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Waverley Park earned their place in the semi-finals of the Syndicate Trust Presidents Cup by beating fellow division 2 side Blackpool Town 6-1 at Ribbleton Park. It was an enjoyable encounter, played in an excellent sporting spirit and one which Waverley wanted more. Their goals came from Jamie Yates (2) bringing his tally for the season to 18, Sam Reader, Martyn O’Malley and two spectacular 30 yard efforts from Shaun Hyslop. Andrew Azzopardi replied for Blackpool Town. The other three quarter-finals are scheduled to be played next Sunday.

The match of the day in the premier division saw Ribbleton climb into second spot with a 2-1 win at Acregate Lane LC, leaders Southport & Ainsdale A won 4-1 at Bamber Bridge Town, AFC Ingol got back to winning ways with a 5-3 win at Theatre Boys, Hunters & Ingol Rangers beat Ashton on Ribble 5-1 and both teams remembered the late Sean Dixey Dawson with a minutes silence. Bottom club Springfields had a morale boosting 2-1 win against Tanterton at the UCLan Arena.

Earnshaw Bridge closed the gap at the top of division 1 with a 7-0 win against Worden Rangers, AFC Longridge’s impressive form, continued with a 5-3 home win against Walton making it 5 wins on the trot, Warton beat Vernon Sports, Walton Athletic won at Whittle and Wyresdale Rangers beat Gregson Lane Wanderers 3-2. AFC Preston top division 2 after beating Penwortham Town 3-2, they now share top spot with Sir Tom Finney whose game today was postponed. Aamir Toorawa was on target for AFC Preston, his 52nd goal of the season. Fulwood Park Rangers beat Kingsfold 6-1.

The top game in division 3 between Lostock Hall and Park United ended 1-1, the first points that Lostock have dropped since 30 September. Park United are the only team in the division with a chance of catching Lostock Hall, they are currently 13 points behind them, but they have four games in hand. Jordan Dashti scored for Lostock and Danny Kidd netted for Park. Second placed Ribbleton Wanderers won 4-0 at Leyland BTR and Ribble beat Rufford Park Rangers 3-1.

The Fulwood Amateurs juggernaut show no sign of abating in youth division red as they beat Padiham 3-0 to maintain their perfect start, Mill Hill won 3-0 at Euxton Villa and Coppull United won 3-0 at Haslingden St Marys. David Marley netted all four as Cadley won 4-1 at Winstanley Warriors to draw level with Garstang at the top of youth division white. Layton Lions and Fleetwood Gym drew 1-1. Three games in youth division blue saw Ribbleton win 5-1 at AC Preston, Springfields won 3-0 at Astley & Buckshaw and finally Tarleton Corinthians beat Layton Cavs 7-0.

Round up and photos by Eamonn McNamara.

UPDATE: This game will now be played on Sunday 27 January 2019 at 11.00am.

BAE Warton face AFC Fylde at BAE Sports Ground in the semi-final of the LFA U18s Youth Cup. The BAE lads will aim to reach the Final for the second year running after losing out fellow Lancashire Sunday League side Winstanley Warriors 3-2 in last season’s final.

Currently top of youth division blue with a 100% record in all competitions this season, the BAE side managed by Mark Sevens know that they will have to be at their best to best their illustrious neighbours. The other semi-final sees Southport (not LSFL) play Billinge Rangers.

The LFA U18s Youth Cup is the LFA’s oldest youth cup competition and it stretches back to the 1953-54 season and it has been won on three occasions by clubs from this League.

Eamonn McNamara.

The battle for the League title could go all the way as the top six teams in the premier division are separated by just two points. Southport & Ainsdale lead the way with 25 points from 10 games after beating Tanterton 3-0 this morning. Tanterton have 23 points from 13 games. Acregate Lane in second spot beat Bamber Bridge United 5-2 and they also have 25 points from 11 games. Ribbleton with 24 points from 10 games are undoubtedly the form side, after losing their first two league games back in August they have won the next 8 and they demolished Springfields 9-1 at the Arena.

