the same league as the Pilgrims. I reckon I saw Spennymoor twice in this era. In the Unibond League fixture in Feb 1996 Boston United cuffed the men from County Durham 4-1. The current Moors manager Jason Ainsley was wearing number 7 for The Moors that day. The programme notes that Jason had just re-signed for Spennymoor after spells with Hartlepool and in club football in Australia. Inevitably, Boston United goalscoring legend Chris Cook was on the scoresheet for the Pilgrims that afternoon.

Boston v Moors in 1996: tackling from behind celebrated on the programme cover

I must have missed the visit of the Moors the following season but I saw Spennymoor beat Boston United 3-1 at York Street in March 1998.

Boston v Moors in 1998: Chris Cook doing the hokey cokey on the programme cover

In season 1998-99 the Pilgrims and the Moors went their separate ways and as far as I know have not met since 1998. Hence on Saturday the 1st October I will be seeing Spennymoor play for the third time and it will be my first visit to their Brewery Field Ground. Any team that plays at a venue with the word brewery in the name is ok with me. Chorley will start as slight favourites but Spennymoor are an ambitious upwardly mobile team and it will be a fascinating stop on the Road to Wembley from Scotland.

Over the next couple of days I will be in touch with Spennymoor to find out what their links are with Scotland. Keep reading!

Chorley now take centre stage as the curtain finally comes down on valiant Dunston's FA Cup campaign

Saturday the 17^th September 2016

FA Cup Second Qualifying Round 

Dunston UTS 0 Chorley 2

A sunny day in Gateshead saw Chorley visiting the north east and travelling back to Lancashire having knocked the valiant Dunston lads out of the FA Cup. I picked up Dunston UTS on the Road to Wembley from Scotland in the Preliminary Round on the 20^th August. During the last four weeks I have seen them play 5 FA Cup ties, I have seen them score 9 goals and I have seen them play some great football. Yesterday they finally met their match as a physically strong, well organised and skilful Chorley team ran out worthy winners in what was another great match at the UTS Stadium.

Hence, I need to say farewell to Dunston but before moving on with Chorley I must record a massive vote of thanks to all at Dunston UTS who have given me such help with this blog / book and shown me such warmth and friendship and I now continue on the Road to Wembley from Scotland without them. Many people at Dunston have assisted this project and I feel I need to personally name them to thank them before moving on. Ken Fitzpatrick (ace Photographer and web site editor), Billy Irwin (Team Manager) Steve Wraith (Commercial Manager), Syd Bambrough (Bar Steward extraordinaire), John Thompson (Bar Steward and founder of the club), Beth from Greenock (from the Pie Stall), Tom Clark (Match reporter), Malcom James (a very different type of club Chairman) and last but not least all the players for putting on such a feast of football over the last month. I salute you all and wish you the very best of luck in your Northern League and the FA Vase campaigns. It has been a great experience for me to have been a small part of your season. I hope to visit the UTS Stadium again at some stage in the future.

Another smashing feature of the Road to Wembley from Scotland so far has been the opportunity to share the experience with friends and family. Yesterday it was great to travel south with my son Brian who also thoroughly enjoyed the day.

Me and ma laddie at the UTS yesterday: Pic courtesy of Ken Fitzpatick

This is how the day panned out.

Pre Match Communications: Full marks. Once again the friendly and accommodating people from Dunston have been very generous with their time and have provided timely updates regarding their club’s preparations for the visit of Chorley. For this tie however they excelled themselves. On Friday a got a direct twitter message from team manager Billy Irwin inviting me to arrive at 1330 so that I could take a couple of pics in the inner sanctum of the dressing room! This was an invite I was not going to turn down. Many thanks Billy. Nice one.

Your blogger and Dunston Manager Billy Irwin with the players before the match

The board in the dressing room reads: "Fear nothing and decide the outcome. Focus on what you want and then take it". A great sentiment. If only life was that simple.  

