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Post by hatter_in_macc on Dec 11, 2017 14:09:07 GMT
Next up: it's Trophy time! And, unusually, we have been drawn to go on the road - to a ground, in fact, that, for a friendly just over five years ago, hosted the then-largest gathering of County Heaveners at a game... Post all the usual stuff here, together with any Heavenly reminiscences from those who were there in 2012. (One of my chief memories is the pre-match biblical storm!)
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Post by hatter_in_macc on Dec 11, 2017 14:12:45 GMT
Back to the present - with nods to the past - here is my piece for COWS about our hosts for Saturday:
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TAKE FIVE… Lancaster City
By Hatter in Macc
1. Well - hello, Dolly (Blues)! A rare trip up to Lancaster in the Trophy…
Yes, we have seldom crossed paths with the club that takes its nickname from an early 20th-Century brand of washing tablet whose colour matched the shade of the shirts worn by this weekend’s hosts! In fact, our only previous competitive meetings - both at the ‘Giant Axe’ - were in the FA Cup, and during seasons (1921/22, when the ‘Dolly Blues’ won 2-0, and 1933/34, when a single Alf Lythgoe goal proved enough to see County through) before they changed their name from Lancaster Town. The current ‘City’ suffix was introduced in 1937, to reflect Lancaster’s newly-given civic status - granted as part of King George VI’s coronation celebrations, no less.
2. I quickly need to know about this Giant Axe ground-name, too. Come on - chop, chop!
(Sigh…) Well, the playing area - where Lancaster have plied their trade since being formed - was originally part of a much wider sports club that included tennis courts, a bowling green, hockey and rugby fields, and (within a large grass circle, known as the ‘sixpence’, which had the football pitch at its centre) four cricket wickets. The exterior wall around all this was the same shape as an axe-head - and, you might suppose, a pretty massive one! - when viewed from above.
3. So, how did the club come about - and what has it been up to since?
Lancaster Town began in earnest, as a Lancashire Combination outfit, from 1911 - although some sources date formation back to 1905, when Lancaster Athletic, who also played at the Giant Axe, had commenced the first of five campaigns in the same competition - before failing to complete a full set of fixtures in the West Lancashire League during 1910/11.
From that point, and their admission as Lancaster Town, the Dolly Blues spent 59 years in the Lancashire Combination - which they won four times. Since 1970, much of their life has been devoted to life at one level or another of the Northern Premier League - excepting five years in the North West Counties League (1982-87), after the club had been reformed following financial difficulties, and three seasons as founder members of the Conference North (2004-07). The Giant Axe silverware cabinet currently houses the NPL Division One North trophy, won last term by Lancaster to earn automatic promotion to the Premier Division - one tier below County.
4. We don’t meet often - but a few players have turned out for both clubs, haven’t they?
More than a few, actually! Hatters may remember a pre-season friendly of ours at the Giant Axe on a rain-soaked evening of July 2012 that featured, in Danny Hattersley, Alex Kenyon and Alex Meaney, three former Dolly Blues as part of the County line-up. (Hattersley and Meaney scored the game’s two goals, too, just to rub it in!) And midfielder Craig Carney, who was at Edgeley Park briefly in 2016, is Lancaster’s current captain, with eight goals to his name this season.
The rather expansive, overall list from other times includes our beloved centurion, and the world’s oldest surviving former professional, George Haigh - who, having played for the Hatters before and during the Second World War, was Lancaster’s captain, while learning his post-war trade as a metal spinner, in 1945/46. The roll-call also features: goalkeeper Andreas Arestidou (at County in 2015/16); defenders Joe Bunney (2013), John Hardiker (2002-05) and Alex Jones (1984/85); midfielders Paul Lodge (1985/86), Adam Nowland (2008), Craig Roberts (2009-11) and Jake Simpson (2010/11); and strikers Mat Bailey (2003-05), Darren Green (2008/09), Ian Stevens (1986), Rhys Turner (2013/14) and Oshor Williams (1979-84). Additionally, Barrie Betts, who played in the County defence between 1957 and 1960, was later the Dolly Blues’ manager, from 1970 to 1972.