The game of the day was the clash between AFC Ingol (24 points from 15 games) and Hunters & Ingol Rangers who have 23 points form 11 games and these two drew 1-1 when they met on 30 September. The deadlock was broken in the 31st minute when Danny Cooper fired AFC Ingol ahead and James Morley doubled their advantage on 56 minutes. Hunters & Ingol Rangers (HIR) were having plenty of the game but just not converting their chances until Dee Edmonds pulled one back with a header in the 65th minute and Edmonds was on hand to chip in the equaliser from the edge of the area on 78 minutes. This was a high quality game with two good sides, and it was well handled by referee Bob Roberts.

Arkwrights still lead division 1 but they were beaten 3-1 at in-form AFC Longridge and second placed Earnshaw Bridge won 1-0 at Walton. Sir Tom Finney won 8-0 at Kingsfold to open up a three point lead at the top of division 2 and Leyland Orient remain in third spot after beating Fishwick Rangers 4-2. Lostock Hall won at Tarleton Corinthians and their lead in division 3 looks unassailable, Leyland BTR beat Rufford Park Rangers 5-1 and the game between Ribble and Tarleton White finished 1-1.

Poulton beat Chipping 8-0 in the outstanding second round tie in the Syndicate Trust Youth Trophy. Fulwood Amateurs made it eight wins on the trot winning 5-1 at Mill Hill to lead youth division red, Bolton County beat Haslingden St Marys, Padiham won at Euxton Villa and Winstanley Warriors Reds beat Coppull United. Garstang beat Layton Lions 3-1 to head youth division white but the game of the day in that division between Cadley and Southport ended in a 3-3 draw. BAE Warton remain top of youth division blue after winning at Penwortham St Teresas, second placed Fulwood Amateurs Blues beat Layton Cavs and Ribbleton beat Tarleton Corinthians.

Round up and photos by Eamonn McNamara.

The Lancashire Football Association (LFA) has unveiled a new logo which has a refreshed look and whilst it is less regal in appearance than the old one, it still recognises the heritage of what it means to be part of the Lancashire sub-region by highlighting the three Lions, the year of Lancashire FA's inception and most importantly the iconic Red Rose of Lancashire.

The logo has a similar feel to the FA’s crest, bringing increased transparency and collaboration between the county and national game which is so important. LFA Chief Executive, Simon Gerrard, said: “I’m thrilled we’re now able to introduce the new logo for the LFA. The old logo was outdated and not fit for the modern digital era, it was old-fashioned instead of forward-thinking and it was time for a change."

Established in 1878, the LFA is the largest County FA in the country with over 850 clubs, some 70,000 players and 1,400 referees and it is based at The County Ground, Thurston Road, Leyland. Their board of Directors, 20 Councillors and 40 staff provide a vital service to grass roots football in Lancashire.

Eamonn McNamara.

The Festive Season over and it was time to get back to playing football and what more could one ask for than an LFA Sunday Trophy quarter-final between Ribbleton and Bamber Bridge United, two of our premier division sides.

The game had been postponed twice before Christmas due to the weather but there were no such problems this morning as the conditions were ideal for football and UCLan Sports Arena had done the business with the pitch which had been roped off in anticipation of a decent crowd.

Both managers, Mick Chambers (Bamber Bridge) and Tony Basil (Ribbleton)were happy with their squads, that said, the Bamber Bridge players sent their best wishes to team mate Ben Yates who is in intensive care following recent surgery. Ben was an ever present for the club this season before his operation and I am sure that everyone connected with this league will spare a thought for Ben and wish him well.

As the prize at stake was a semi-final spot in the LFA Sunday Trophy, it was no surprise that the game started at 100 miles an hour and it continued that way until the 11th minute when Ribbleton’s Ritchie Allen was tripped in the penalty area and Liam Allen converted the spot kick. It took until the 40th minute for Ribbleton to double their advantage which came with a nifty header at close range from Sean McElhone.

The longer the game progressed the tighter was Ribbleton’s grip on proceedings and they made their lead emphatic when Ritchie Allen curled a shot into the top corner from the edge of the penalty area on 56 minutes. Now the floodgates opened as Aaron Houghton made it 4-0 on 61 minutes, then Ritchie Allen finished off the move of the game to make it 5-0 on 74 minutes. Ritchie Allen provided the pass for Terry Hampson to get the 6th two minutes later and then Allen completed his hat trick with a solo effort on 80 minutes which just left Fraser Murdoch to complete scoring (8-0) just before full time.