This tie was my first experience of liaising with Chorley and volunteer and devoted fan Paul Brennan has been fantastic in not only telling me about his club but also identifying the Chorley links with Bella Caledonia. The reports of Scots Chorley players from the 19^th century and the 1920s have been particularly well received. Great to read, and report, that Chorley have a strong Scots heritage. Paul was not at the match yesterday but I looking forward to meeting him in the next round on October the 1^st. I also got lots of help from the Chorley twitter feed including information about current Chorley striker Jason Walker’s spell in Scottish football. 10/10

Pre Match Pint: The nearest pub to the UTS Stadium is the Royal Hotel in Gateshead and despite not being particularly impressed when we were there for the Penrith match, we headed back there yesterday as we were well ahead of schedule for the 1.30 dressing room photo call. The pub was a lot busier than last time as there was a stag do in.

Assuming the guy in beige is the stag, some young lady has found quite a catch!

 Ken Fitzpatrick later explained that a few stag parties end up spending some time in Gateshead to access cheap digs before taking taxis into the Toon in the evening for the more traditional stag revelries.

The main pre match pint was after the short meeting with Billy and the players when Brian and I headed in to the club bar. Behind the bar club stalwarts Syd Bambrough and club founder John Thompson. John is the man who founded the club 45 years ago.

John Thompson and Syd Bambrough: A couple of bar stewards

A good pint of Guinness and a good crack with some of the Chorley fans. Also the racing on the telly 7/10

Programme: The programme is priced at only £1 and is good value. The 48 page publication has lots of adverts but also lots of interesting reading. Good coverage of the visitors from Chorley with the Chorley FC club history described and also extensive ‘pen pictures’ of the Chorley players. A good effort 6/10

Ground: Over the last month I have become increasingly fond of the UTS Stadium. I have previously commented on its facilities but yesterday in the strong sunlight it looked positively resplendent.

Arriving at the ground just before 1.30 pm

Considering it is housed within a densely populated area it has a surprising rural feel to it, being lined by attractive tall trees. 

The UTS Stadium bathed in sunlight yesterday

Everything seems ‘just so’ for a club operating at Northern League level. The playing surface deserves special mention as it is quite simply magnificent. Also you sometimes see famous people in their dugouts 8/10

Matt Jansen: Blackburn Rovers legend and current manager of Chorley

 Atmosphere: At 1545 yesterday after six weeks on the Road to Wembley from Scotland I finally heard singing! It lasted all of about 8 seconds and it was essayed by a small flock of about six Magpies just after Chorley scored their second goal. It went something like this: “Wem-ber-lee Wem-ber-lee we are the famous Chorley FC and we are off to Wem-ber-lee”. It didn’t catch on and it sort of tailed off even before the third Wembley. Good to note though that the first word sung on the Road to Wembley from Scotland was Wembley. No more singing heard in the second half.

The atmosphere was good. As with Penrith and Skelmersdale the visitors from Chorley were mostly made to feel very welcome by their hosts. Chorley brought three bus loads of fans with them and they had approximately half of the 333 fans in the ground. They clearly enjoyed their time both on the terracing and in the bar. Both sets of supporters offered great vocal support for their teams. One of the loudest voices urging the Dunston team on is their Chairman Malcolm James. The Chairman’s voice can be heard in all parts of the Stadium and he is not reluctant to take opposition supporters to task if he feels the need to. Just before the end of the match a boisterous Chorley fan shouted something that Malcolm felt insulted his team (I did not catch what it was). “Shut ye mooth ye gobshite !” was the rejoinder. The Chorley fan came back with “that’s a big word for a Geordie”. Coming to the Chairman's aid, “Take him back to Care Hurm” replied a different Geordie voice. All good stuff and great banter. I am impressed by a Chairman who can get away from the blazer and tie mentality and as we say in Scotland ‘gie it laldy!’. 8/10

Scottishness: As previously reported the link between Dunston and Bonny Scotland is a bit tenuous. Last time I was at the UTS I discovered that Beth the tea lady is from Greenock. Unfortunately Beth was not on duty yesterday. Chorley have a Scots heritage going back well over 100 years and the current tartan linkage is provided by Jason Walker. Front man Jason is from Cumbria but spent the first 7 years of his professional career in Scotland, first with Dundee and then with Greenock Morton. Jason played 75 times for The Ton and hit the back of net for them on a regular basis. Yesterday he was arguably man of the match. He did not get on the scoresheet but gave the Dunston back line a torrid time as his tireless work-rate and pace caused problems all afternoon. After the match he was kind enough to pose for a picture.  5/10

