PERCY MAIN AMATEURS (Purvis Park)

NORTHERN FOOTBALL ALLIANCE LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION, PERCY MAIN AMATEURS 3-4 WINLATON COMMUNITY, ATTENDANCE: 39 (h/c)

I found myself waking up in the North East of England today. The sun was shining, the skies were free of clouds. Everything was perfect. The only thing was to decide where to go.

I use the Futbology app and there is a function for you to look at your personal statistics on where you have been. The app can show you completed leagues and there are a few I need to complete the Northern League, with this in mind I had decided to get one of these ticked off. However, with nothing riding on the games on offer and the grounds of the teams concerned largely uninspiring, I began to umm and ahh.

I began to scroll social media and, amongst the many options, Northern Alliance League Percy Main Amateurs posted a tweet offering free entry for non-league day and the bonus of a physical programme. We had a winner! So why Percy Main? Well, the seeds were planted, so to speak, during the last weeks of lockdown in 2021 as yet another season was curtailed.

Due to a shortage of help behind the scenes, both on a matchday basis and regards the many tasks which have to be carried out through the week in order to maintain football at Percy Main, the club tendered their resignation from the Northern Alliance in March 2021.

Percy Main is a village that forms part of North Shields, not far from the banks of the River Tyne. It is named after the Percy family who owned the colliery that was sunk in there 1799. The village developed around this pit, which eventually closed in 1895.

The football club was founded in 1919 by ex-servicemen returning home from the Great War. They began playing in the Northern Amateur League and finished their inaugural season as league champions, whilst also lifting the Northumberland Minor Cup.

The club subsequently won the Championship in four consecutive years between 1925-1928. In the 1929-30 season, Percy Main had their best ever run in the FA Amateur Cup (the forerunner to what is now the FA Vase) reaching the quarter finals before losing to eventual finalists Bournemouth Gasworks.

In 1968, Percy Main joined the Northern Alliance and have remained members ever since. They play their home games at Purvis Park, named after Alan Purvis who served the club as player, secretary and chairman for over 50 years.

After the news broke about Percy Main folding, two new directors, Ryan Lynch and Paul Springett, stepped forward to save the club and the resignation was withdrawn.

I was speaking to one of the club officials who said this season has still been one of struggle with the turnover of players being a primary factor. Today, for example, the club were having trouble filling the subs bench as players failed to show. Nonetheless the eleven that did start gave their absolute all and contributed to a humdinger of a match.

Percy Main started brightly, having an effort cleared off the line, but it was Winlaton Community who took the lead when Daniel Candlish (33) was allowed to take a touch in the box before slotting home. Percy Main were only behind for a couple of minutes when Billy Walker (35) equalised from inside the box. Winlaton then hit the woodwork and also had a good shout for a penalty turned down. 

The second half began with Winlaton on the front foot and just after the hour mark they made this advantage tell and were 3-1 up, thanks to goals from Steven Aiston (53) and Ross Nicholson (62).

Percy Main looked a beaten team but a speculative long range effort from Dean Deagle (79) caught out the Winlaton 'keeper and gave the homesters renewed hope. They pushed and pushed for an equaliser but in the 87th a deflected free kick from Candlish effectively sealed the win for the visitors. Walker added his second in the 89th minute to reduce the arrears to one goal once again and Percy Main nearly grabbed a very late draw but Jordan Stephenson saw his effort saved. 

Great entertainment and both teams deserve a lit of credit. A good game to celebrate non-league day, even better value as admission was free. Such a shame there weren't a few more spectators to enjoy the action.

I enjoyed my visit to Purvis Park and I sincerely hope the club can go from strength to strength and be around for a few more years yet. If you haven't been there already, then I implore you to put Percy Main on your "to visit" list.

The clubhouse/stand with St John's Church in the background.

MILL HILL FC (Griffin Park)

EAST LANCASHIRE LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION, MILL HILL 10-0 RISHTON UNITED, ATTENDANCE: 27 (h/c)

I along, with numerous groundhoppers from far and wide, spent today attending the North West Counties League annual hop. There were four games today in this wonderful part of country but for me I was revisiting these fantastic grounds after something approaching 15 years since my previous visits.

Despite my intention of revisiting all four, I can never resist the opportunity of new ground "tick" so I headed off piste for my second game of the day.

I went back along the M65 to the Mill Hill district of Blackburn for my first ever game in the East Lancashire League. The Mill Hill area was built up in the 19th century as the local cotton mills expanded. 

The football club was founded in 1992 and play at Griffin Park, which is about a mile away from Blackburn Rovers' Ewood Park. The name Mill Hill will resonate with football supporters who have been to Ewood by train as this is the closest station to the ground.

There is another football connection to the area as legendary ex-Blackburn, Everton and England footballer Fred Pickering was from the area and there is a street in Mill Hill named in his honour.

Griffin Park is on the edge of an industrial park and is hemmed in by units and the River Darwen. There is a small piece of cover on the halfway line and a clubhouse behind the goal, allowing a good view of the pitch, and serving refreshments.

The East Lancashire League is not formally part of the non-league pyramid, so if a team wants to progress they usually have to apply to join the West Lancashire League. There are 10 teams in the Premier Division and Mill Hill currently sit top of the table, 6 points clear of second place, with four games to play.

There was absolutely no danger of Mill Hill losing this afternoon once they scored after less than two minutes. They were 7-0 up by half time. Visitors Rishton United barely registered a shot on target in the match and the match ended with the tenth goal.

There was an unsavoury incident in the second half when a brawl broke out, which could have resulted in at least two red cards for violent conduct, but the referee seemed content to issue the players with yellows and crack on with the match.

There were a few other groundhoppers in attendance, most heading back to join the NWCFL groundhop afterwards. I do enjoy watching goals flying into the net but when the game is a one-sided, non-contest as it was this afternoon, then it isn't really that much fun to be honest. Well done to both teams, Mill Hill for their victory and Rishton United for keeping going.

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My other games today...

11am West View Stadium

North West Counties League Division One North

Bacup Borough 6-1 St Helens Town

Att: 460

Comfortable win for Bacup against an already relegated Saints, though it was 2-1 and pretty even until the visitors went down to 10 men after 34 minutes. It was 4-1 at half time and effectively game over. 

West View has been Bacup's home since 1889 and it has to be one of best grounds in the country in terms of it's location and surrounding views. Simply wonderful.

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4.45pm Victoria Park aka Little Wembley 

North West Counties League Division One North

Nelson 3-1 Chadderton

Att: 351

Straightforward win for the homesters as Chadderton never laid a glove on them until a late consolation goal.

Nelson were a Football League club from 1921 - 1931, when they were replaced by Chester City. Victoria Park has been home since 1971 when their old ground was demolished to make way for the M65.

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7.45pm Victory Park aka Silentnight Stadium

North West Counties League Premier Division 

Barnoldswick Town 0-2 Avro

Att: 517

My final game of the day saw me head to Barnoldswick for the first time in 14 years. Plenty of work has been done at the ground since that last visit. Formed in 1972, Barlick are also celebrating their 50th anniversary this year.

Having discussions with other hoppers during the match, we felt this might be the first 0-0 of the Hop but two second half goals gave the visitors the win.

Plenty of youngsters present who had clearly adopted the mantra 'no pyro, no party' with plenty of flares being let off in the corner.