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Burscough Football Club - News and Match Reports

Match Reports

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Pre-Season Friendly
Saturday, 30th July 2005
Burscough... 2 Southport... 2
Southport will have gained more satisfaction from the final result after coming back from a two goal deficit despite fielding a less than full strength side.
It was Burscough who mostly held the upper hand during an entertaining first period with keeper Jamie Speare pulling off good saves from Tony Gray and Michael Mason in the opening fifteen minutes.
Southport’s first real threat on 16 minutes saw them unlucky not to take the lead as Tony Evans volleyed against a post after connecting with a Robbie Booth cross from the right.
Speare was by far the busier of the two keepers at this stage, palming away a shot from David Eaton then seeing shots from Gray and Mason pass narrowly wide.
Burscough took the lead on 21 minutes as Mason’s powerfully driven cross from the left dropped over Speare into the net and four minutes later it was two as Gray finished well after being put clear by Mark Byrne (see picture below).

Little had been seen of Port’s leading scorer, Terry Fearns, up until the 33rd minute when he made his presence felt with a header that came back off the underside of the bar.
The visitors pulled a goal back two minutes before the break as Mike Powell headed home at the far post after the home defence failed to deal with a right wing corner.
Evans blasted wide for Southport and Burscough’s Gray saw his shot blocked at point blank range in the first action after the break but a whole raft of substitutions seemed to break up the home side’s rhythm and gradually the Haig Avenue outfit began to exert control with ex-Burscough player Tommy Fields prominent in midfield, gaining a deserved equaliser on 70 minutes as Karl Bell brought down Fearns and the Southport striker sent keeper David Newnes the wrong way with the spot kick.
It was the end of the scoring though Fearns should have done better three minutes later as he headed well wide with the goal at his mercy.
Burscough: Newnes, Underwood (Barlow 66), Dames, O’Driscoll, Bell, Hussey, Blakeman (Bowen 56), Byrne (Daniels 79), Gray (Rowan 61), Eaton, Mason (Gedman 61)

Pre-Season Friendly
Thursday, 28th July 2005
Burscough... 2 Wigan Athletic... 0
A healthy crowd of 331 turned out on a night more reminiscent of January than July and saw the Premiership newcomers compete well with a side containing mostly young professionals before Burscough laid on the style in the final twenty minutes to run out easy winners.
The home side were first to threaten as Dave Rowan twice headed just wide in the opening 10 minutes. Michael Hazeldine’s attempted chip needed a sharp reaction from home keeper David Newes seven minutes later as the Latics responded.
Both sides were weaving intricate patterns without giving the crowd a great deal of goalmouth excitement but Newnes was called on to make a good save low to his left from Wigan’s Chris Sharp in the 37th minute.
Paul Gedman shot inches wide after the break and Athletic substitute James Haywood headed over a right wing cross for the visitors but it was Gedman that galvanised the Linnets into action on 64 minutes with a delightful chip over keeper Barney Olson to put the Linnets one ahead.
Tony Gray provided a shooting opportunity for Mark Byrne four minutes later but his well struck shot passed a foot wide.
Wigan were not yet finished and a snap shot from Steve Williams on 79 minutes kept Newnes on his toes then only a great saving tackle from Andy Barlow prevented David Owens breaking clear a minute later.
The introduction of substitute David Eaton on the left side had added more devil to the Linnets’ play and the final ten minutes saw Athletic under constant pressure, going further behind on 83 minutes as Liam Blakeman delivered the perfect ball for Byrne to strike home from the edge of the area.
The Victoria Park side were now playing the ball around with great aplomb and a fine move involving Byrne and Gray finished with Eaton stabbing the ball just the wrong side of a post then Eaton set up Gray only for the Burscough striker to see his shot blocked.
A masterly dinked pass from Michael Mason left Gray clear in the final minute but his shot lacked accuracy and passed harmlessly wide.
Burscough: Newnes, Underwood, Crowder (Dames 77), Bell, Barlow, Hussey, Byrne (Johnson 85), Blakeman, Gedman (Eaton 72), Rowan (Gray 33), Bowen (Mason 79).