Jason Walker: Chorley striker who learned his trade in Greenock

Entertainment: Another Saturday in Dunston and another good match.  This time not a drop of rain in sight and the match was played in very hot conditions as the strong sunshine persisted throughout the game. Chorley deserved their win as they just had a bit too much about them for the gallant Dunston boys. Dunston missed the influence of their talisman Malky Morian up front and the combative contribution of Slaughter in midfield. Both were unavailable yesterday. Despite an identifiable gap in class at the end of the day it was only two defensive errors from set pieces that accounted for Dunston.

A Chorley corner causes chaos

The Magpies were well organised and pressed their opponents effectively. As a consequence the Dunston lads saw much less of the ball than in previous games and found it hard to get their passing game going. In previous games Lucock, Thear and Leedham had been identified as a dangerous unit who linked effectively, scored goals and passed the ball with authority and skill. Yesterday they were not quite on their A game and despite their best efforts they rarely troubled the opposition keeper. Over the 90 minutes, the Chorley defence did not suffer any undue consternation. The most forward player for Dunston was Heslop and he also worked hard and went close on a couple of occasions.

Dunston UTS defending another set piece

The goals were both scored in the first half. After two minutes a Chorley corner was not dealt with effectively by the Dunston defence and Andy Teague pounced to prod the ball home. In the final minute of the first half another set piece led to Chorley doubling their lead. Scott Leather powered a header past the Dunston goalie Stefan Holden

Dunston custodian Stefan Holden: The bearded cat

After half time Dunston struggled manfully to get back in the game. Fisher in midfield was winning tackles and urging his team-mates forward but it was just not their day. The best chances fell to the slick Chorley outfit and Roscoe, Leather and Walker all struck the frame of the goal in the second period.

Chorley's Paul Jarvis prepares to take a throw in

Final score Dunston UTS 0 Chorley 2. Chorley will have their name in the hat when the draw for the third qualifying round is made tomorrow lunchtime 8/10

Match Day Catering: The Dunston catering will not be beaten on the Road to Wembley from Scotland. Its impossible. The pies and the pasties are simply perfection. When Brian and I went to pay for our snacks at the pie stall yesterday we were told “these are on Billy they are already paid for”. What an amazing gesture. Many thanks Billy – given my enthusiasm for these particular culinary delights this was very much appreciated. I doubt very much that as the ‘Road’ winds on if I will have Jose Mourinho opening up a tab for me at the Old Trafford pie stall in the later rounds.  10/10

A last lingering look at the legendary Dunston pies. Mouthwatering !

 Value for Money: Dunston resisted the temptation to increase their prices for this attractive FA Cup tie. The admission price of £6 is something of a bargain to see a great young enthusiastic team pitting their wits against a team currently placed 4^th in the Vanarama National North League. Good football on display too 9/10

The je ne sais quoi factor: The unexpected feature of this match was being given the ‘Access All Areas / Backstage Pass’ treatment. For a football anorak in his late fifties to be invited in to the home dressing room before such an important match was a great thrill. All the lads were in good spirits and it was good to have the opportunity to wish them the best of luck.

The Dunston dressing room at 1.30: Billy Irwin prepares to give his team talk

Then to discover that the manager has paid for your pies and pasties is truly remarkable. Nice one Billy. Nice one Dunston UTS. Dunston UTS are a model non-league club. Well organised, friendly hospitable and most important of all committed to playing good football and providing an opportunity for promising young players to improve and prosper. I am going to miss my visits to the UTS Stadium

A great day out in Gateshead yesterday. 10/10

Overall Road to Wembley from Scotland Rating 81/100 (highest so far)

So, Chorley are now ‘my team’ on the Road to Wembley from Scotland. I am looking forward to spending some time with The Magpies. The draw for the next round is made tomorrow lunchtime. Will I be heading for Victory Park in Chorley or will by I be following the Magpies away? Visit this blog tomorrow afternoon to find out.

