JET SETTING BROCTON ARE BLAZING A TRAIL BY FLYING TO GAME ON ISLE OF MAN
Badgers first to play away game at team that joined league in 2020
BROCTON will be breaking new ground this weekend as they become the first non-league team from North Staffordshire to fly to an away game.
THAT’S because they are the visitors for the first home game for FC Isle of Man, who have been unable to play any home games since joining the North West Counties League South back in the summer of 2020 because of the ovid pandemic.
Badgers Chairman Nigel Pepper says, “We are looking forward to it. The Douglas Bowl has 3,000 seats and a 4G pitch.
“The Isle of Man bear the cost of up to 25 people flying over from Manchester and they also pay for a hotel for the night.
“There is a cost for us though in getting to the airport and back which comes to around £600.
“We are beginning to get used to the league after being moved from the West Midlands League.
“We had a slow start after pre-season was hampered with covid and we had a lot of fixtures crammed in early on.
“New manager Alex Curtis and his coaching staff are beginning to run things their way though now. We have a lot of young players in the side but we have recently added some experience with the return of striker Regan Smith from Lichfield City and Connor Haddaway from Chasetown.
“They can hopefully help the young players to progress.
“The biggest difference we have found overall is that is that our travel costs are about 50 per cent higher than we are used to with the extra travelling.
“Getting back after midnight from away games can take its toll on players who have to get up early for work the next day.”
The game kicks off at 6.30pm so as not to clash with the local league games on the island.
It will be a hard game for Brocton as FC Isle of Man have done very well in their 14 away games so far and they won the club of the month award for September.
The man to watch is striker Sean Doyle, who has 18 goals to his name including 12 in a week recently, 6 of which came in an 8-3 victory at Abbey Hulton United.
In the Premier Division, CONGLETON TOWN will be hoping to get back on track when they host Winsford United in a Cheshire derby.
Back in the South Division SANDBACH UNITED travel to Cheadle Town, who are one place behind them in the table.
STAFFORD TOWN will be hoping to gain their fifth home win in a row when they entertain Abbey Hey while ABBEY HULTON UNITED will be hoping to leapfrog hosts Ellesmere Rangers.
There is a local derby at ALSAGER TOWN as they host ECCLESHALL while ROCESTER have a tough task at home to second placed New Mills.
In the Midland League, HANLEY TOWN will be hoping to regain top spot tonight when they host UTTOXETER TOWN (19.45).
The game has been switched from Uttoxeter.
STONE OLD ALLEYNIANS put up a good display at unbeaten leaders Lichfield City on Wednesday evening before a last minute goal condemned them to a 3-2 defeat.
Goals from Dave Ablewhite and Luke Askey had enabled them to draw level twice.
Tomorrow they host Stourport Swifts, hoping to close the gap on the top few.
In the Third Qualifying Round of the FA Trophy LEEK TOWN take a break from league action when they visit Basford United.
It’s been a good week for the Blues as they finally returned to Harrison Park to play on their new 3G pitch and over 1,000 fans attended the two home games which was very pleasing.
They almost had six points as well but were denied by a 93rd minute equaliser by Prescot Cables on Tuesday evening.
Chairman John Eeles was very pleased with how the return to Harrison Park had gone. He said: “It was a great start for us on the new pitch. I was pleased that the first game was on a Saturday,
“It’s always better than a midweek game from a crowd point of view although Tuesday exceeded expectations.
“The players had been using it for over a week beforehand and are happy with it, because it’s different to what they have been used to even though we have played a few away games on such surfaces.
“Of course winning games makes a big difference.
“We’ve taken on two full time and six part time staff as a result of the new surface because of sorting bookings and catering.
“At the moment we are 60/70% full with bookings, a figure I am sure will rise.
“Bookings can be made online from next Monday, November 1, so people won’t have to wait for the phone to be answered.
“Last weekend we had a Newcastle Town U18s game on the pitch on Saturday morning, and then on Sunday the Leek Town Ladies played. With a grass pitch we couldn’t have had those two other games.
“It will obviously benefit the club but it is probably not as lucrative as some people think. We have to make sure we have some money reserves in the bank for running repairs and in ten years’ time we will need around £150,000 for an upgrade, as that is their usual shelf life.”
NEWCASTLE Town have only lost one of their last seven games and will be buoyed by their midweek hammering of Colne.
Captain James Askey scored a hat trick in the 5-1 victory and they will travel for their tie at Sutton Coldfield Town in a confident mood.
STAFFORD Rangers have only conceded two goals in their last five outings and will be favourites for their game at Bedford Town, who are a league lower.
Rangers enjoyed a fine 3-1 win away at Whitby Town last week and manager Matt Hill was full of praise for his team.
He said: “When we are playing to our strengths and we are all at it, and playing at full tilt, then we a tough team to play against. We want to win games regardless of whether they are cup or league games. We will rest up now and then go again on Saturday.”
NANTWICH TOWN have home advantage against Southern League outfit Barwell whilst Kidsgrove Athletic travel to Carlton Town, a team in the Midlands Division of the Northern Premier League.