Author: Donna Artis

Astley FCs Summer 7s Tournament

🌞 Astley FC’s Annual Summer 7s Charity Tournament is back and promises to be bigger and better than ever! Taking place on Friday 19th July from 1–7pm at the fantastic Westway Sports Hub in Chorley, this exciting 7-a-side competition is open to all FA-affiliated teams. Whether you’re in it to win it or just fancy a great day out with your squad, this is your chance to play for a good cause.

Entry is ÂŁ120 per team (maximum 10 players per squad), with all proceeds going to two incredible charities: Derian House Children’s Hospice and the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA). Expect great football, great company, and the chance to make a real difference. Don’t miss out—register your team today and be part of a summer tournament that scores goals on and off the pitch!

End of Season

The League Season has now been completed. Congratulations to all the Divisional Winners and the Cup Winners. The stand out club/team this year has been Standish St Wilfrids who have won both the Premier Division and the Guildhall Cup and their Reserves won the Lancastrian Brigade Cup.

If any teams require additional medals for players for winning the Divisions please let me know and I will order them for you.

FRANK CURRY MEMORIAL TROPHY

There is one Trophy still to be played for and that is the Frank Curry Memorial Trophy between New Longton Rovers and Southport and Ainsdale Amateurs Reserves. This will be played on Thursday 15 May at New Longton Sports Club , kick off 6.45pm.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The Annual General Meeting of the League will be held in June. The provisional date is Thursday 26 June and this will be confirmed in due course. If any clubs have any issues to raise either for the AGM itself or for a more general discussion after the meeting please let me know.

NEW CLUBS/CLUBS LEAVING

We have had a number of enquiries from new teams/clubs looking to join us for next season. Equally we also find that some teams/clubs decide to leave us. The registration/affiliation process for 2025/26 commences on the 1 June . If any teams/clubs are looking to leave us please let me know by the end of May. 

FINES

One of the features this season has been the number of fixtures which have not been fulfilled. There were quite a number in April/May and a full list of fines has been emailed out to clubs. Please ensure that these are paid promptly. 

If anybody has any questions please let myself or other members of the Management Committee know. Otherwise to all our clubs have a good break over the summer and we look forward to seeing you at the AGM and next season.

Semi-Final Showdowns: Late Drama and Shootout Nerves Light Up the Cup!

The Frank Curry Memorial Cup served up plenty of drama on Saturday 3rd May, with both semi-finals delivering goals, comebacks, and no shortage of tension. As teams battled for a place in the final, fans were treated to thrilling encounters that went right down to the wire.

Frank Curry Memorial Cup Semi Finals

Marsh United Reserves 3-3 (HT 0-1, PENS 1-4) Southport & Ainsdale Amateurs Reserves
It was a pulsating cup semi-final between Marsh United Reserves and Southport & Ainsdale Amateurs Reserves, ending 3-3 after normal time before S&A clinched it in the shootout. Jamie McCormack gave S&A an early lead on 21 minutes with his first of the season, nodding home from Sean Doran’s pinpoint free kick. After the break, Marsh responded as Connor Wallis pounced on a loose ball following a save to level on 52 minutes. S&A regained the lead through Jack Benson’s unstoppable free-kick just after the hour mark, but Tom Wright’s double—first on 71 minutes and again on 78—turned the tie back in Marsh’s favour. However, Alf Askew’s late strike in the 83rd minute ensured the game went to penalties.

In the shootout, it was Southport & Ainsdale who held their nerve, converting four spot-kicks to Marsh’s single reply to book their place in the final. It was heartbreak for Marsh after such a spirited comeback, but credit to S&A for showing resilience throughout the contest and delivering when it mattered most from the spot.

New Longton Rovers 4-2 (HT 1-1) AFC Ainsdale Reserves
New Longton Rovers powered their way into the final with a commanding 4-2 win over AFC Ainsdale Reserves. It was Liam Mackie who struck first for Ainsdale on 15 minutes, but Joseph Richardson pulled Rovers level just before the break with a clinical finish. The second half belonged to Rovers, and Richardson wasted no time adding his second of the game on 55 minutes to turn the tie around.

An own goal on 68 minutes extended the Rovers’ lead before Richardson completed his hat-trick with another well-taken strike on 74 minutes, making it 4-1. Mackie did manage a late consolation for Ainsdale with his second on 76 minutes, but it was too little too late as New Longton booked their spot in the final with an impressive attacking display.

Late Drama and Penalty Heartbreak as Standish St Wilfrid’s Reserves Edge Past Marsh United Reserves in Final Thriller

The stage was set at the SFC Stadium in Bamber Bridge last night as Marsh United Reserves and Standish St Wilfrid’s Reserves locked horns in a gripping grassroots final. With Standish looking to add yet another piece of silverware to their already impressive season, and Marsh determined to cause an upset, the match didn’t disappoint — delivering late drama, end-to-end action, and a tense penalty shootout finale.
Photos and videos from the match are courtesy of Donna Artis Photography. Full galleries are available to view and purchase through her website by clicking the “Full Gallery” button.