Miles on the clock for this match 256

Total Miles on the Road to Wembley from Scotland so far 1640

Great wins in midweek for Dunston and Chorley as they gear up for the Big One

Tomorrow is matchday and Dunston and Chorley will go head to head in the 2nd Qualifying Round of the FA Cup at the UTS Stadium in Gateshead. Both teams were in league action in midweek and both recorded fine wins in advance of the big match.

Chorley entertained media darlings Salford City at their Victory Park Ground. Salford, notoriously, are the team who boast ex Manchester United legends Butt, Giggs, Scholes and the Neville brothers among their directors and are the current subject of a BBC TV documentary series chronicling their rise and rise. Salford suffered a rare setback on Tuesday night when Chorley beat them 2-1 in front of an incredible crowd of over 2000. On the scoresheet for Chorley on Tuesday was Jason Walker, ex Dundee and Morton. Jason is in a rich vain of form at the moment having now scored 4 goals in his last 5 games. The Dunston defence are going to have to be very circumspect tomorrow if they are going to blunt the challenge of this goal machine. The Magpies are flying and are now in the play off positions in the Vanarama National League North as they seek to get promotion and join the non-league elite next season.

Will the prolific Jason Walker be sticking his tongue out at the Dunston defenders tomorrow? 

On Wednesday Dunston played a Northern League derby fixture when they travelled 7 miles south to take on Washington FC. The men from Gateshead ran out comfortable winners with a confidence-boosting 4-1 victory over their hosts. On the scoresheet for Dunston were Heslop, Slaughter, Smith and Thear. Pie loving manager Billy Irwin has now masterminded 5 wins and 2 draws in 7 away fixtures in all competitions this season, a truly remarkable record. Dunston are in mid table in the Northern League but, because of their FA Cup run, have games in hand and could mount a challenge for the title in the second half of the season.

Pie loving Billy Irwin (left): Will he be celebrating tomorrow night?

Chorley are managed by ex Blackburn Rovers stalwart Matt Jansen. Will it be Dunston's Billy or Chorley's Matt who will be celebrating tomorrow night or will be be heading for another reply. One thing is for sure this is going to a fascinating stop on the Road to Wembley from Scotland.

Chorley have a rich Scots heritage: Maybe they should be known as the Mac-Pies!

I received a great email from Paul Brennan a volunteer for Chorley FC pointing me in the direction of Chorley's rich Scottish heritage. The link with Bella Caldeonia goes back over 120 years.

In 1894 Chorley signed a Scottish goalkeeper called Archie Pinnell. Before signing for Chorley Archie played for Everton and his career at Chorley spanned four years through until 1898.

Archie Pinnell: Goalkeeper for Magpies in the 1890s

In the 1920s the Magpies had a number of Scots donning their famous black and white jersey. They included William Aitken, Alex Donaldson and George Waddell.

William Aitken was a forward who played for Chorley in 1926. William had an incredibly colourful career and exceptionally for the era played professional football in continental Europe. William played for Juventus and also for AS Cannes in France where he helped them win the French Cup. In the UK he also played to flight football for both Rangers in Scotland and Newcastle United in England. Poignantly, with Chorley visiting Dunston at the weekend, Gateshead was William's final resting place and he passed away in 1973.

William Aitken: played for Rangers, Newcastle, Juventus, Cannes ... and Chorley!

Alex Donaldson was a speedy winger who represented Scotland 6 times scoring 1 goal. Alex played club football for Sunderland, Man City and Bolton Wanderers before joining Chorley in the late 20s.

George Waddell was another Scot who played for the Magpies in the 1920s. George was a wing half born in Lesmahagow but played almost all of his professional football career south of the border. After a brief spell as a youth with Rangers he made his mark with first Bradford and then with Preston North End. He joined Chorley in the twilight of his career in the mid 1920s.

Last on Paul Brennan's Roll of Scottish Honour is Bobby Williamson who played for Chorley in the late sixties. Not to be confused with the Rangers / Kilmarnock player of the same name from the 80s and 90s. Chorley's Bobby signed for Chorley in 1968 and the agile goalkeeper had previously represented Arbroath, St Mirren and Barnsley with distinction. Before making the professional ranks Bobby played youth football for the now defunct Rosewell Rosedale who were based a mere 4 miles away from my home here in Penicuik Midlothian.

