Tuesday, 6th January 2009

News Archive

Runcorn Put Fitness First

Runcorn FC Halton are the second UniBond League club in a fortnight to link up with their local fitness centre. Hard on the heels of Chorley's announcement in last week's Press Release comes news that the "Linnets" are being put through their paces at the local Fitness First gymnasium under the supervision of athletes Allyn Condon and Darren Scott. They will certainly benefit if they can get anywhere near Condon's pace as he has a host of honours including a bronze in the European Indoor Championships at 200m as well as making the World Indoor Finals at the same distance on two occasions. But it was relay racing that brought him his most rewards in terms of success with winning appearances in the 4x 100m relay team at the European Cup, European Championships, World Cup and Commonwealth Games. Whilst Scott hasn't been quite as successful he has appeared for his country in the Commonwealth Games.

One player who won't be benefiting from the new link up, unfortunately, is teenage midfielder Ian McInerney who broke his leg in five places in the Boxing Day encounter with Prescot Cables. However, there was a pleasant surprise for the youngster last week when he was invited to Liverpool's Mellwood Training Centre to have breakfast with the Liverpool first team squad with Djibril Cisse in particular spending time with him. To complete his day McInerney was taken on an Anfield tour

Unlucky Return For Taylor

There was an unlucky return to action last Saturday for Prescot Cables' club captain Eddie Taylor who missed five games after being injured in November and had then to bide his time on the bench without getting in to the action for another five games. Last Saturday's match against Frickley Athletic was his sixth successive match on the bench but at least he was called upon to play at last. However, it was a decision he was quickly to rue for during just three minutes back in the fray he saw Frickley score their second and decisive goal before falling and breaking his collar bone! Taylor is expected to be out for at least six weeks.

Hatton Sells Out Witton

World Boxing Champion Ricky Hatton has sold out Witton Albion's Sportsman's Evening to be held on 9th March at the biggest venue in mid-Cheshire which holds 400 diners. With another 100 people on the waiting list Witton asked Hatton to speak the following evening at their own social club but unfortunately he already had a prior engagement. The event has been described in the local press as "the largest event of its type to be held in the County".

Congratulations To Wigan Athletic

The League sends its congratulations to Wigan Athletic on becoming the first former Northern Premier League club to reach a major domestic Cup Final following their midweek success at Arsenal. Just to draw a comparison on how far Wigan have moved up football's pile exactly 28 years ago today they were playing and beating next to bottom Gateshead 1-0 at home in a Northern Premier League game that drew a crowd of 1109 with Gore scoring the only goal of the match in what was Wigan's last season in the Northern Premier League. The previous Saturday had seen them frozen off at Gainsborough Trinity whilst on 14th January 1978 they were in the First Round of the FA Trophy winning 3-1 at Ashton United in front of a crowd estimated at 1,500. Their 1-0 success over Gateshead had left them fourth in the League behind leaders Northwich Victoria, Boston United and Scarborough.

Thackwray's Sahara Endurance Test

Guiseley midfielder Ben Thackwray is now busy preparing to run in one of the world's most gruelling races and is looking for sponsors to help raise money for his chosen charity Facing Africa which is devoted to the treatment and prevention of Noma - an horrific disease in which the face is ravaged by gangrene infection and leaves its victims, mainly children from poverty stricken backgrounds, either dead or very badly disfigured. The Marathon DesSables, an endurance race across the Sahara Desert in which hundreds of participants from all around the world run, is the main source of fund raising for the Charity and is essential to its ability to carry on with its life saving work.

25 year old Ben only began running when a serious knee injury brought a temporary halt to him playing football a couple of seasons ago. Although he made a brief return last term with a couple of reserve team outings followed by a place on the first team bench Thackwray has taken this season out in order to concentrate on his training for his arduous race through the desert at the end of March and the beginning of April. The 230 kilometre race is run over six days in temperatures of up to 120 degrees and competitors have to carry a heavy pack containing all their kit, food and survival equipment! If he has any energy left after the race he hopes to pick up his football career again next season.

Shortly he will be running in the 54 mile Thames Meander in a warm up for the Sahara test he faces. He said "Taking part in the desert marathon is one of a list of things I want to do and has been one of my ambitions since I first heard about it five years ago".

Anyone wishing to help the charity by sponsoring Ben can do so by contacting Rachel O'Connor at Guiseley FC on 0113 2506205 or by visiting Ben's website at www.benthackwray.saharamarathon.co.uk

Borough Turn Down Offers

Radcliffe Borough manager Kevin Glendon has turned down offers for highly rated goalkeeper Danny Hurst and defender Lee Duffy. The offers from unnamed Conference National and Conference North sides were thought to be opening offers with manager Kevin Glendon saying "Every player has his price and at times selling a player can be the difference in keeping the remaining players at the club. However, we can resist the offers at the moment. As a manager I want to build a team myself, not build somebody else's team for them".

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