Skelmersdale United

Skelmersdale United FC is a non-league football club from the Lancashire town of the same name that was formed in 1882 as Skelmersdale Young Rovers after the team was brought together by teachers of Skelmersdale Wesleyan Day School.

Under the football enthusiast and head teacher Mr Forster of St Helens, the club changed their title to Skelmersdale Wesleyans. The church minister expressed disapproval of this, so the name was changed to become Skelmersdale United.

‘Skem’ became founder members of the Lancashire Combination in 1891-92 before departing after a couple of seasons; before re-joining the newly founded Division Two for the 1903-04 season. In 1907 the club left the competition once again.

The club competed in the Liverpool County Combination from 1909, going on to win the title ten times; the first triumph coming in 1910-11. The reserve side took up the position in that particular competition for a short while as the first team competed in the Lancashire Combination once more from 1921 to 1924.

A further re-admittance saw United being crowned as Lancashire Combination Division Two Champions in 1955-56 and win promotion to Division One. A golden era was about to commence at the club as Skelmersdale was designated as a new town in 1961.

This led to an increase in industry and population as many people migrated from Merseyside. August 1961, Wesley Bridge was made Secretary/Manager of United and began the radical restructuring the club.

The 1966-67 season saw Skem go on a terrific FA Amateur Cup run as youngster Mickey Burns started to bang in the goals. Wins against Wealdstone, Slough Town; which attracted a record gate of 7,500 to White Moss Park. Hendon were defeated in the semi-final, which saw the team reach Wembley; where they faced Enfield.

The final in front of 75,000 fans ended 0-0 after Alan Bermingham missed a last minute penalty, before Enfield won the midweek replay 3-0 at Maine Road in Manchester in front of a crowd of 53,000. The following campaign saw United’s first FA Cup first round appearance as they went down 2-0 away to Scunthorpe United.

In 1968-69 the club joined the Cheshire League, becoming champions in their debut season; while victories over Oxford City, Whitby Town and Enfield led Skem to the semi-final of the Amateur Cup; where they lost out to North Shields in a replay at Southport’s Haig Avenue.

The team also reached the first round of the FA Cup once again, where they were defeated by Chesterfield. Skem retained the Cheshire League title as well as reaching the last four of the Amateur Cup in 1969-70 as Steve Heighway was starring with the team. Enfield once again spoilt the party; with a 1-0 win at the Baseball Ground.

Skelmersdale were not to be denied their Amateur Cup glory. In 1970-71 they defeated Sutton Coldfield Town, Tow Law Town, Wycombe Wanderers and then Leatherhead at Burnden Park to reach Wembley for a second time.

This time there was to be no mistake for the team led by Ron Rees as Dagenham were defeated 4-1 as Ted Dicken netted a hat trick with Andy Windsor adding the other goal.

Skelmersdale moved to the semi-professional Northern Premier League for the 1971-72 season, as well as being defeated by Tranmere Rovers in the first round of the FA Cup. The move to the new league created financial issues through player payments and travel expenses.

The teams highest finish in the league was eleventh in their debut season. After finishing in eighteenth spot in 1975-76 the club moved to the Lancashire Combination; lasting there for two seasons before dropping down to the second tier of the Cheshire County League.

In 1982 the Cheshire County League and Lancashire Combination merged to form the North West Counties League. Skem were placed in Division Two. Five years later the league was reconstructed following the addition of a second division in the Northern Premier League. United benefitted by being moved up to Division One of the NWCL.

The team were relegated back to Division two after three seasons of struggle. Russ Perkins was appointed as manager and led the side to promotion in 1997-98 as runners-up. Stuart Rudd began to bang the goals in before the club left White Moss Park in 2002.

The new ground was officially titled the Westgate Interactive Stadium in a sponsorship deal; although it was generally known as Stormy Corner by the locals. Paul Gallagher took over as manager and led the side to a second place finish in 2005-06 and promotion to the second tier of the Northern Premier League.