Many thanks to Paul Brennan for signposting me in the direction of this rich seam of tartan links. Unfortunately Paul can't make the match on Saturday at the compact UTS Stadium. I feel sure that the Dunston v Chorley tie will end in a draw so I look forward to meeting Paul at the more voluminous Victory Park Chorley for the inevitable replay.

Yesterday in the Northern League and the National League North: Dunston and Chorley warm up for the Big One

It was back to league action yesterday for my two current teams on the Road to Wembley from Scotland. In advance of the FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round tie next Saturday Dunston were at home to Newton Aycliffe in the Northern League and Chorley entertained Brackley in the Vanarama League North. Neither team got the confidence booster they were looking for in advance of the Big One. Dunston surprisingly lost to 2-1 in a match where they never fully recovered from conceding a very early goal. They did equalise but then the mercurial Liam Thear was sent off and then they conceded a scrappy to lose by the odd goal in three. I am hoping that Thear (who has found the net regularly on the 'Road' so far) will not be suspended for the cup tie next Saturday. Chorley took an early lead against Brackley but the visitors eaqualised just before half time and the game finished 1-1.

As I said in my post on Wednesday it was sad to say goodbye to the good people of Skelmersdale following the replay in West Lancashire last Tuesday between Skem and Dunston. As a parting gift the Skem programme editor, Kev Panther, has sent me a pic of the second Skelmersdale goal from the first match between the two sides. I include it here and it has to be one of the most sharply-in-focus sports photographs I have seen. The photo is included with the kind permission of Andy Potts the photographer

It's just over the line: Second Skem goal at the UTS last weekend. Your blogger sharply in focus 2 from the post

Kev also sent me a link to the highlights package from the match in Gateshead and I include the link here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45n55llnHBs&feature=youtu.be Very amusing to see he has included footage of my travelling companions (brothers Martin and Stephen and also Phil Storey) in the opening sequence. Nice one Kev.

Also over the weekend I got sent details of a new Scottish football web based periodical launching imminently called  'Nutmeg' by my good friend Alan McCusker-Thomson. From what I have seen this is going to be a rattling good read. Details can be accessed via https://www.nutmegmagazine.co.uk . Nutmeg is of course a footballing term used to describe the skill of beating an opposition player by passing the ball through his legs. Alan had another reason for sending me the link. It reminded him of the time when he and I were teenagers at Stirling University and I took huge quantities of nutmeg (totally legal of course) in a partially successful attempt to achieve a hallucinogenic experience. Nutmeg was considered to have these properties. It worked but my guts were wrenching for days. A nostalgic reminder of the bonkers world of Chris Donkin in the 1970s. Thankfully football gives me my highs these days and I am looking forward to another intoxicating experience at the UTS Stadium next Saturday when I will once again be on the Road to Wembley from Scotland

Chorley's Scottish Links: Lewis Guy, Jason Walker and the avuncular Tommy Lawrence

In advance of the FA Cup Second Qualifying Round Tie between Dunston and Chorley at the UTS Stadium I have been investigating the links between Chorley and Bella Caledonia. With great assistance from Chorley twitterer Magpie Paul (@MagpiePaul37) and from the official Chorley FC twitter feed (@chorleyfc) I have managed to unearth three links – one of which is a cracker. Lewis Guy is an attacking midfield player who played for Chorley recently and now plays for Annan Athletic in Scotland. Current Chorley striker Jason Walker played for Greenock Morton. Last but certainly not least, the Liverpool legendary goalkeeper of the sixties Tommy Lawrence played for Chorley in the twilight of his career.

If you have been following this blog from the start you may remember the name Lewis Guy. Early on I was searching for links between Penrith FC and Scotland and a tenuous link that was suggested was that Lewis Guy, a native of Penrith but never a Penrith player, was now playing for Annan Athletic in Scottish League 2. It is funny how some things come up again and I was advised by Chorley FC that Lewis played for The Magpies 12 times last season before signing for Annan in January. He only scored one goal for Chorley but has been on the scoresheet for Annan a few times since moving North. I am told that he was keen to sign for Annan because it was less travel from his Penrith home for him to play for the Scottish League 2 side than it was to ply his trade for the Lancashire outfit.

