Flitcroft is aiming for the next level with promotion-chasing Chorley

EYEING UP PROMOTION Chorley
boss Garry Flitcroft

 Source: Lancashire Telegraph

 GARRY Flitcroft believes Chorley’s financial problems have brought the squad closer together ahead of tomorrow’s Evo-Stik Leagie Premier Division play-off semi final, as he looks to avoid becoming the second member of the family to fall victim to an FC United upset.

An all-ticket crowd of almost 4,000 is expected at Victory Park for the clash, with Chorley at home to Bradford Park Avenue or Hednesford in next weekend’s play-off final if they win.

A place in the Blue Square Bet North is the prize for one of the four teams involved in the end-of-season shoot-out.

Chorley have overcome hurdles to make the play-offs, after the Magpies were plunged into crisis earlier the season.

The Magpies finished seven points above FC United but the visitors have relished the tag of underdogs before, securing an FA Cup win last season at Rochdale – where Flitcroft’s brother David was assistant manager.

“My brother was at Rochdale then and FC United are a good side,” said Flitcroft. “But we have only lost three league games at home this season.

“We had to release lads but the players here have stuck by me when they were not being paid. We’ve got a great team spirit and I’ve always said that goes a long way.

“We won both of our home play-off games to get promoted last year and we won the Lancashire FA Challenge Trophy at the Reebok Stadium, so the players have done well on the big occasions.”

Tomorrow’s game is all ticket, so tickets must be purchased by 10pm tonight from the club’s office.

By Chris Flanagan, Sports reporter

Tickets selling fast for Chorley FC's crucial play-off tie

 Source: Lancashire Telegraph

 CHORLEY FC are expecting a crowd of more than 3,000 for their play-off semi-final as tickets are snapped up for Saturday’s game.

The Magpies face FC United in the EvoStik Premier Division semi-final at Victory Park at 3pm.

FC United have been fortunate to enter the knockout games after finishing sixth but disciplinary sanctions from the league mean ‘runners-up’ Northwich Victoria have been removed from the play-offs.

This game has been designated 'all ticket' so fans will not be able to buy tickets on the day of the game.

Tickets are on sale from the Chorley FC club office on Thursday and Friday from 10am to 10pm.

The allocation for home fans is 2,500 and nearly 1,000 of these have already been snapped up since they went on sale yesterday afternoon.

FC United have been allocated 1100.

It's anticipated the game could be a sell out as Garry Flitcroft's Magpies close in on a second successive promotion.

By Chris Gee, Reporter

Rebel Rovers fans to set up FC Blackburn

 Source: Lancashire Telegraph

 Exclusive By Chris Gee

 A GROUP of disaffected Blackburn Rovers fans, angry at the direction the club is taking, have revealed plans to form a new football club in the town.

Football Club Blackburn, who have already garnered the nickname the Rovers Radicals, plan to recruit players and management early next year and enter the non-league pyramid in a year’s time.

Financing for the club would come from a fee of £12 per fan, which would give each member an equal voting share in the club.

One of the fans behind FC Blackburn is 21-year-old Tom Keighley, the grandson of former Blackburn Rovers chairman, Derek Keighley, who presided over the club in the 1970s.

Tom said events at the club over the last year, which include the Venky’s takeover, player departures and the loss of figures such as John Williams, meant he and many others will no longer attend Ewood Park.

He said: “We want to provide a club for the people of Blackburn who actually care about the area and the love of the sport.

“It will not be about making money from football and draining resources.

“We believe the reputation which has been built up by years of tradition and great men who had Blackburn Rovers in their heart is in ruin.

“My grandfather was so proud of his association with Rovers and before that Great Harwood Town.

"He was a staunch supporter of the non-league system.

"Our aim is a club run by the fans for the fans.”

Whalley-based Tom, who works in the textiles industry, is an accomplished non-league player himself, having played for Curzon Ashton and Witton Albion.

He said the club was in advanced discussions about joining a league next year and the club’s blue and white-halved kit and leisurewear will be purchased from Nike.

“We will be applying for the North West Counties and the Evo-Stik leagues for the 2012/2013 season,” he said.

“Earlier this week we were in talks with Supporters Direct who are specialists in the field of helping fans build and run their own football clubs.”

The supporters' group behind the club hope to emulate the success of AFC Wimbledon and FC United of Manchester.

Both clubs attract gates in their thousands and have risen up the non-leagues, with the former now members of the Football League.