Standish St Wilfrid’s Reserves — a side already flying high after their first team’s recent Guildhall Cup triumph and Premiership title win. But on this occasion, silverware wasn’t handed over without a fight.

The opening exchanges were as cagey as they come, nerves clearly jangling on both sides. A couple of early mistakes set the tone, but it was Standish who settled quickest, creating the first real chance — only to be denied by a solid block. On six minutes, player-manager Matt Mason almost produced a moment of magic, rattling the crossbar with a strike from distance that had the Marsh faithful holding their breath. Jack Saunders then forced the Marsh keeper into a smart save from a free-kick, tipping the ball over in the ninth minute.

But it was Marsh United who struck first. On 15 minutes, Connor Wallis latched onto a clever flick through and coolly slotted the ball under the onrushing keeper to give Marsh a 1-0 lead and send their supporters into raptures.

Buoyed by the goal, Marsh nearly doubled their advantage straight from the restart, with Ethan Markland powering down the wing and delivering a teasing cross that the Standish keeper spilled — though nothing came of it. Marsh continued to threaten on the break, and Wallis almost had a second on 27 minutes, only for the Standish stopper to smother his one-on-one chance.

The remainder of the first half saw both sides trade blows in an entertaining, end-to-end spell, but neither could find the killer touch before the break. Marsh went in with their noses in front at 1-0.

The second half was a battle of grit and guile. Both teams threw themselves into challenges, and with the keepers acting as sweeper-keepers, there was no shortage of drama as they bravely raced off their lines time and again.

As the game ticked past the 75-minute mark, Standish St Wilfrid’s began to turn the screw, piling on the pressure in search of an equaliser. Marsh, for their part, looked to hit on the counter but couldn’t quite piece together the final ball.

Just when it seemed Marsh might hold on for a famous victory, heartbreak struck in the 89th minute. Standish had a fierce strike parried away, but Calum Duffield was on hand to bury the rebound into the bottom corner, bringing Standish level at the death and silencing the Marsh supporters who had dared to dream.

With no extra time, it went straight to penalties — and after a tense shootout that rolled into sudden death, it was Standish St Wilfrid’s who held their nerve, winning 5-4 from the spot to add yet another trophy to their growing collection this season.

Late Season Drama as Goals Flow in Weekend Clashes

As the season edges towards its conclusion, the fixture list continues to thin out, with just a couple of matches taking place across the divisions this weekend. While some teams wrapped up their campaigns early or were handed walkovers, the games that did go ahead still delivered plenty of goals and drama. Here’s a roundup of the standout action from Saturday 26th April.

PREMIERSHIP

Highgrove 3–3 Broughton Amateurs AFC
It was a thrilling contest at Highgrove as both sides shared the spoils in a six-goal spectacle. The hosts got off to a dream start with Joe Martin opening the scoring in the 5th minute, followed by a composed finish from Harvey Ogley on 16 minutes. Lewis McGrath struck on the hour mark to give Highgrove a 3–2 lead, but they couldn’t hold out for the win.

Broughton Amateurs showed great resilience, fighting back through goals from Benjamin Fry, Liam Bell and a crucial equaliser by Dave Westwood. It was end-to-end action, with neither side able to deliver the knockout blow.

FRANK CURRY MEMORIAL CUP

AFC Ainsdale Reserves 6–3 Bickerstaffe Reserves (HT 2–0)
AFC Ainsdale Reserves booked their place in the next round with an emphatic 6–3 win over Bickerstaffe Reserves. Despite trailing 2–0 at the break, Bickerstaffe fought hard in the second half and found the net through Ben Fearon, Sean Orrett, and Shaun Smyth.

However, the home side were clinical in attack, putting six past a stretched Bickerstaffe defence in a goal-laden second half. With the home scorers yet to be confirmed, Ainsdale’s attacking dominance was evident as they powered into the next stage of the cup.

Standish St Wilfrid’s Complete Memorable Night with Double Trophy Win at the County Ground

The Guildhall Cup Final was played under the lights last night at the County Ground in Leyland, where Standish St Wilfrid’s came from behind to defeat Marsh United 2-1 in front of around 200 spectators.

The game was officiated by Michael Bonage, assisted by Mark Fitzpatrick and Callum Edgar, with Michael Blackledge acting as the fourth official.

Marsh United struck first in the 32nd minute when Daniel Martin snuck in from close range to surprise the Standish goalkeeper and put his side 1-0 up. Marsh carried their lead into the half-time break.