 

Lewis Guy celebrates scoring for Annan against Stirling in Feb 2016

Jason Walker is also a Cumbrian by birth but also played in Scotland. Jason started his career as a youth with Dundee at the age of 16 in 2000 but never actually played for the first team. A move to Morton in 2004 allowed him to show off his scoring prowess and Jason scored 12 goals for the Greenock men. In total he played 75 times for Morton before leaving in 2007. He has been a man of many clubs since then including a successful spell with Barrow where he scored a stunning winning goal in extra time to help his home town team lift the FA Trophy at Wembley. In total Walker scored 46 goals for Barrow. Jason also played for York City where he helped then win the Conference play off final in 2012. In the summer Jason signed for Chorley and the Dunston defenders will need to be on their A game to thwart this goal machine a week on Saturday.

 

Jason Walker in typical Scottish pose: Beer in hand and glazed expression

With due respect to Lewis and Jason the most interesting tartan link with Chorley is Tommy Lawrence. Goalkeeper Tommy was born in Ayrshire in 1940 and this Scottish football icon played over 300 times for Bill Shankly’s Liverpool in the 1960s. Tommy also has a strong link to the FA Cup. Tommy was a team mate of ex Skelmersdale coach Ian St John in the famous FA Cup Final of 1965 when Liverpool defeated Leeds 2-1 in front of 100000 fans at Wembley. Tommy also played for Scotland winning his first cap in 1963 and making his final appearance in 1969. At the very end of his career the avuncular Lawrence had a short spell in goals for Chorley where he was affectionately known as The Flying Pig.

Tommy Lawrence: Served Liverpool, Scotland and Chorley with distinction

 I have a feeling I might be scratching the surface here and there may be many more links between Chorley and chilly Jocko-Land. Keep reading as the Magpies build up for the big game in Gateshead on the 17^th September.

So what does Chorley mean to me ?

After the excitement of Tuesday night the attention now switches to the visit of Chorley FC to the UTS Stadium for the FA Cup second qualifying round tie between Dunston and Chorley on Saturday September the 17^th. So what does Chorley mean to me?

The first time I heard the word Chorley uttered I was about 9 years old and it was part of ribald joke told by my Dad when socialising with the wider family in Newcastle and the word Chorley was offered as a Geordie pronunciation of the word Charlie. The joke ran something like this: “A group of Geordie builders were working on a building site in Chorleywood in Hertfordshire. The estate was famous for it’s reputation for attracting naturist visitors (not sure if this was true but it fits well with the joke). A naked lady appeared on the building site and looking rather lost spoke to a builder who is friendly with his builder colleague Charlie Wood. ‘Am I alright for Chorley Wood?’ asks the naked lady. The Geordie builder replies: Wye aye Hinny! … Hey Chorley!”

Chorley FC first came into my frame of reference when I was living in Lincolnshire in the 1990s. These were the wilderness years for Boston United and they were languishing in the Unibond League. It was a languish that they learned to speak fluently. I reckon I saw Chorley 3 times in this era. In season 93-94 Boston United beat Chorley 4-0 and I was there. In season 94-95 The Pilgrims defeated the men from Lancashire 2-0 and I was there that afternoon too. In season 95-96 Boston won again 2-1 this time with the legend Chris Cook on the scoresheet and once more I was in attendance.

Chorley also visited York Street in August 1996 but I was up in North Lincs to see Louth United play Guisborough in the FA Cup Preliminary round as my obsession with the FA Cup took priority. The men from Lancashire also visited York Street in August 1997 but I was up visiting family in Edinburgh and fortunate to see my beloved Hearts win 1-0 in the derby match away at Hibs courtesy of a Neil McCann goal. That day was the first time I had ever seen the ‘hand cupped to the ear’ celebration as McCann ran round in front of the Hibs fans after scoring with the ‘I can’t hear you’ gesture.

