Welcome to the Lancashire Sunday League Website

Today saw 16 of our clubs appearing in the 2nd round of the LFA Sunday Trophy with two all Lancashire Sunday League ties, and no less than 11 of our clubs having to travel.

Acregate Lane LC were not at their best but they were too good for Royal Oak beating them 5-2 , Grange had a big away win at AFC Swan and AFC Ingol won 3-1 at D Havilland. Ashton Villa won 2-1 at Ewood Blues, New Farington House returned to their old ground to beat new tenants Kingsfold 5-1, Hunters had a comfortable 8-2 win at Trawden Tree and Tanterton won 8-1 at Olympic AFC.

Arkwrights made it to round 3 in their first season with a 6-1 win at Parkside and Theatre Boys who like this competition beat The Bridgewater 6-0 at Ashton College. We had some casualties, Walton from division 3 went down 3-1 at top Blackpool side Blackhurst Budd, New Longton Rovers were beaten 7-3 by Mill Hill from Blackburn who can never be written off and Vernon Sports lost 3-1 at Rochdalians. So with 2 results still to come we have at least 9 teams into the third round of this important competition.

Today was also the 1st round of the Syndicate Trust Youth Cup and Springfields welcomed Walshaw Sports to the UCLan Arena but went down 3-0 to goals from Ole Barnes (2) and Callum Burchett. This is Walshaw Sports first season in the league, they are based at Tottington, Bury and there has been a club at Walshaw since 1890. They have their own clubhouse opened by our own Sir Tom Finney in 1968 and their all-weather floodlit 5 a side facility was opened in 2003. They are managed by Mark Dalton and they have an enthusiastic group of parents supporting them.

Coppull United Blues made progress winning 6-3 at Broughton Amateurs, Wyre Villa won 7-5 at Burscough Dynamos and Ladybridge won 3-1 Charnock Richard. Chorley Wanderers went down 3-0 at home to Ribbleton, Croston beat Chipping 3-2: there were big wins for AFC Fylde against Lancon and Lostock St Gerards at Appley Bridge, Lammack won 3-1 at Eccleston & Heskin and Euxton Villa lost 3-2 at home to Astley & Tyldesley.

Jordan O’Mahoney’s goals could not prevent Lostock Hall SC losing 3-1 to AFC Darwen and Padiham beat Haslingden St Mary’s 2-0. Poulton were too strong for Mellor winning 8-0, Southport won 5-3 at Tarleton Corinthians, Garstang won 5-1 at Thornton Cleveleys and Walmer Bridge bagged a 3-2 win at Leyland BTR.

Springfields and Walton Athletic drew 3-3 in a cracking premier division clash at the Arena, Danny Chauhan put Springfields ahead after 1 minute and an own goal a minute later made it 2-0, Adam Hoyle netted the third after 33 minutes and the game looked over. Not so, the half time team talk by Walton management duo Mark Brown and Mark Parkinson clearly hit home as Mark Jemmett pulled one back on 51 minutes and he scored from the spot on 58 minutes to make it 3-2 before Anthony Ashton levelled the scores two minutes later. The game was well handled by referee Matt Coles and his Assistants David Shaw and Mark Otto.

Preston Victoria won 3-0 at Ashton on Ribble in the only game in division 1, Gregson Lane and Tarleton Corinthians drew 2-2 in division 2 where Chorley Saints won 4-0 at Leyland Orient, Whittle Wanderers beat Ribbleton Wanderers, Tulketh United beat Westhoughton and Penwortham Town and Fulwood Park Rangers drew 1-1. Earnshaw Bridge press on in division 3 beating Bamber Bridge Town 4-1, BAE Warton beat Adlington 3-o and Wilbraham won 6-2 at Tarleton.

Round up and photos by Eamonn McNamara.

A reunion to remember one of the best years in Preston’s local footballing history will take place later this year.

Former amateur players from exactly 50 years ago are set to gather at Bamber Bridge’s Sir Tom Finney Stadium on Friday, October 28. The ‘Boys of 66’ will commemorate the special occasion when they were crowned winners of the County Youth Cup.

Representing the Preston and District Football League, the youngsters emerged victorious over Wigan in the final. Aged around 17 or 18 back then, the players will now be in their late 60s. While that particular success will be commemorated, the reunion is open to all former players, referees and officials from that era and beyond.

It is being organised by well-known ex-local footballer and official Wilf Riley, who organised something similar last year to mark the 50th anniversary of the Catholic Junior Cup final in 1965 between English Martyrs Juniors and St Joseph’s Juniors.

As well as commemorating the County Cup victory, the former players will also be reminiscing about Preston North End’s famous 9-0 win over Cardiff during the same year along with the fifth round FA Cup victory over Tottenham Hotspur. And of course, England’s World Cup success over West Germany is likely to drop into the conversation at some point.