Another breakaway team, AFC Liverpool, has enjoyed more modest success and are currently in the North West Counties League Premier Division.

Tom said a general meeting would be organised for the new club in August at a venue to be decided.

FC United provided a little magic

 Source: Lancashire Telegraph

 9:22am Wednesday 10th November 2010

* By Matt Donlan » Sports reporter

THE FA Cup claimed back a little bit of its magic on Friday night – and hopefully there is more to follow.

FC United of Manchester really do divide opinion – just as Manchester United do – but it is hard to argue that their win over Rochdale was special to say the least.

The Cup needs moments like that – and the Cup needs non-league sides to push on and cause the odd upset.

And there is more excitement possibly around the corner as AFC Wimbledon are close to a game against Milton Keynes Dons, the side that once was Wimbledon before their new owners decided to do one up the M1 to the land where the cows are made of concrete and the roundabouts are plenty.

That decision still hurts the fans of AFC Wimbledon – and if both sides manage to win their respective replays the dream tie will be on.

A cert for the TV companies. But back to FC United and their winning goal.

In a week when Tony Pulis wants referees relegating for a bad decision he would have been gobsmacked at the decision to allow the stoppage time effort when the ball was clearly taken out of the hands of goalkeeper Josh Lillis only to be allowed to stand.

Pulis would have that referee locked in the dungeons at Lancaster Castle for that error – and I am sure Rochdale are not exactly chuffed with it either.

But get over it. It’s part and parcel of the Cup...

And that’s magic.

The Rumour Mill - October 25

 Edited from: Lancashire Telegraph

 FC UNITED hero Carlos Roca can't wait for the FA Cup first round clash with neighbours Rochdale and declared: "We have nothing to fear."

The former Oldham Athletic man scored the only goal as FC United stunned Blue Square Bet Premier outfit Barrow yesterday.
...

Ramsbottom United 0 FC United 3

Source: Lancashire Telegraph

12:32pm Thursday 5th August 2010

Ramsbottom United’s run of five consecutive wins in pre-season came to an end with a 3-0 defeat to FC United.

The game’s first goal arrived on 33 minutes, when Roca was on hand to convert a right-wing cross.

The Rams hit back, and Mark Sharples saw his shot hit the post.

Andy Sensale and Dominic Smalley also went close.

But FC United made the game safe through Deegan on 76 minutes, and Maloney six minutes later.

Striker exit to give Ramsbottom United headache

Souce: Lancashire Telegraph

4:08pm Friday 9th October 2009

By Aban Quaynor »

RAMSBOTTOM United go into tomorrow’s Vodkat League Premier Division tie against Bootle suffering a striker crisis after Carl Lomax defected to Bamber Bridge and Anthony Johnson was ruled out with ligament damage.

Lomax left the club last weekend for a more lucrative deal at the UniBond League club after news broke out that the forward was registered to both the Rams and FC United, and United no longer wanted him.

Joint player manager Johnson said: “I can understand the comments being made behind Carl’s decision to leave the club, having only just re-signed for us from FC United.

“I know that Carl is not working at the moment so every penny counts for him and Bridge were able to offer him considerably more than we could.”

FC United 3, Chorley 0

Chorley could do little to stop FC United of Manchester, chasing a third successive promotion, powering their way to a comprehensive 3-0 win at Gigg Lane, Bury, last night.

The Magpies were chasing the game from the ninth minute when Jerome Wright laid on the opener for marksman Rory Patterson and five minutes into the second half the pair repeated the move for Patterson's second.

A spirited Chorley had few chances and the action was mainly at the other end, where goalkeeper Peter Collinge crowned a superb display with a flying save from Chris Baguley's 30-yard free kick.

Stuart Rudd rounded off the win with a goal in stoppage time.

The defeat was Chorley's fifth in succession and the Magpies have now gone 380 minutes without a goal.

Chorley manager Tony Hesketh praised his players for their battling display against a side now unbeaten in 14 league matches. "They held their heads up and kept going," he said.

"We have Wakefield at home on Saturday and the Co-operative Lancashire FA Trophy final at Leyland on Wednesday against my old club Southport. After that we have five league games left, three of them at home, so there's still plenty to play for."

Wakefield have won their last six away league games and with Chorley looking to end a run of five defeats it will be an interesting fixture.