Bamber Bridge manger Mick Chambers was quick to congratulate the Ribbleton lads and wish them will in the semi-final adding, “Well done to Ribbleton, it just wasn’t our day and we have no complaints”. Ribbleton’s manager Tony Basil said, “A lot of hard work has gone into this team and I am delighted with the way my lads responded. He made special mention of the Man-of-the-Match Ritchie Allen and Jack Seaward & Jordan Murdoch.

A word of praise too for the match officials who had to be on their toes this morning, referee Mark Hughes and his Assistants Mark Otto and Peter Fuller handled the game well.

Ashton on Ribble are celebrating their first win in the premier division this season and they did it by inflicting the first defeat of the season on the highly fancied Southport & Ainsdale Amateurs with goals from Scott Shannon and Chris Ward with Chris Bates replying. Hunters & Ingol Rangers move into third spot after beating Theatre Boys 3-0. Arkwrights maintained top spot in division 1 by beating Walton Athletic 6-1 and there were wins for Walton at Gregson Lane Wanderers, Wyresdale Rangers at Warton and AFC Longridge beat Worden Rangers to make it 4 wins on the spin.

With Sir Tom Finney not playing today, AFC Preston took advantage to top division 2 by beating Fishwick Rangers, Kingsfold won at Bamber Bridge Town, Blackpool Town beat Gregson Lane and Waverley Park beat Penwortham Town 3-1. Division 3 leaders Lostock Hall beat Ribble 3-1, Tarleton Corinthians won at BTR Leyland, second placed Ribbleton Wanderers beat BAE Warton, Midgery Court beat Rufford Park Rangers to record their second win of the season and Park United kept up their challenge with a win at Tarleton White.

The second round of the Syndicate Trust Youth Trophy produced wins for Fulwood Amateurs against Southport, Haslingden St Marys against Penwortham St Teresas, Mellor at Layton Lions and Mill Hill at Ribble Wanderers.

The two games in youth division red both end in 1-0 away wins, Bolton County at Coppull United and Padiham at Winstanley Warriors. There were no games in youth division white whilst in youth division blue Tarleton Corinthians and Springfields drew 2-2, BAE Warton won at AC Preston, Fulwood Amateurs won at Astley & Buckshaw, Gregson Lane beat Layton Cavs and Ribbleton won 3-2 at Lostock St Gerards.

Round up and photos by Eamonn McNamara.

The first set of fixtures for 2019 contain an absolute cracker when two of our premier division clubs Ribbleton and Bamber Bridge United meet at UCLan Sports Arena on Sunday 6th January at 11.00am with the winners earning a place in the semi-finals of the LFA Sunday Trophy.

The game has been postponed twice at Bamber Bridge United’s home ground at Withy Grove, Bamber Bridge due to the weather and under LFA rules the tie now switches to Ribbleton’s home ground. The winners will face either Eleven Sports Media FC (Blackpool) or Wigan Warriors, who will also play their twice postponed quarter-final at Blackpool on Sunday 6th January.

Another of our premier division clubs Acregate Lane Labour Club FC are already through to the semi-finals of the LFA Sunday Trophy and they will face Crown Paints FC from the Blackburn Sunday League on a date to be decided by the LFA.

There are also six ties in the Syndicate Trust Youth Trophy scheduled for Sunday 6th January.

Eamonn McNamara.

Physical Training: The Society provides physical training for its members at UCLan Sports Arena Training every Monday evening between 6.30-7.30pm except on Society Monthly Meeting nights when it will be brought forward to 6.00-7.00pm.

For further details about the physical training sessions please contact Paul Marsden here.

Lancashire Sunday Football League is always happy to accept new referees to its list of officials. If you have any enquiries about refereeing on the League or would like to be added to the list of officials, please contact the League’s Referee Manager Mark Moore here.

Mid Lancashire Football League operates on Saturday afternoons for Open Age clubs and they are also happy to accept new referees to its list of officials. If you have any enquiries about refereeing on the League or would like to be added to the list of officials, please contact the League’s Referee Secretary Tony Hawkes here.