Ground hopper '85: April 2024

Saturday, 6 April 2024

South Liverpool (06-04-2024)

South Liverpool 0 - 1 Ashton Town (NWCFL Division 1 North), Saturday 6 April 2024

I've always had a love-hate relationship with Liverpool, ever since I started university there in 2004. One day I'll write about the long and snaking path which led me from Carnatic Halls to librarianship and laptop distributions in the pandemic.

Liverpool is actually where I started my groundhopping activities (Runcorn Halton at the Widnes stadium in October 2004), and this hobby has endured for nearly 20 years.

One of the grounds not on my radar in 2004 was Holly Park, previously of South Liverpool FC, and not too far from our student halls. I later discovered this ground was in the process of being demolished at about that time, to make way for the Liverpool South Parkway transport hub.

As I learnt more about the non-league scene on Merseyside, South Liverpool's name came up repeatedly. At one stage, the club were a significant footballing force in the city, playing in the Lancashire Combination and then the Northern Premier League. They applied for membership of the Football League but were unsuccessful on each occasion. Holly Park hosted the first match in the UK under permanent floodlights and was also honoured to have Puskas play there in a friendly. (The excellent book 'Holly Park: The lost years' is worth a read for a more detailed history). South Liverpool's endurance through a lot of highs and lows is particularly impressive.

I finally managed to see the club in 2007 at their Jericho Lane (North Field) ground. They lost 1-0 in a Liverpool Combination match against Quarry Bank in a thick fog. The game proved a turning point for me. A week later I met my future wife (on Valentine's Day no less!) and the rest is history.

Almost 20 years on from starting university, South Liverpool were back on my groundhopping radar. I must admit I'd missed their application for promotion during the pandemic.

We actually come to Liverpool fairly often - to see the other team on the North side of the city (the ones who refer to themselves as 'European Royalty'). But I've rarely been back in this neck of the woods since my student days.

I arrived in plenty of time for the match so had a nostalgic (and non-chronological) wander down memory lane, taking in Aigburth Road, Lark Lane, Sefton Park, Smithdown Road, Allerton Road Tesco and – of course - Carnatic. I also managed a decent photo of Mossley Hill Athletic’s ground.

There are probably a hundred songs to soundtrack it all. It was a sunny and windy Spring day on Merseyside so ideal for a stroll through this scenic corner of the city.

So to the match. South Liverpool are now based in a modern community football hub, just off Otterspool Promenade. On a pub quiz note, it’s now quite possible that this new ground is actually the closest football ground to the River Mersey (until Bramley Dock stadium materialises).

‘South’ use the 3G pitch in the middle of the complex, which looks to be well-used by the local community. Today was incredibly windy, so much so that sandbags were being used to hold down the corner flags! South Liverpool were looking to cement a play-off place in the NWCFL North in the next couple of games, and faced an Ashton Town side also chasing a play-off slot.

The most significant factor today was the wind, which made it almost impossible to keep the ball still for free kicks and goal kicks. For one goal kick, the goalkeeper must have placed the ball down 6 or 7 times! The ball also flew back whenever the keeper launched it long.

The game started fairly evenly balanced, with both teams having a smattering of chances and possession. But gradually Ashton started to edge out 50/50s and second balls, and started to control things. They just seemed a bit sharper and crisper, especially in the attack. They eventually took a narrow lead in the second half, and South Liverpool couldn’t quite take the half-chances which fell their way, despite late pressure.

So a disappointing result for ‘South’ - and exactly the same scoreline as back in 2007.

As I pulled away from the ground, the sun was still high in the sky and it felt like the start of Summer. I couldn’t resist driving past Liverpool South Parkway on the way back to the M62. Unless Mossley Hill go for promotion, I probably won’t come back to this part of the city anytime soon. I felt a mixture of sadness and satisfaction as I headed off up Queens Drive.

**Update – South Liverpool qualified for the play-offs, and beat Ashton Town on penalties in the final. They will play in the North West Counties Premier League (Step 5) in 2024/25.**