Pre-Season Friendly
Saturday, 23rd July 2005
Burscough... 3 Chorley... 1
For the second time this week victory for the Linnets was sealed through a wonder strike, this time from 17 year old youth team graduate Steve Johnson, who rifled the ball home from fully 25 yards fifteen minutes from time.
Chorley were always likely to be fired up as FA Trophy manager Shaun Teale returned to Victoria Park with a starting line-up that included five former Burscough players and it was the visitors that struck first as Gary Martindale headed home after just six minutes against his old club.
The visitors then had a good spell, showing more appetite for the ball with Jamie Vermiglio almost putting Peter Wright clear on 15 minutes but home keeper Matthew Boswell was alert to the danger and pushed the ball clear.
The home side’s equaliser on 33 minutes carried more than an element of good fortune as Martin Crowder’s cross from the left found its way through a sea of bodies before nestling in the corner of the net.
A Teale mis-kick almost let in Dave Rowan then Wright should have put Chorley back in front on 39 minutes, running clear of the home defence only to shoot wide from a great position.
Burscough took the lead in first half injury time as Steve Hussey finished off a fine move involving Paul Gedman and Mark Byrne.
There was more urgency in the Victoria Park’s side play after the break and they were robbed of a further goal on the hour mark as keeper Paul Horridge deliberately tripped Rowan outside the area as he shaped to shoot into the empty goal. No one wanted Horridge sent off in a pre-season game but the referee opted for a fifteen minute ‘sin-bin’ instead, still further confusing supporters who never know quite where the next FA directive is coming from. Gary Martindale took over in goal while Horridge served his sentence.
On 65 minutes Wright again missed a fine opportunity as he shot against a post with only Boswell to beat.

..
Chorley keeper Horridge saves at point-blank range Gary Martindale in goal
from Paul Gedman

The game had hardly been an edge-of-the-seat affair but all that changed on 75 minutes. Within a minute of coming on as substitute Johnson brought the whole ground alive as he brilliantly interchanged passes with Hussey before taking the ball forward a couple of strides and unleashing an unstoppable left foot shot past Horridge.
Wright had another good chance for Chorley in the closing stages and Horridge did well to block a shot from Gedman as Burscough eventually ran out comfortable winners.
Burscough: Boswell, Underwood (Daniels 72), Crowder, O’Driscoll, Barlow, Hussey, Byrne (Steve Johnson 74), Blakeman (Mason 62), Rowan, Gray (Gedman 31), Bowen (Bowen 79).

Pre-Season Friendly
Tuesday, 19th July 2005
Burscough... 2 Oldham Athletic... 1
A goal of sheer genius from Steve Hussey gave the Linnets a prestigious win over a strong Athletic side and it was no more than the Victoria Park side deserved after looking the better side for long periods before tiring in the closing stages.
Burscough were ahead after just 66 seconds as Dave Rowan stooped to neatly head home a perfectly delivered cross from man of the match Martin Crowder. Paul Gedman almost made it two on 16 minutes and shortly afterwards the home side lost new signing Adam Tong who had to retire after being injured in a clash with Oldham keeper Les Pogliacomi.
A shot from Mark Hughes on the twenty minute mark was the first real test for home keeper David Newnes then Gedman fired in another drive that forced a save from Pogliacomi.

Oldham keeper Pogliacomi pushes out Martin Crowder's free kick at the expense of a corner.

A terrible mistake by Jeff Underwood gifted Athletic an equaliser on 28 minutes as he tried to cushion a header back to Newnes only to direct the ball straight to Luke Beckett who made no mistake from only five yards out. Richard Butcher tested Newnes with a good shot from twenty five yards but it was Pogliacomi who was the busier of the two keepers as the home side really turned the screw leading up to half-time.
Fine link up play between Gedman, Ryan Bowen and Rowan finished with Rowan firing in a left foot shot that the visitor’s keeper saved low down to his left then Hussey brought another flying full length save from Oldham’s first choice keeper.
The home side were now well on top and a free kick from Crowder was again denied by a fine save (see picture above) but the Linnets went ahead on 37 minutes with an early contender for goal of the season as Hussey brilliantly beat his marker before deliberately curling a stunning shot into the top corner from twenty-five yards that left the six foot five keeper grasping fresh air with the ball crashing into the net off the angle of post and crossbar.
The home fans were again on their feet a minute later as Gedman broke clear only for Neal Trottman to clear off the line. Veteran David Eyres blasted a shot just wide on 43 minutes as Oldham attempted to restore equality.
The game was living up to expectations and the missing Oldham fans who had been fed false information that their first team would be playing at Stalybridge were missing a treat.
It was again Burscough taking the game to the Nationwide League side after the break with Bowen threatening with a cross that passed right across the face of goal and within a minute it was the same player denying Oldham at the other end with a good block from Chris Killen.
A talking point of the game had been the stubborn resistance of referee R.Pollock to continue wearing black, the same colour as the Oldham kit, despite offers of a different colour top. It was leading to confusion for players and spectators alike and on one occasion he was actually flagged offside by his own assistant! In fact there was so much black on the field that a minute’s silence wouldn’t have been inappropriate.
Mark Byrne shot over on 58 minutes then Tony Gray and Gedman played a nice one-two before Gedman was denied by a last ditch tackle.
With the game entering the last twenty minutes there were signs that the UniBond League side were starting to tire. Oldham sensed their opportunity and started to push forward in numbers and a desperate goalmouth scramble saw Newness recover well to deny Beckett on 77 minutes.
Underwood then did well to head over a dangerous cross from the foot of Kevin Lomax. A mistake by Pogliacomi almost let in Rowan but it was now Athletic who were the more dangerous and they came close to making it 2-2 in the final five minutes only for Newnes to pull off tremendous saves from the cultured left foot of Eyres and then a powerful effort from Hughes.
Burscough: Newnes, Underwood, Crowder, Bell, Tong, Hussey, Byrne, Blakeman, Gedman, Rowan, Bowen. Subs: Mason, Gray, O’Driscoll, Barlow, Bingham
Oldham Athletic: Pogliacomi, Lomax, Eardley, Hughes, Trottman, Stam, Warne, Butcher, Beckett, Killen, Eyres. Subs not used: Barlow, Taylor, Smith