However, Standish St Wilfrid’s responded strongly after the restart. Matt Clarke fired home the equaliser from just outside the 18-yard box in the 52nd minute. The comeback was completed in the 70th minute when James Harrison capitalised on a fumble in the Marsh box to slot home the winner.

It was a night of double celebration for Standish St Wilfrid’s, who were not only crowned Guildhall Cup championsbut also presented with the Premiership trophy, having won 17 of their 19 league games with one fixture remaining against Highgrove.

Photos and goal cam footage from the evening are courtesy of Donna Artis Photography.

Frank Curry Memorial Cup: Group Stages Complete, Semi-Finalists Confirmed

After an exciting and competitive group stage, the Frank Curry Memorial Cup has now reached its semi-final phase. The action across all three groups has provided plenty of drama, goals, and standout performances, setting up a mouth-watering finale to this year’s competition.

Final Group Standings

Group A saw Southport & Ainsdale Amateurs Reserves dominate, finishing unbeaten with two wins and a draw, scoring 13 goals along the way. They topped the group on 7 points, closely followed by AFC Ainsdale Reserves on 6 points, who also impressed with 11 goals from their three matches.

Group B was controlled by New Longton Rovers, who stormed through with a perfect record — three wins from three and a staggering +15 goal difference after finding the net 19 times. Sir Tom Finney secured second place, but with only four points, it wasn’t enough to guarantee a semi-final spot.

In a much tighter Group C, Marsh United Reserves claimed top spot with seven points, edging out their first team counterparts, Marsh United, who finished just behind on five points after three hard-fought matches.

Castle FC sadly exited the competition without managing a goal or point, but showed great spirit throughout their games.

Semi-Finalists Confirmed

The teams progressing to the semi-finals are:

  • Southport & Ainsdale Amateurs Reserves (Group A Winners)
  • New Longton Rovers (Group B Winners)
  • Marsh United Reserves (Group C Winners)
  • AFC Ainsdale Reserves (Best Runner-Up across all groups)

AFC Ainsdale Reserves clinched the final semi-final berth by a narrow margin, finishing with 6 points compared to Marsh United’s 5.

Semi-Final Fixtures Released

The semi-final ties have now been confirmed and can be found here.
With the quality on display so far, both matches promise to be fiercely contested as the teams battle for a place in the Frank Curry Memorial Cup Final.

Stay tuned for more updates as we approach what promises to be a thrilling climax to the tournament!

Thorpe’s Stunning Goal and Sir Tom Finney’s Rampant 7-1 Win Light Up a Thrilling Weekend

Saturday 19th April delivered a cracking set of fixtures across Division One and the Frank Curry Memorial Cup, with plenty of goals, drama, and standout performances. From stunning solo efforts to dramatic late equalisers, the weekend had it all. As the season edges closer to its conclusion, teams are leaving it all out on the pitch—and the latest round of results certainly didn’t disappoint. Here’s a round-up of all the action from a thrilling afternoon of grassroots football.

Division One

AFC Ainsdale 2-2 Hoole United
There was late drama at AFC Ainsdale as the hosts battled to a 2-2 draw in a pulsating encounter with Hoole United. A moment of magic gave Ainsdale the lead on 29 minutes when Andy Thorpe’s booming free kick from the edge of his own box caught everyone off guard and found the net. It was a strike that lit up the first half, which ended 1-0 in the home side’s favour.

But the second half belonged to the visitors—initially. Ben Rooke pulled Hoole level on 70 minutes before substitute William Cooper nudged them ahead just five minutes later. Ainsdale weren’t done, though, and Matty Howard popped up with a towering header in the 85th minute to rescue a point, bagging his 17th goal of the season in the process.

Ribchester Rovers 1-3 Standish St Wilfrids Reserves
Standish St Wilfrids Reserves continued their charge with a confident 3-1 win away at Ribchester Rovers. The visitors were sharp in front of goal, with Andrew Dickson breaking the deadlock and Louis Halliwell adding to the tally as they took control of proceedings.

The standout strike came from Samir Sobeih, who capped off the performance with a third goal, continuing his excellent season in front of goal. With 25 goals to his name, he’s become one of the division’s deadliest forwards. A solid all-round display from Standish that keeps momentum firmly on their side.

Just one match remains in Division One, with Standish St Wilfrids Reserves set to host Hoole United in what could be a decisive clash for final league positions. Hoole have already secured the runner-up spot and will be looking to finish their campaign on a high, but for Standish, there’s still plenty to play for. A draw would be enough to lift them into fourth place, capping off a strong finish to the season and providing a fitting reward for their recent good form. With both sides in confident mood, it promises to be a competitive encounter to round off the Division One season.

Frank Curry Memorial Cup

Bickerstaffe Reserves 3-3 Southport & Ainsdale Amateurs Reserves
Six goals and a share of the spoils in an end-to-end thriller as Bickerstaffe Reserves and Southport & Ainsdale Amateurs Reserves played out a classic cup encounter. Sean Orrett led the line brilliantly with a well-earned brace, while Alex Griesdale also got on the scoresheet for the home side in an open, attacking display.