Chorley are now an established team in the upper echelons of non league football and have re-established hostilities with Boston United in the National League North. A week on Saturday they travel to the UTS Stadium and given the way that the immutable Dunston lads are playing they will have their work cut out to ensure that I don’t see them lose for a fourth time.

In the next few days I will be in contact with Chorley FC to flush out their links with Scotland. Keep visiting and hopefully the tartan connections to the men known as the Magpies will be revealed. 

The second half heroes have 'Dun' it again as an Ayr raid sees Skem Slaughter-ed

Tuesday the 6th September 2016

FA Cup First Qualifying Round Replay

Skelmersdale United 1 Dunston UTS 2

Another replay and another late winner from the indefatigable Dunston boys. Last night was Dunston’s sixth FA Cup tie and they are not finished yet. It is unlikely that the team that wins the most famous trophy in the whole of  football in May will play more FA Cup ties this season. This is how the evening unfolded.

Picture displayed thanks to kind permission of John Driscoll

 Pre Match Communications: Full marks again. Once more special thanks to Steve Wraith, the Dunston Commercial Manager, for all the updates from the UTS Stadium and to the Skelmersdale United Programme Editor Kev Panther for all things Skem. A great sadness around this blog is that every time a tie is completed I say good bye to one team. It has been great seeing Skem home and away and a pleasure to visit their stadium. I wish them every success for the remainder of the season. 10/10

Pre Match Pint: When I established my reporting arrangements for the blog the idea was to go to the nearest pub to the ground. I am a slow learner but I have now twigged the best place to get a pre-match pint at non-league grounds in England is actually in the ground itself. Hence I headed for my pint inside the Stadium. No hand pulled beers but the Guinness was good and I had the pleasure of chatting to the Dad of one of the Skem players. Geoff Wright is the father of Skelmersdale United player Dale Wright and he describes his son as a ‘tough tackling midfielder’. Over the last two games I have noticed there is a lot more to his game than the appetite to win 50-50s. It was a pleasure to enjoy a drink with Geoff before the game last night  8/10

Open for business: the bar at Stormy Corner

Geoff Wright - father of Skem midfielder Dale enjoying a pre match pint

Programme: If you want to get full marks for the programme category the way to do it is to include extracts from the blog. Kev Panther did just that and I feel truly honoured. The programme is priced at £2 and is great value. The 24 page glossy publication is cram packed with loads of interesting reading and relatively few adverts. Good coverage of the visitors from Gateshead and a herculean effort by young Kev to get such a good read out and for sale in such a short timesacle. 10/10

The programme: A triumph for Kev Panther

The Road to Wembley from Scotland blog featured in the match programme

 Ground: The Messenger Express Stadium is known locally as Stormy Corner. Skem have played here since 2006 and it still has the feel of a new ground. The main stand affords a great view of the action and the concrete terracing that surrounds the pitch enables spectators to have a walk around and change their viewing position. The ground will improve further when the planned new stand is built. 7/10

The main stand: Dunston Chairman looks on ashen faced as Skem lay siege in the first half

The main stand as seen from the opposite side of the pitch

Atmosphere: Once again I have to report that I have still not heard any singing yet on the ‘Road’ but the atmosphere at this match was very pleasant and given what was at stake very convivial. It was great to see rival fans discussing the match at the end of the night and the Skem fans wishing Dunston all the best in the next round. 7/10

Your blogger has his notebook out (thanks to John Driscoll for this pic)

Scottishness: As reported at the weekend the link between Dunston and Bonny Scotland is a bit tenuous. Skem have Scots heritage dating back to the 60s and 70s but no identifiable link currently. So things were looking a bit bleak on the Caledonian front. Kev Panther did tell me that Skelmersdale did have a Scots fan called Derek but he was not there last night. I was all set for a 2/10 in this category when Steve Wraith came up with the goods. The Dunston number 4 Richard Slaughter was working in Ayr yesterday just hours before kick off and drove to West Lancashire to don the famous blue jersey – that last night was actually red. Hence it would appear that I was not the only person to drive from Scotland for the match last night. 4/10

