Squires Gate

Squires Gate FC

Ground: The Skiddle Community Stadium - School Road

Capacity: 1,000

Club Founded: 1948

League: North West Counties League Division One North - Step 6/10th Tier (current level)

An away trip to Squires Gate FC continues to be a favourite with a visit to a decent venue, a hospitable club, and a chance to take in the seaside air.

Club History

Squires Gate Early Years

The club in the southern suburbs of Blackpool were formed as Squires Gate British Legion FC in 1948, playing local league football in the Blackpool & District Amateur League. Five years later, the current title was adopted, as the side twice became league champions, progressing to the Fylde District League and the West Lancashire League in 1961.

The team won Division Two of the competition in 1980-81 before being admitted to the North West Counties League (NWCL) a decade later, as their ground at School Road was upgraded. Promotion to Division One followed in 2001-02. Four seasons later, the team were beaten in the quarter-finals of the FA Vase away to Hillingdon Borough. 

Remaining Independent

Club Chairman Phil Days resigned in June 2006. He proposed that near neighbours Gate, Blackpool Wren Rovers and Blackpool Mechanics, later AFC Blackpool, should amalgamate to form a club that could push towards Northern Premier League status. 

Meanwhile, Gate gradually progressed on the pitch, reaching the NWCL Premier Division in 2007-08. The club narrowly avoided relegation a few years later before their School Road ground became the Royal British Legion Stadium. 

Recent Years

In November 2014, Gate player Jack Sowerby progressed to become a full-time professional at neighbours Fleetwood Town. Further ground improvements were carried out, while behind the scenes the board was strengthened by a new media team to help boost the club's profile and source a title sponsor for their ground.

The team were relegated to Division One North of the NWCL in 2024-25, where they were beaten by Droylsden in the playoffs twelve months later. 

My visit

Wednesday 1st February 2012

I woke in Blackpool rather earlier than intended on a crisp but stunning morning. After checking out of the Travelodge near the Tower, I caught the number 17 bus towards Squires Gate. I alighted near The Shovels pub on Common Edge Road. Rather than walking to School Road, I found a path behind Bruce Park to look at Blackpool Wren Rovers' home.

I'd heard of close neighbours before, but I'd never seen anything like this arrangement. The grounds were just separated by a fence down one side. The School Road ground was relatively basic, but it had all the facilities required for a club of Squires Gate's standing.

A low covered enclosure was located down the Wren Rovers side, a couple of small seated stands opposite, and a small cover near the clubhouse and changing rooms by the corner flag. There was a hard-standing path all the way around the pitch, next to the single-rail pitch-side fence, and then flat open grass.

After walking right around the back of two sides of the ground, I could see inside, but there were no gates open for a closer look. I got a better view from the car park on School Road, which was busy with parents dropping off their youngsters for another day of learning. 

I was probably viewed with suspicion, taking pictures, but I was as discreet as possible before going on my way to my next ground, the home of AFC Blackpool.