5. And are the ‘Betts’ in favour of a County victory?!
Well, if historical omens are your thing, this is the first time we have been drawn away in the Trophy since visiting another Lancashire club from the NPL Premier Division, Ramsbottom United, at the same First Round stage, three years ago. A repeat of our 3-0 victory from then would be most welcome. Similar conditions to the freezing ones that we braved at ‘Rammy’ less so…!
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Post by bringbacklenwhite on Dec 11, 2017 20:54:53 GMT
I was there that night, driving up through Garstang expecting the match to be rained off (in August I believe) thinking County Heaveners were having a longer wasted journey.
Excellent ale in one of Sandy's ex-student drinking dens and a win for County. A thumping header and a subterranean effort squeezing beneath the diving body of the Lancaster keeper. The crowd swopped ends at half time and the PA announced the crowd changes before the game.
Magical evening in the eventual sunshine with great company.
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Post by jimboslovechild on Dec 12, 2017 6:43:04 GMT
I'm not really bothered about this competition, except as a chance to give some players a rest and others a bit of game time. I was impressed by how Jim gradually brought Smalley, Winter and Stephenson back into the starting eleven, as well as the way he has given Duxbury a breather. It feels like we have a pretty big squad, so he will need to keep them all interested. I'd like to see Dixon, McKenna, Thomas, Duxbury and perhaps Walker given a chance. We might need to rotate a bit over the next few games, as there are a few quick turnarounds. It will be particularly important to perform well on Boxing Day -- because I'll be there!
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Post by countyfan on Dec 12, 2017 14:18:13 GMT
County to win at a canter!
3 - nil up by half time 5 goals by the end 14 corners 63% possession 331 pies eaten by 96 travelling fans
FACT!!
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Post by harrogatehatter on Dec 15, 2017 6:36:50 GMT
I always like reading these 5 things about our opppnents, especially the list of players who have played for both clubs. I’m always surprised about the number of County players from the last ten years or so who I’ve never heard of (or completely forgotten). We have had such a huge turn over of (awful) players I guess it’s no surprise they’re knocking about the lower reaches of non- league mind.
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Post by hatter_in_macc on Dec 15, 2017 13:18:20 GMT
Thanks, Harrogate - and, yes, I have to say that what my research for these pieces is uncovering surprises me, too.
Working on Alfreton at the moment - and, after thinking that there would not be too many players other than Kallum Mantack and Chris Sharp who have turned out for both clubs, I am astonished to have totted up a list of at least a dozen! Watch this space late next week...
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Post by hatter_in_macc on Dec 15, 2017 13:34:08 GMT
Sounds promising...!
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Post by sandbachhatter on Dec 15, 2017 16:30:04 GMT
I was there that night, driving up through Garstang expecting the match to be rained off (in August I believe) thinking County Heaveners were having a longer wasted journey. Excellent ale in one of Sandy's ex-student drinking dens and a win for County. A thumping header and a subterranean effort squeezing beneath the diving body of the Lancaster keeper. The crowd swopped ends at half time and the PA announced the crowd changes before the game. Magical evening in the eventual sunshine with great company. Indeed, Lennie. For anyone making the trip (I, alas, am no longer able to make it), The Merchants is the pub Lennie is referring to (near the train station). Best boozer near the ground (or it certainly used to be). My advice would be not to venture past the ground down the hill, as we used to live that way, and I seem to recall it being twinned with Baghdad.
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Post by hatter_in_macc on Dec 16, 2017 0:03:25 GMT
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Post by hatter_in_macc on Dec 18, 2017 13:21:48 GMT
The draw for the Second Round has just been made, and we have a trip to Kidderminster on 13th January.
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Post by hatter_in_macc on Dec 18, 2017 13:45:20 GMT
Not a terribly appetising draw, if truth be told. County have yet to win at Aggborough - against 'Kiddy', at least - so there is unlikely to be too much smart money on our getting into the Third Round.
And talking of which, our League trip there will now need to be rearranged - with it having been scheduled for 3rd February, when the Third Round takes place!
Harrogate away, which was originally fixed for 13th January, is also to be moved.
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Post by hatter_in_macc on Dec 27, 2017 15:59:14 GMT
Our trip to Harrogate has now been put back ten days - to Tuesday, 23rd January.
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Post by hatter_in_macc on Jan 4, 2018 10:07:39 GMT
The League match at Kidderminster will now take place on Tuesday, 6th March.
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