Entertainment: Another great game. Two sides committed to passing, attacking football going at it hammer and tongs for 90 minutes at Stormy Corner. Playing their sixth FA Cup tie in 31 days the Dunston resources were stretched and they were only able to name 3 subsititutes. One was the Assistant Manager who would only take the field in an emergency and one was a sub goalie. Hence effectively only one sub available. He was forced to come on after about 15 minutes and hence the Dunston boys were up against it. They also went a goal behind in the first half when the Skem midfielder Tony Rendall skilfully half-volleyed a corner into the net from close range. In truth the home team dominated the first period and were slightly unfortunate only to lead by one goal at the interval, although the robust Malky Morien did hit the bar for the visitors.

I don’t know what manager Bill Irwin puts in the half time tea for the Dunston youngsters but I have a suspicion that amphetamine sulphate may be involved. I have now seen Dunston four times and their second half overall scoreline is 7-1. They were at it again last night. The Gateshead team have some great young footballers in their side and attacking midfielders messrs Lucock, Heslop, Thear and Leedham play with a pace and a freedom that enables them to move the ball swiftly and slice open opposition defences. They can all score goals too. They are ably supported by Malky Morien - a fearsome warhorse lone frontman who holds the ball up for them. Last night their play defied their pyramid step 5 status as they set about their step 3 opponents with great gusto in a second half that they dominated. In the 63^rd minute Lucock equalised when he used his speed to spring the offside trap. With only the keeper to beat, he coolly rounded the custodian of the onion bag and slotted the ball into an empty net. Scott Heslop was frustrated in the 76^th minute when he found himself in the clear after another great passing move but his shot was brilliantly saved. In the 81^st minute the stocky Morien was denied twice. However, with only four minutes to go the underdogs got their reward when Heslop latched on to a deep cross at the back post to skilfully loop a header over the goalkeeper. Few could argue that the best team won. The lower pic below is courtesy of Skelmersdale United photographer John Driscoll.

First half action as Dunston defend a corner kick

Heads you win. A midfield stramash in the second half

Final score Skelmersdale United 1 Dunston UTS 2. Gateshead on the 17^th September will see Dunston entertain Chorley and I will be there. An excellent 7 minute highlights package from last night's match is available from Simon Driscoll’s twitter feed @StattoSi (nice one Simon) 9/10

Match Day Catering: A good selection of football favourites available from the stall in the ground. I went for the meat and potato pie with mushy peas. Good stuff and served with gravy too. 8/10

Value for Money: Slightly more expensive than at Dunston to get in with the admission price set at £9. However, I and the other couple of hundred spectators, were royally entertained. 8/10

The je ne sais quoi factor:

Two memorable moments from last night. Firstly a big thank you to the Committee at Skelmersdale for showing me such fantastic hospitality. I was invited in to their wee board room at half time for a coffee and a snack and a good old blether about Skem through the ages. Thanks guys.

Half time in the boardroom. Has the Dunston man (middle) had too many of their famous pies?

The other moment was a bizarre conversation with the Dunston Manager half way through the second half. With the game in the balance Bill Irwin was supervising an esoteric warm up routine by his emergency sub Bowey that involved his Assistant Manager lying prostrate on the floor beside the dugout and pulling his knees up to his chin to adopt the foetal position. He noticed my t shirt and laughing said: “I have been reading your blog – it’s good” (thanks for that Bill much appreciated) and then continued: “Stop taking the piss oota wor pies will ye – that’s my diet”. As the Road to Wembley continues it is hard to imagine that I might be behind the dugout at (say) The Emirates Stadium in the quarter final as Arsenal take on Everton and Arsene Wenger turning round to take issue with my reporting of their catering arrangements. 9/10

Overall Road to Wembley from Scotland Rating 80/100 (highest so far)

So, it’s back to Gateshead for the FA Cup 2^nd Qualifying Round tie between Dunston UTS and Chorley on the 17th September. Chorley ply their trade in the National League North Division so this promises to be a huge test for the Dunston lads. On the evidence of last night, they will certainly be ready for the challenge.

Miles on the clock for this match 410

Total Miles on the Road to Wembley from Scotland so far 1374