Pre-Season Friendly
Friday, 15th July 2005
Stalybridge Celtic... 0 Burscough... 0
Burscough Line-Up:
1. David Newnes 2. Jeff Underwood 3. Martin Crowder 4. Karl Bell
5. Sean Nightingale 6. Steve Hussey 7. Matty Parry 8. Liam Blakeman
9. Paul Gedman 10. David Eaton 11. Mark Byrne
Subs: Dave Rowan, Mike Mason, Steve Brown, Matthew Boswell, Andy Tomlinson, Adam Tong

Memories of Last Season

Gary Martindale, scores against Wakefield-Emley in the 3-3 draw at Victoria Park. The familiar backdrop to the Mart Lane end is already changing rapidly - see picture below taken on 12th July.

This one was saved, but Supporters Player of the Year Paul Gedman was top scorer with 27 goals

Mark Byrne nets the 90th minute winner in the 3-2 victory against Guiseley after being two goals down at half time.

New Reserve Team Coach Burscough have appointed a new reserve team coach, Steve Hill, to replace Paul Comstive. Steve has a degree in sports science, has a UEFA ‘A’ coaching badge, and for the past six years has worked at Liverpool Football Club Development Centre as a coach educator. He has also managed the Liverpool County FA Youth side for the past two years where he has had close contact with Burscough’s youth development officer, Dave Hughes, and his assistant, Dave Ball. Also included in his list of achievements is setting up the junior section of Liverpool-based Allerton FC.
Sunday, 24th July 2005

Tony Gray Signs for Linnets

Burscough have signed Tony Gray, a striker, age 23. who won a West Cheshire League Championship medal with Newton in 2003-04 season before signing for Bangor City in September 2004. Played in Latvia for Bangor in the Inter-Toto Cup this summer.
Friday, 15th July 2005

Return of John Davison Burscough are delighted to announce that their former manager John Davison has re-joined the club in the role of youth co-ordination officer and will work closely with manager Derek Goulding, youth development officer Dave Hughes and the club's coaches to oversee the structured progress of talented young players through the youth teams and into open-age football with the reserves.
Tuesday, 12th July 2005

Additional Friendly Burscough are away at Stalybridge Celtic next Friday, 15th July, k.o. 8.00pm
Friday, 8th July 2005

Linnets Kick-Off At Home Burscough start the new season with a home match against Blyth Spartans on Saturday, 20th August and then travel to newly-promoted AFC Telford United on Tuesday 23rd. A visit to Guiseley on Saturday 27th is followed by an attractive home game against Witton Albion on August Monday. Click HERE for full fixture list. Thursday, 7th July 2005

Lawless Ready To Face His Heroes Several ardent and lifelong Liverpool fans will line-up against their heroes when Welsh club TNS take on the European champions at Anfield next month, including ex-Burscough winger and FA Trophy Final hero John Lawless who was brought up in Croxteth alongside former Evertonian Wayne Rooney.
John sports a Liverpool tattoo on his arm and his best friend's stepbrother is Reds' star Jamie Carragher.

A former Anfield trainee, John jetted off to Istanbul for the epic final against AC Milan, but never dreamt he would be lining up against Steven Gerrard and Co just eight weeks later.
"Everybody is amazed, we are stunned, we can't believe it," said his mum Nora, who shares her son's passion for Liverpool.
"We are so happy for John but we are sad for him at the same time because they are his heroes and he has to play against them.
"I love Liverpool, but John is my son and I will be supporting him.
"And if he gets knocked out, then at least he will have been knocked out by the best club in the world."
Sunday, 3rd July 2005

Cup Draws In today's draws for the early rounds of the FA Cup and FA Trophy, the Linnets had the luck with home draws but the opposition will not be easy.
The youth team have received scant reward for their superb run to the Third Round Proper last season and if they are to do it again have to overcome three successive away draws to start with.

