AWAY DAYS

(A Personal View of Recent Away Matches)

When the fixtures came out last June the first one I looked for was Radcliffe away and when I saw it was on the 3^rd April I felt fortunate that the missus is also a fan as it is our wedding anniversary! I was also a bit disappointed as I usually have a three day ticket for Aintree but not this year. Why is Radcliffe away important? Only because we lived a short distance from the ground for 12 years and have friends in the area so it was a good chance to catch up.

We made an early start to be able to take in the Radcliffe Fans v Southport Fans match in the morning and I must say the enthusiasm with which the lads who played showed in the build up to the game, the game itself and after the match was a credit to them all. It was all paid for out of their own pockets and they did themselves proud, losing 3-2, but for their first ever eleven a-side game it was a brilliant effort. It was only when tiredness crept in towards the end that Radcliffe got the winner. If you bear in mind that most of the lads were up at 6.30am to get to Southport train station in time it is no wonder they looked shattered at the end of a full 90 minute game. Whilst our penalty miss was unfortunate the rebound was well over the line (I was stood right on the goal line) and if only there had been a Russian linesman in attendance we may have had a different result. However,  the guy that reffed the game did a brilliant job, doing offsides, throw-ins, the lot and he deserved great credit for taking on the task. Thanks must also go to southport fc juniors who loaned the kit for the day, a great all round effort by everyone involved. A full report and pictures will appear in the Stalybridge programme.

As for the “real game” it was a very disappointing first half  but what a turn around in the second. I think there must have been a few flying tea-cups in the dressing room at half time!

A super second half showing saw us run out comfortable 3-1 winners, exactly the same score as the last time we played at Radcliffe in a first class fixture when in 1983 we met in the FA Cup in front of a crowd of 429 with goals from Alan Wilson (2) and Joe Strong.

The crowd of 407 was Radcliffe’s third best of the season bettered only by their local derbies against Alty and Stalybridge.

Darren Brookfield made his league debut to become Non-League player number 507 and player number 1145 in all league games.

Robbo’s goal in added time was the sixth league game in succession in which he has scored (a SFC non league record beating Andy Whittaker’s five)) and the words to the song are:

And here’s to you, Neil Robinson,

Southport loves you more than you will know

Whoah oh oh

God bless your goals, Neil Robinson

Brick End holds a place for those who score,

Hey hey hey, hey hey hey….. repeat verses!!!

Great day and brilliant support once again and for anyone who hasn’t joined the away days fans, why not get over to Droylsden next Saturday for our last away game of the season, and cheer the lads on in what promises to be a real crackerjack of a game.