Low Cost Local Football

Whalley Range 5-0 Morecambe Royals
Lancashire FA Amateur Cup 3rd Round; attendance about 32, plus a dog.
Whalley Range have been kicking about these parts since 1900 as an amateur club, that's long enough to have records in the National Archives which they do. Currently in the Lancashire & Cheshire Amateur League Division 1. They have their own ground with two pitches and a club house. Morecambe Royals play up in Lancaster in the North Lancashire & District League Premier Division which is sponsored by Honda.

It was raining when I set off, and it kept on raining through most of the match. Fortunately there was shelter in front of the clubhouse. Could even park my cycle along with someone else's in the dry part. Watched the end of the Sunderland v. Newcastle game at the bar before the delayed kick-off. Might come here again - satellite Tv, bar, tea, coffee, pies and you get served straight away. Snug and bijou with a big window facing the pitch.

Range did most of the attacking and got three good goals every ten minutes in the first half. Second half Royals battled away but didn't really threaten to get back into the game. A long range shot from Range made it 4-0. Then a solo effort from the Range No.6 weaving his way around the muddy pitch as the the Royals defence looked for the lay-off. There wasn't one, he knocked it past the keeper.

Friendly crowd of regulars, young and old. A good afternoon, and with it being a 1400h, or more like 1420h kick-off and only ten minutes break at half time you get to cycle home whilst it's still light. Good job there are no floodlights.

Game 46; admission free, no programmes, freshly made cup of tea 60p. Now I've been to all four local grounds within 3kms of home and this is the best one for me.