Ex-united chairman aims to move new club into old home
FORMER Skelmersdale United chairman Frank Hughes says the newly formed Skelmersdale AFC are not intended to be “anti-Skem United”.
Hughes - who held an 18 year association with United in a range of roles including chairman - has announced his intention to create a new football club in Skelmersdale and join the North West Counties Football League for the 2019-20 season.
He also confirmed talks with landlord Chequer Properties Ltd are now at an “advanced stage” as Skelmersdale AFC look to move into United’s former Stormy Corner home.
Speaking about his long-term intentions for the club, Hughes said: “I don’t believe any child should have to go and watch football.
“I know that’s logistically difficult in the higher echelons of football but certainly at our level there is no reason why children should be charged to come in to watch football.
“We want to get them involved. It’s a difficult one at the moment because we’re talking about one entity but the long-term aim of Skelmersdale AFC is to have a good junior academy. We want to get our junior section together and we all run in tandem.”
Some voices, however, have expressed doubts over Hughes’ intentions but he asserted his intentions are to create a healthy rivalry within the town and create a “legacy” in nonleague football.
“I’m not anti-Skelmersdale United football club,” he added. “I would have loved to have been in a position to take control of Skem United and get it back to the major force it was when I was chairman of the football club. That wasn’t an option for me in the end.
“What I’ve done is got a group of people together that wanted to stay involved in non-league football and wanted to start a legacy. That’s what it’s pretty much going to be.
“There’s a pretty long way to go before it becomes a fully-fledged entity and a lot of hurdles to climb yet but we’re trying our best and it’s certainly not anti-Skem United.
“The one thing I’m wishing is for there to be some kind of good rivalry between the two teams if and when we both clash.” BURSCOUGH have been frustrated by the HSL Premier Division’s fixture planning this month.
Linnets, who have lost just two league games since new manager Terry Green arrived in November, have had three of their last four games postponed due to poor weather.
With last Saturday’s home clash with Barnoldswick also called off, Burscough do not turn out again until the rearranged fixture against Irlam on Tuesday, February 26.
This means that by the time Green’s men travel to Shack they will have played just 90 minutes of football in more than five weeks.
Burscough lost out 4-2 at home to Ashton Athletic during their last game at the end of January and Green believes the tough tests will continue when they eventually get back to action.
“You trip up brush yourself down and you start again,” he said.
“When you do trip up its how you respond. We’re enjoying the run but we’ve got tough tests against Bootle and City of Liverpool coming up.
“We’ve got some tough games but it’ll show the mental strength of the lads and what they’re having to strive to achieve.”
Green also holds strong footballing relationships with Tranmere Rovers manager Micky Mellon and Fleetwood Town, where he spent time as a player.
The manager revealed he’s always looking to expand his horizons tactically when spending time with other managers across the pyramid.
“I’ve got 30 years experience at this level as player, manager and coach,” he added.
“In terms of tapping into other people they’re always available. You go for a pint and you’re always tapping their brains and vice-versa.”
The manager almost secured the signing of Tranmere youngster Jay Devine after arriving at Victoria Park but the deal was scrapped due to a change in FA regulations regarding loans to step nine sides.
Green did, however, sign former Fleetwood striker Connor Finlayson.