FA Cup - 1st Qualifying Round:
Burscough v Ashton United
Saturday, 10th September

FA Trophy - 1st Qualifying Round:
Burscough v Leek Town
Saturday, 15th October

FA Trophy - 2nd Qualifying Round:
Burscough or Leek Town v Wakefield-Emley or Fleetwood Town
Saturday, 12th November

FA Youth Cup - 1st Qualifying Round
Northwich Victoria v Burscough
w/c 26th September
Winners away to Ryton or Scarborough in 2nd Round and then away again in 3rd Round to Stalybridge Celtic or Pontefract Collieries or Penrith or Workington
Friday, 1st July 2005

Development of New Ground At a well-attended meeting last night, preliminary details were given out regarding Burscough’s plans to move to a new ground during 2006-07 season. The new stadium would be part of a complex for senior and junior football covering a 15 acre site adjacent to the club’s present Victoria Park home. The main stadium design would include a 512 seater stand, incorporating dressing rooms, offices, a large function room and four executive/hospitality boxes overlooking the ground and a matchday bar. There would also be covered terracing behind both goals and it is intended the ground will meet full Conference ground grading requirements.
The site plan (Click HERE to view) also incorporates a full-size third generation floodlit artificial pitch, two additional full-size grass pitches and three small-sided pitches.

With the club as a whole now running 25 teams from the Under-6s through to the first team this promises to be a great opportunity to provide a fantastic community facility for West Lancashire that will see boys and girls develop their skills and enjoy their football safely on top class pitches. At senior level it would at last give Burscough the resources to develop the kind of strong foundations needed to securely build on the successes of the past few years that have seen three promotions and the winning of the FA Trophy.

The new facility will cost approximately £3 million and be funded by the sale of Victoria Park to Westbury Homes for a proposed residential scheme plus grants from the FA and the Football Foundation.
It is expected that the planning application will be made in August/September of this year.
Wednesday, 29th June 2005

New Director Gary Wright has been appointed a director of the club. Gary is a long-time supporter who lives and works in Burscough, being a director of Glenroyd Developments. He also brings strong links with the club’s junior section as a former chairman and the current president.
Monday, 27th June 2005

New Ground There will be a presentation in the Barons next Tuesday (28th June) at 7.30 pm for supporters, shareholders and the club's junior section when details will be given out about the new ground development prior to a press launch next Thursday. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions following the presentation.
Friday, 24th June 2005

Admission Prices and Season Tickets Admission prices for season 2005/06 are as follows:
Adult £7.50 Seniors £4.00 Children £2.00
One child under the age of 11 will be admitted free with each paying adult.

Season ticket prices (including all pre-season friendly games) will be:
Adult: £110 Seniors £70 Child £40
Tickets purchased prior to 31st July can be had at the reduced prices of £100, £65, and £30 respectively.
Send a cheque payable to 'Burscough FC Ltd' with SAE to the club at Victoria Park, Mart Lane, Burscough L40 0SD. They can also be obtained from the Secretary's office next Wednesday night. 29thJune, and also Wednesday, 6th July, between 6.30pm and 8.30pm and at any of the pre-season games.
Wednesday, 22nd June 2005

Player News Burscough have signed Steve Hussey (former Burscough youth team captain) from Skelmersdale United and also Adam Tong from Fleetwood Town. Tong is 6' 4", age around 20, comes from Chorley, and was with Charnock Richard before joining Fleetwood.

Steve Hussey

Adam Tong

Gary Martindale has joined Shaun Teale at Chorley in a player-coach capacity. Best wishes Gary from all at Burscough.

Michael White and Dave McKearney are both about to undergo operations and will probably not be ready for the start of the season.

Tuesday, 21st June 2005

Pre-Season Friendlies Tues, 19th July:
Burscough v Oldham Athletic   7.45pm
Sat, 23rd July:
Burscough v Chorley               3.00pm
Thurs, 28th July:
Burscough v Wigan Athletic      7.45pm
Sat, 30th July:
Burscough v Southport             3.00pm
Sat, 6th August:
Skelmersdale United v Burscough   3.00pm
Tues, 9th August:
Colwyn Bay v Burscough          7.45pm
Sat, 13th August:
Warrington Town v Burscough   3.00pm

Monday, 20th June 2005

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