“It should be a good night” said organiser Wilf Riley “The one we held last year was very well attended. There were more than 80 who came - lads who played from the 1960s and 1970s.”

Those attending the reunion are also likely to raise a glass to the Preston town team which won the English Schools’ Cup exactly 80 years ago. The schoolboys shared the trophy with West Ham after the final – which was played in front of several thousand fans – finished 1-1 at Upton Park. All proceeds from the reunion will be split between St Catherine’s Hospice and Preston Schools’ Football Association.

Tickets on the door cost only £5, which includes pie and peas supper and the event starts at 6-30pm.

Anyone who would like to sponsor the event or for further information on donations or attending the evening, please contact Wilf Riley on 01772 336257, write to him at 52 Moss Lane, Lostock Hall, PR5 5BT or you can e-mail him here.

Eamonn McNamara.

Only two weeks into the season for our youth teams and Clitheroe are already setting the pace in youth division red. They have won both their games and they beat Haslingden St Marys 4-1 today with goals from Simon Wharton, Adam Bolton (2) and Josh Tetley with Jamie Hart scoring for St Mary’s. AFC Darwen beat Chorley Wanderers 3-1, Walshaw Sports won 9-0 away at Astley & Tyldesley, Lammack beat Horwich St Marys 4-2 and Ladybridge won 7-0 at Padiham.

There is a three way tie at the top of youth division white with Coppull Utd Blues, Euxton Villa and Southport all on 6 points from their first two games. Coppull beat Leyland BTR 8-1, Southport won 8-1 at Lostock Hall SC whilst Euxton Villa beat Appley Bridge 5-1 at home though Alexander Ostridge, Mario Neophytou and Cameron Murphy with Simon Box netting for Appley Bridge. Croston had a useful 6-1 away win at Burscough Dynamo, Ribbleton beat Eccleston & Heskin 5-0 and Walmer Bridge drew 2-2 at home to Tarleton Corinthians.

Lostock St Gerards lead youth division white after winning their opening two fixtures and they beat Chipping 7-0 today, Broughton Amateurs won 3-2 at Garstang, Penwortham St Teresa’s beat Lancon, AFC Fylde won 4-3 at Poulton, Mellow won 5-0 at Springfields and Thornton Cleveleys beat Wyre Villa 3-1.

AFC Longridge bow out of the LFA Sunday Trophy after losing their postponed game with Highfield Grange 4-3. Preston Victoria won 9-2 at Frenchwood in their preliminary round Syndicate Trust Challenge Cup game whilst in the first round games played today new boys Arkwrights caught the eye with their convincing 9-1 win at division 1 side Ashton on Ribble. Gregson Lane Wanderers won 4-1 at Adlington, Wyresdale Rangers won 7-1 at Bamber Bridge Town, Vernon Sports travelled to Lancaster to beat Parkside 4-1, Penwortham Town beat Leyland Orient 5-1, Bolton Lads & Girls won 3-1 at Wilbraham and Theatre Boys beat Warton 5-3.

The premier division already has all the makings of a two horse race between Hunters and Acregate Lane LC who both won today to maintain their 100% start to the season. Hunters won 9-0 away at champions Ingol Rangers and Acregate Lane won 6-1 away at Challenge Cup winners New Farington House. Springfields collected their first win beating Ashton Villa 5-2 and Grange drew 4-4 with AFC Ingol.

Whittle Wanderers lead division 2 by one point after their 5-2 win at Westhoughton but they have Tulketh Utd who won 4-1 at Chorley Saints and Penwortham Town breathing down their neck. Fulwood park Rangers and Gregson Lane settled for a 2-2 draw at Station Lane. There seems to be no stopping Earnshaw Bridge in division 3, they beat Tarleton 5-1 today to make it five wins out of five and Kingsfold picked up their first win with a 1-0 win at home to BAE Warton.

Round up and photos by Eamonn McNamara.

Referee David Thomas who collapsed during his game on Sunday and was taken to Royal Preston Hospital via the air ambulance is back at home with no ill effects.

David was refereeing Eccleston & Heskin v Leyland BTR in youth division white when he was taken ill and thanks to the prompt action of his refereeing mentor Brian McGill and the officials of both clubs he was taken care of on the pitch until the air ambulance arrived. He was given various heart and blood tests which thankfully were all clear and the medical staff at RPH put the condition down to a severe virus.

David, who was discharged from hospital on Tuesday, is resting at home and was in good spirits when I spoke to him today. Referee Manager David McNamara has given him this weekend off but he is back in action on 18th September when he takes charge of the Charnock Richard v Ladybridge Syndicate Trust Youth Cup tie.

The League has received numerous calls, texts and e-mails from people enquiring about David which is particularly pleasing. We wish him well and we would like to place on record our thanks to both Eccleston & Heskin FC and Leyland BTR FC for their help and consideration.

Eamonn McNamara.