11:47am Thursday, 27 March 2008

(Also Chorley Citizen http://www.chorleycitizen.co.uk/sport/sportheadlines/display.var.2150900.0.fc_united_3_chorley_0.php

Stags change tactics for visit to FC United

DEREK Egan intends to scrap Rossendale United's all-out attack approach at FC United tomorrow in a bid to stop the club's poor run.

The Stags have slumped into the bottom five of UniBond Division One (North) after losing their last three matches and conceding 10 goals.

But United boss Egan said: "We have to approach the game slightly differently than we have done in the last few weeks," he explained.

The Stags will be without striker Phil Eastwood.
12:14pm
30/11/2007

Stags travel to FC United

1:49 pm
Wednesday 14th November 2007

Rossendale United tonight travel to FC United of Manchester hoping to maintain their good run of form in UniBond Division One North, kick-off 7.45pm.

The Stags head to Bury's Gigg Lane on the back of a three-game unbeaten run in all competitions, in which they have racked up 10 goals.

Clitheroe aiming to get rid of the Blues

CLITHEROE must try to shake off the controversy surrounding their FA Trophy troubles as they face FC United at Shawbridge for the third time this season.

The Blues were kicked out of the FA Trophy for allegedly playing an ineligible player, although the club are appealing against the FA's decision.

In the meantime, they are preparing for a huge game and chairman Carl Garner admits everybody is pumped up. He said: "With what is going on at the moment, there is an extra incentive for us. We can either roll over and die, or we can go out there and respond positively."

Clitheroe's first league outing with FC United was abandoned due to floodlight failure, and they were beaten 3-0 in the re-match.

The Blues have bolstered their attacking options with the loan signing of Fleetwood Town striker Mickey Saunders.

5:04pm today

Clitheroe make FC United donation

Source: Lancashire Telegraph

By Gary York

CLITHEROE chairman Carl Garner has revealed that a "substantial donation" has been made to FC United of Manchester after Tuesday night's match was abandoned due to floodlight failure.

The UniBond League Division One North game at Shawbridge was plunged into semi-darkness before the hour mark - with the teams locked at 1-1 - following a fuse problem.

Failure of the floodlights led to 950 supporters vacating the ground, and the match was abandoned by the referee once it became clear that local utilities could not promptly repair the fuse.

UniBond League chiefs are now re-arranging the fixture, with a date soon to be confirmed.

But after a board meeting yesterday, Clitheroe have decided upon a "goodwill gesture" by making a donation towards FC United's Development Fund.

Furthermore, admission prices for the re-arranged fixture will be reduced and match programmes free.

"We've reached an agreement with FC United whereby we've made a substantial donation to their Development Fund from the proceeds of Tuesday's game," said Garner.

"We agreed that it was morally right to make a donation to FC United and they are happy with our goodwill gesture."

The Blues chairman revealed that the fuse was not fixed until 10.50pm.

He said: "The circumstances were beyond our control. A fuse had overheated that caused some of the bulbs to go on some of the lights.

"The last thing we needed was a problem like this. In fact, we were gutted. We had FC United on the ropes and we looked as though we could have won our first game of the season."

Blues up for Rebels test

Source: Lancashire Telegraph

By Gavin Gibbon

Clitheroe co-manager Neil Reynolds is hoping a win tonight against FC United at Shawbridge can launch the Blues' season in UniBond Division One North.

Reynolds' side has taken just one point from 15 this season and will be missing goalkeeper Pete Collinge, Will Exton and Ryan Fisher, while they are sweating on the fitness of John Osbourne.

But he said: "We haven't started well, but I'm hoping this can kick start our season.

"It's a fantastic fixture for the club and it's one we're all really looking forward to."

Chris Ward returns from injury.

Gates open at 6pm, kick off 7.45pm

Rossendale United 1 FC United 2

Source: Lancashire Telegraph
ROSSENDALE United agonisingly lost to FC United yesterday - but can bank on a big pay day.

Dale were beaten 2-1, with United grabbing the winner with 10 minutes to go.

But just over 2,000 fans packed into Dark Lane to fill the coffers for the Unibond League side.

Rossendale keeper Lee Bracey made excellent first-half saves from Stuart Rudd and Steve Spencer.

The first goal came when United were awarded a free kick on the edge of the Rossendale area. Rudd fired a low hard shot that flew past the wall.

Rossendale got back on level terms when David Chadwick squared the ball to Mark Drew, and he finished well.

But United had the last laugh when Rudd was brought down in the box, and Nicky Platt converted the spot-kick.