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.