Players sign for two clubs

McMcKenzie has first call on a player for the higher level should he require him. If not, he can turn out for Colls, thereby strengthening the Alder House side and gaining valuable match fitness in the process.

This week another similar deal was being negotiated concerning a third player who is just returning from injury. The player's name is being kept under wraps by both clubs until all the details have been finalised.

The deal is also a good example of how the Atherton club has grown over recent seasons to be one which is well respected on the non-league circuit. McKenzie at Hyde also enjoys the benefits of Messrs Walton and Lamb performing a 'scouting' function for him on the NWCL circuit!

DAISY HILL manager Jimmy Hulton looks to have pulled off a bit of a coup by persuading ex-Chorley midfielder Gareth Webster to join the New Sirs outfit.

Still only in his early thirties, Webster earned his place in FA Cup history in 1986 when he starred in Chorley's historic win over Wolves. The tie spread over three games, ending 1-1 at home, 1-1 at Molyneux and eventually 3-0 to Chorley in the second replay.

Conversely, one of the few experienced players in the New Sirs squad has moved on. Midfielder Dennis Haslam was upset at being substituted in the home Challenge Cup 1-1 draw with Blackpool Mechanics last weekend and departed the ground clearly disgruntled, apparently deliberately leaving behind his club tracksuit in the changing rooms. Hulton said: "I really expected a better example for our younger players from someone of Dennis' ability and experience. I had to substitute him because he was moaning and groaning at everyone and it was certainly upsetting the team spirit." "His reaction left a lot to be desired and now he has thrown his lot in and gone. On the team bus going to Blackpool for the reply on Tuesday, you could just sense that the atmosphere was a lot better I'm not saying that that was purely down to Dennis not being with us but the team spirit had certainly improved and there is no doubt that we important in our 4-1 win!"

RAMSBOTTOM UNITED, this seasons' latest addition to the NWCL Division Two after many successful years in the Bolton Combination and on into the Manchester League.

I visited there last Saturday and unfortunately saw the young side go down 3-1 to Division Two leaders Vauxhall GM.

The result apart, I was very impressed with the whole Ramsbottom set up, particularly the club mascot tethered to the tea room - a live but tame ram!

The Riverside ground is an absolute delight with the Irwell running down one side, the highly impressive Ramsbottom Cricket Club opposite and the East Lancs Railway passing down one touchline. The game was punctuated by magnificent steam engines and their carriages as they entered and departed the neighbouring station. There can be few places in the North West where watching a soccer match is a more pleasurable experience! WEST Lancs League EAGLEY received a massive boost last week when top striker Phil Hutchinson returned to the club.

'Hutch' had started the season with Leigh RMI but a disjointed pre-season build up saw him not make the starting line-up for the opening fixtures and that continued throughout the first two months. His patience at continuously being on the sidelines finally ran out, and he has returned to one of his favourite old hunting grounds.

By his standards, he has started quietly - scoring only five goals in his first two games! He notched a hat-trick two weeks ago in a friendly win over NWCL Division Two side Nelson and last weekend hit two in the Lancashire Adidas Amateur Shield win over Haslingden St Mary's.

Since his days as a 40-goals-a-season-guaranteed striker in the West Lancs League, he has shown his top scoring form at a higher level with Accrington Stanley, where he won the highly prestigious Northern Premier League Premier Division Player of the Month award in his first four weeks in the first team!

TURTON won by an incredible 5-4 scoreline in the Lancashire Adidas Amateur Shield second round away at Goodshaw United of Burnley last weekend and it was a triumph over pitch, opposition and disaster for Pete Cooper's young side! The team boss explained, "On the way to Burnley, we lost one in our convoy of cars, containing two players. Then another car had a bad bump. There were four players in that one and they were all quite shaken up.

"We got to the ground and it was a parks pitch in a state that left a lot to be desired. The four players involved in the accident had to play because we were short on numbers. The car that got lost didn't show up until half time, so we kicked off with myself and my assistant Billy Williams as subs, which is as good as not having any at all!

"By half time we were 2-0 down and it looked really bleak. Somehow we brought it round and scored five in the second half but conceded another two!"

Star of the show was ex-Bolton Wanderers trainee Paul Davies with a matchwinning hat-trick. The 29 year old striker has to be one of the bravest players on the local circuit.

His career looked to have been terminated prematurely by an horrific cruciate ligament injury. Happily, after an incredible seven seasons on the sidelines, this courageous player is back and looking as sharp as ever. BLACKROD TOWN'S season is on the up and up, after a difficult start. Last Saturday the first team literally strolled into the third round of the Lancs Amateur Shield with a 7-1 thumping of Leigh League side, Punchbowl of Atherton.

The Reserves side is turning into a formidable outfit but it is the third team that that is really showing the strength in depth at the club. Unbeaten in the first five Bolton Combination Division One game, the 'thirds' are also through to the final stages of the Open Cup and Tate Trophy.

TEMPEST UNITED forge on at the top of Division Two, Micky Farnworth's side is now clear at the top of the table and looking strong enough to carry that form through until next May.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.