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Three games played in youth division blue today where BAE Warton consolidated top spot by beating Ribble Wanderers, Fulwood Amateurs Blues moved up to third spot after beating Springfields at Lightfoot Green and Lostock St Gerards beat AC Preston.

Eamonn McNamara.

Local football legend Jim Parker has decided to call it a day as he retires after 23 years’ service to the Lancashire Football Association. He started work at the County HQ in 1995 looking after Discipline issues before moving to the Referees Department and finally fulfilling the role of Facilities Manager.

Jim served on the management committee of this League as Referees Manager from 1975 to 1981, having started refereeing in 1972. His refereeing career saw him progress through the local leagues, West Lancashire League and the old Lancashire Combination. He was appointed Assistant Referee on the Football League in 1980 and promoted to Football League Referee in 1985. His last game was the 1995 League Cup Final at Wembley Stadium between Bolton Wanderers and Liverpool where he was the reserve referee.

A popular figure in both football and refereeing circles in the North West, Jim has been inundated with good wishes since announcing his retirement and we send him best wishes from this League.

Eamonn McNamara.

Acregate Lane LC will face Crown Paints (Darwen) from the Blackburn Sunday League in the semi-finals of the LFA Sunday Trophy. Crown Paints are currently in second spot in the eight team top division, three points behind the leaders but with three games in hand.

Ribbleton and Bamber Bridge United will play their twice postponed quarter-final at UCLan Sports Arena on Sunday 06 January 2019 and whoever wins will meet the winners of the other outstanding quarter-final tie, Eleven Sports Media (Blackpool) v Wigan Wanderers, which will also be played on Sunday 06 January 2019.

The dates and venues for the semi-finals have yet to be announced by the LFA.

Eamonn McNamara.

The draws for our four cup competitions were made by Tyrell Smith of Tanterton FC at the League Meeting held at Acregate Lane Labour Club on Monday 10 December 2018.

Syndicate Trust Challenge Cup holders Hunters & Ingol Rangers face a tricky tie away at in form Earnshaw Bridge from division 1, Presidents Cup holders Southport & Ainsdale Amateurs travel to division 3 leaders Lostock Hall who are unbeaten and who have disposed of two premier division sides Ashton on Ribble and Ribbleton in this year’s competition.

The eye catching tie in the Syndicate Trust Presidents Cup sees division 1 leaders Arkwrights at home to Sir Tom Finney who head division 2. The last remaining division 3 side Park United host last year’s finalists Walton Athletic from division 1.

Youth division blue leaders BAE Warton are at home to youth division white leaders Garstang in the Syndicate Trust Youth Cup and there are two all youth division red clashes as Euxton Villa are at home to Padiham and Bolton County travel to Coppull United. With six second round games in the Syndicate Trust Youth Trophy to be decided, the draw is dominated by either/or permutations.

The dates for the quarter-finals will be announced early in the New Year.

The draw for the quarter-finals of the Syndicate Trust Challenge Cup:

AFC Ingol	v	Tulketh United
Earnshaw Bridge	v	Hunters & Ingol Rangers
Lostock Hall	v	Southport & Ainsdale Amateurs
Walton	v	Theatre Boys

The draw for the quarter-finals of the Syndicate Trust Presidents Cup:

Arkwrights	v	Sir Tom Finney
Park United	v	Walton Athletic
Penwortham Town	v	AFC Longridge
Waverley Park	v	Blackpool Town

The draw for the quarter-finals of the Syndicate Trust Youth Cup:

BAE Warton YFC	v	Garstang
Coppull United	v	Bolton County
Euxton Villa	v	Padiham
Ribbleton YFC	v	Winstanley Warriors Reds

The draw for the quarter-finals of the Syndicate Trust Youth Trophy:

Fulwood Amateurs or Southport	v	Layton Lions or Mellor
Lostock St Gerards	v	Cadley or Fleetwood Gym
Poulton or Chipping	v	Winstanley Warriors
Ribble Wanderers or Mill Hill	v	Haslingden St Marys or Penwortham St Teresas

Eamonn McNamara.

Two goals from Paul Turner earned Acregate Lane LC a 2-1 win against Highfield Social and a place in the semi-finals of the LFA Sunday Trophy.

This win cannot be understated as Highfield Social sit in second spot in the Blackpool & Fylde Sunday Alliance with a 100% league record and they are three points behind leaders Ma Kellys Showboat with three games in hand. Acregate Lane beat Ma Kellys earlier in the competition.

Highfield took an early lead which they took into the interval, but Paul Turner levelled matters early in the second half and he got the winner with a great solo effort with 17 minutes to go. These goals brought Turners tally for the season to 22. A delighted Acregate manager Gary Duboulay said, “The lads were fantastic, make no mistake that was a tough one, but we dug in and got the result”.

Acregate will be joined in the semis by the winner of the Bamber Bridge United v Ribbleton game which has been postponed twice and will now be played on Sunday 6 January 2019 at UCLan Sports Arena.

Two games were played in the Syndicate Trust Youth Trophy, Tarleton Corinthians went down 3-2 at home to Lostock St Gerards thanks to goals from Byron Mason (2) and Adam Thomas with Callum Chisnall and George Sinclair on target for Corinthians. Winstanley Warriors beat Springfields 6-2.

Only five league games managed to beat he weather. Division 1 leaders Arkwrights beat Wyresdale Rangers 4-2 with goals from Chris Darwen, Billy Goth, Mark Taylor and Mike Jackson. Cameron Ross contributed a brace for Wyresdale. Five goals from Aamir Toorawa saw AFC Preston beast Waverley Park 7-3 in division 2, Toorawa has netted no less than 37 league goals to date this season. Aroon Hussain and Junaid Dalal added the others. Stephen Phoenix (2) and Rob Graham scored for Waverley. BAW Warton made it two wins on the bounce when they beat Rufford Park Rangers 4-1 in division 3 with Peter Austin, Lee Chapman, Joe Clamp and Michael Walton on target.

Two league games played in the youth section, Bolton County beat Euxton Villa 4-1 in youth division red where William Jackson, Ben Tomlinson, Blaise Amani and Tshiessi Tshife provided the goals with Matthew Ragsdale replying for Euxton. The only game played in youth division blue resulted in a 4-2 win for Gregson Lane against AC Preston. Jack Groundwater, James Finch (3) Jamie Diaj and Callum Moore scored for Gregson Lane with Filip Ral and Joseph McGuckian netting for AC Preston.

Round up and photos by Eamonn McNamara.

Following the heavy rain this week and with more forecast it will be no surprise that Preston City Council, South Ribble Borough Council & UCLan Sports Arena have declared their pitches unfit for play this weekend, Saturday 8th & Sunday 9th December 2018. This means that no matches will take place this weekend on the following parks;

Preston City Parks

Frenchwood Park

Moor Park

Ribbleton Park

London Rd Athletic Track

Mill Lane

Station Lane, Barton

South Ribble Parks

Higher Walton Recreation Ground

Hutton Village Hall

Kingsfold (Penwortham)

Tardy Gate Recreation Ground

Withy Grove (Bamber Bridge)

Worden Park (Leyland)

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.