Southport & Ainsdale Amateurs showed plenty of attacking prowess themselves. Joseph Lemmens got them going in the 21st minute, before Jack Osborne hit twice in the second half, with strikes in the 48th and 79th minutes. A thoroughly entertaining tie, and one that had fans on the edge of their seats throughout.

Wigan Rovers 1-7 Sir Tom Finney FC
Sir Tom Finney FC turned on the style with a commanding 7-1 away win at Wigan Rovers in the Frank Curry Memorial Cup. Robbie Heaton gave the home crowd something to cheer about with a first-half goal in the 40th minute, but it was a rare highlight on a tough afternoon.

The visitors were simply unstoppable going forward, showing clinical finishing and excellent movement all over the pitch.

Hoole Hit Five While Bickerstaffe and Shevington Share the Spoils – Tuesday Night Round-Up

It was another action-packed evening of grassroots football on Tuesday 15th April, with drama unfolding in both the Premiership and Division One. Hoole FC turned on the style with a five-star performance against Appley Bridge, while Bickerstaffe and Shevington couldn’t be separated in a closely-fought encounter. Photos and videos from the Hoole vs Appley Bridge clash, capturing all the key moments, are courtesy of DONNA ARTIS PHOTOGRAPHY.

Premiership

Bickerstaffe 2–2 Shevington
It was honours even at Bickerstaffe as the hosts played out a spirited 2-2 draw with Shevington. Louis Burke and Alex Griesdale found the net for the home side, with both players producing composed finishes to keep Bickerstaffe in the contest.

Shevington showed real character on the road, with Sam Burton and Ben Lyons getting on the scoresheet to earn their side a valuable point. It was a game that could have gone either way, but in the end, a share of the spoils felt like a fair result between two evenly matched sides.

Division One

Hoole FC 5–1 Appley Bridge
Hoole FC were in scintillating form as they brushed aside Appley Bridge with a dominant 5-1 win. The home side got off to a flying start when Sam Craven opened the scoring in the 27th minute. Just eight minutes later, William Clarke doubled the lead with a tidy finish, giving Hoole a firm grip on the game heading into half-time.

The momentum continued after the break, with Adam Thomas making it 3-0 just five minutes into the second half. Ben Rooke added a fourth in the 57th minute before Clarke bagged his second of the match on 80 minutes, rounding off an excellent personal performance.

Despite being outplayed for much of the evening, Appley Bridge grabbed a late consolation deep into stoppage time through Liam Hilton, who fired home in the 93rd minute. But it was little more than a footnote as Hoole’s attacking display took centre stage.

A complete performance from Hoole FC, who were ruthless in front of goal and never allowed their opponents a way back into the match. They’ll take real confidence from this result heading into the business end of the season.

Appley Bridge Complete Stunning Season with Division One Title and Cup Heroics

Appley Bridge capped off a sensational 2024/25 campaign by lifting the Division One trophy in front of jubilant players, staff, and supporters. The trophy was presented by Peter Jones, League Fixtures Secretary, to team captain Dan Atkins following the final match of the season.

Appley Bridge Captain, Dan Atkins receiving trophy from Peter Jones

Dominant from the start, Appley Bridge stormed to the top of the table with an outstanding record — 16 wins from 18 matches — showcasing consistency, quality, and grit throughout the league season.

But it wasn’t just in the league where Appley Bridge made headlines.

They also flew the flag for the Mid Lancashire Football League in the Lancashire FA Amateur Cup, becoming the only team from the league to reach the semi-finals — a tremendous achievement in a highly competitive field.

Their impressive cup journey included:

  • Round 1: Home walkover against Milton FC
  • Round 2: 4-2 away win vs. Preston Wanderers
  • Round 3: 3-0 away win vs. Thornton Cleveleys
  • Round 4: 5-2 win over Pennington Reserves
  • Quarter-Finals: 4-3 victory over Blackpool Wren Rovers Reserves
    Their run ended at the semi-final stage, but not without leaving their mark on the competition.

Appley Bridge also enjoyed a strong showing in the Guildhall Cup, battling through to the quarter-finals:

  • Round 1: Away walkover vs. Bay Rangers FC
  • Round 2: Penalty shootout win (4-2) after a 3-3 draw against Cherrybrook
  • Round 3: 6-3 triumph over AFC Ainsdale
  • Quarter-Finals: Narrow penalty shootout defeat (3-2) following a 1-1 draw with Shevington

With silverware secured and deep cup runs under their belt, the 2024/25 season will go down as one of the most memorable in Appley Bridge’s history. Congratulations to Dan Atkins and the entire squad on a truly exceptional campaign.