They had a famous FA Cup run in the early 1990s, eventually being knocked out by Crewe 3-1 in the 3rd round. Roly Howard was manager for a record 33 years (1972-2005), although he will always be remembered by some fans as Kenny Dalglish's window cleaner. TV presenter Ray Stubbs once asked: "How's business, Roly?" to which Roly replied "Oh you know - ups and downs."
Former players include Michael Ball (Everton and Rangers) and Stephen Wright (Liverpool and Sunderland). The club motto is 'To Enjoy, Not Destroy.'
THE season is getting off to a sluggish, frustrating start for the lads (Crosby Stuart under-6s) due to the bad weather.
Two out of three matches have been cancelled but the kids' enthusiasm is still sky high and the postponements have given the squad a chance for extra training.
After a mix-up over the collection of the self-assembly mini-goals (specially designed for kids and complete with nets) this morning, the boys improvised and enjoyed a 90-minute workout in the mud.
During my junior football days in the last century I played with nets only a handful of times - and never in training.
We also had to make do with full-sized, square-edged wooden goal posts which split open your head if you clattered into them.
The relatively giant goals of yesteryear meant two things. Penalties were easy peasy, except for our goalie Dougal who was two foot six and took three minutes to waddle from post to post.
Secondly, they virtually guaranteed a goal for anyone who could lob the keeper.
Unfortunately, kicking the ball higher than a dandelion at that age was a near physical impossibility unless a shot ricocheted off a half-buried brick.
The footballs (heavy, wet, leather 'caseys') in the 1970s may not have been as cerebrally challenging as in Stanley Matthews' day, but they were a lot bigger than today's size 4 lightweight balls which fizz and swerve.
On the rare occasions when the ball freakishly went above head high, we would grab our Kendal Mint Cake and scatter to nearby bunkers or Anderson shelters until the clumps of soil from the resulting explosion had settled.
None of us cowardy custards dared header a 'casey' until we had a full beard (or at least a handlebar muzzie). Well, Terry Cook did, but he was stupid.
Kids today, eh? Don't know they're born...
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Paul Waring wrote...
And you always got hammered by The Mount.Ha!
Posted by: Paul Waring | February 16, 2007 3:38 PM