Experienced manager Tommy Lawson arrived at the club as the team looked to build on their momentum. In 2007-08 Curzon Ashton were defeated in the play-offs before Fc United of Manchester denied Skem promotion by winning the final.

The following season Curzon Ashton exacted revenge as they ended Skelmersdale’s season with victory in the play-off semi-final. In 2009-10 Lancaster City ended promotion hopes with a semi-final play-off win.

In 2010-11 Skem ended the regular season as league runners-up. AFC Fylde left Stormy Corner victorious after inflicting a defeat in the play-offs. Lawson led the team to the Division One North title in 2012-13 as United won the league by sixteen points.

Skem finished just outside the play-off positions in 2013-14 and 2014-15 before financial worries once again reared their head. Only through the efforts of players, supporters and sponsors the club managed to finish the season.

The playing budget was affected for the 2015-16 campaign at the West Lancashire College Stadium; as the ground had been renamed, as the team finished in sixteenth position. Long serving manager Lawson was sacked in January 2017 with the team in the relegation places.

Former Tranmere Rovers, Nottingham Forest and Leicester City defender Alan Rogers was appointed as the new manager as he installed a young and inexperienced side who battled against the odds. Problems also continued off the pitch as stadium landlords Chequer Properties failed to negotiate a new lease with the club.

The team were relegated in March 2017 with fears that the club may cease to exist. However, the directors announced in April 2017 that a deal had been done to ground share with neighbours Prescot Cables from November 2017.

In September 2017 Rogers announced that he’d be stepping down from the role as Dave Powell arrived as his replacement.

Skelmersdale United FC will play in the Northern Premier League Division One North in the 2017-18 season.

My visit

Skelmersdale United 1 Scarborough Athletic 4 (Saturday 24^th September 2017) Northern Premier League Division One North (att: 221)

It was time once again for a long weekend away from work, and plans had been hatched a few months in advance. I was to be Liverpool bound to meet up with my pal Karl Theobald for a couple of days and nights of socialising with football thrown in.

My alarm call on Saturday morning saw me rise with a heavy hangover after meeting up with various friends in London the previous evening; including the Shaw family who I’d enjoyed so many happy times around the Yarrambat side in Chiang Mai over the years.

The train was pretty full on the way up; and with Virgin Pendalino trains not offering much room, I was delighted to grab a window seat and a little bit of kip once I’d had a bite to eat. I was beginning to come round on reaching Lime Street.

Karl was already getting stuck into his first ales of the day in the magnificent Great Western Wetherspoon pub. My first beer seemed to have nails in it; but I actually felt better for it. We obtained Saveaway tickets for £5.20 and took the Merseyrail service to James Street to drop off our bags.

My geography was a bit rusty around the city, but we soon located Dale Street to enjoy beers in both Thomas Rigby’s and Ye Hole In Ye Wall. With time getting on we rushed round to where I thought Moorfields station was located; only to go up the wrong street.

There was nothing we could do apart from enjoy another fine pint; when I only really wanted half but the landlord thought otherwise, in the brilliant Lion Tavern. It was a fantastic boozer, which Karl would enjoy the following afternoon while I was on my travels.

We got talking to a City of Liverpool FC fan; another non-league side that had cropped up by fans feeling disenfranchised by ‘big’ football. He was on his way to his sides FA Vase game at Marine against AFC Liverpool.

We bid our farewell all too soon and jumped on the train to Ormskirk; chatting to a lovely middle aged lady about the city, the upcoming Saturday night and how football used to be when the FA Cup semi-finals were on neutral grounds and fans could all afford the admission price.

At Ormskirk a taxi took us to Skem. The driver eventually found the ground after originally trying to drop us at a community facility, while complaining about the ridiculous health and safety regulations imposed on drivers to deal with troublesome customers.

Admission was £9 into Stormy Corner, with the programme an extra couple of quid. We joined our pals and directors in the bar. Everyone was in great mood. Chairman Trevor Bull laughed and shook the hands of the visiting support.

Boro were on a fine run of form and it was obvious that the whole club was heading in a forward trajectory. There was a tremendous vibe and positivity around; one I hadn’t experienced for several seasons. The turn out of away fans was well into three figures.

My double cheeseburger and chips were much needed and represented decent value for £4.50 as the game got underway. Fans enjoyed their beers behind the goal as both sides went for it. Skem were without a manager, although a local fan told us that there had been many applicants for the job. Andy Mutch was at the game, so possibly he was among them?

We were also told that the club were hopeful of another plot of land for a new ground. It seemed such a shame as it was a decent set up at Stormy Corner, with the entrance end having a decent cover and most of the facilities around that part of the ground.

The Main Stand had been cleverly erected on a raised platform to give fans a decent view of proceedings. The rest of the ground was open flat standing backed by grass banking, which was deemed out of bounds by the fastidious FA ground graders.

In the opening exchanges both sides tested each other without anything much in the way of goalmouth action, before Boro’s on loan winger from Grimsby Town, Max Wright latched onto a flick on before rounding Skem keeper Jack Simms and slotting home.

Wright looked a class act. I felt sorry for the lad trying to mark him. A fine passing move from the back sent the ball out wide to Wright who tormented the full back, ran along the by line before butting the ball back to Michael Coulson who fired home in cool fashion.

Coulson had returned to his boyhood club after a fine career with Barnsley, Grimsby Town, York City and St Johnstone. He had started the season in fine style with his football brain standing out; alongside another local lad Billy Logan who had come on in leaps and bounds.

The home players were been given a bit of a lesson, with one or two losing their rags and collecting yellow cards. We swapped ends for the second half as the Blues almost got a foothold into the game. Boro keeper Tommy Taylor flicked over a deflected effort from Lewis Codling.

The Seadogs extended their lead as Coulson made a fine run again to the goal line before rolling the ball into Logan who’d taken up an intelligent position before finishing with his side foot. It was simple but brilliant football.

It became 4-0 when Logan held the ball up wide on the right, before playing an intelligent ball inside to Wright who once again progressed along the by line before picking out Coulson who took his time before scoring with his shot going in off the post.

Shortly afterwards manager Steve Kittrick made changes to rest Wright and Logan who were both excellent. I gave Logan my man of the match vote. Inevitably the pressure on the home goal eased off a little, despite Athletic remaining in control.

As the game entered its closing stages, unimpressive sub Craig Nelthorpe lost possession with Skem putting together a decent move which was finished in fine fashion from outside the area by Remi Howarth. The Boro team received a fine ovation from their travelling support a minute or so later.

We headed back to the exits. I’d enjoyed my brief stay at the club, who had a few passionate loyal fans who’s patience had been tested. Everyone had been friendly and keen to chat. I really hoped that they could sort out their issues over the ground.

On leaving the ground Karl and I were approached by a small man I’d seen but forgotten about from Euston. He was a groundhopper who was a Brentford fan. When he heard me ask a cab driver if he could send another car round, he asked if he could share it with us.

It was an ‘interesting’ ride, both in the cab with our companion; who the driver couldn’t believe had travelled to such a game as a neutral, and on the train as he waffled away without hardly taking a breath. Karl didn’t look too upset when we reached Moorfields!

The match had been excellent but that was only half the reason we’d headed to Merseyside. After a short siesta and wash and change, we were ready to see what Liverpool had to offer on a Saturday night.

We weren’t to be disappointed in any of the destinations; The Excelsior, The Ship & Mitre, Doctor Duncans, The Crown Hotel, The Dispensary or The Richard John Blacker. The city was vibrant but I was done and had to call it full time around midnight while my pal carried on.

We’d had a magnificent day out, and we were ready to do it all again the following day!