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with your Advertiser and Times sports team of Chris Boden, Phil Simpson, Adrian Capstick and Edward Lee Mossley deducted points so Blues are top


Boss’s full focus on championship


By ADRIAN CAPSTICK


:■ < ‘ . i


CLITHEROE manager Lee .Sculpher played down his side's re-instate- ment to the top of the N o r th West Counties League to maintain full focus and concentration on the tough games that stand between the Blues and the title. The locals have seen it all


game at hand but their is still a tough battle ahead And with Saturday's


home fixture against Con- gleton being called off due to the abysmal wet weath­ er Sculpher is concerned th a t games will s ta r t to rack up towards the end of the Blues campaign. He said: "I was disap­


before and are wary of how title dreams and aspira­ tions can be all too easily snatched away in the latter stages of the season whether the Blues have been sitting proud at the top or not. Mossley may have had


How the restructuring could effect the Blues


Gary Jackson


three points deducted for fielding an ineligible player allowing Clitheroe a three point gap at the top with a


behind with our fixtures as at this time of the season wo really just want one game a week rather than increase the pressure with two or three games as play­ ers pick up injuries, suspen­ sions and the like and life is made increasingly more difficult for us. "It's much better to be steady away with games


ley is a difficult encounter even though they've lost their last two games against Nantwich in the league and


SPECIAL REPORT


By PHIL SIMPSON


FEW fans of non­ league football will be


aware of the massive restructure set to be implemented at the end of this campaign. The football pyramid


will take on a whole new set-up for 2004/05, in order to hand every club - at every level - an equal opportunity to progress. And Clitheroe fans are


waiting with baited breath


as to where their club will feature in the radical


shake-up. : , There are many reasons why the Football League have decided to go ahead with the plans. The new structure will


make ground and financial criteria standard across the country, as well as giving clubs the same number of steps on the football ladder from which to climb. At the moment, club at


the same level at opposite ends of the country may have vastly different num­ bers of levels above them. No longer will one club


be three steps away from the Conference, while another - reputedly at the same level of football - finds themselves six adrift. However, this massive


Martens Premier League will all gain a place at the top level. But it is below that that


reshuffle does have one drawback. • A substantial number of


UniBond League only has its own First Division. The champions of the


is set to change. • Below the Conference


clubs up and down the country will find them­ selves playing at a lower level next season. For Clitheroe, tha t


there will be two feeder leagues rather than the current three - Conference North and Conference South. However, this then


means that even if the club gain that elusive promo-, tion from the North West Counties League First Division, they may still be playing at the same rung on the ladder next time around. The full extent of the


shake-up is: • The highest level, the


Nationwide Football Con­ ference, will remain the


same, with the champions and play-off winners trad­ ing places with the bottom two sides in the Nation­ wide League Third Divi­ sion. The bottom three sides


in the Conference will also be relegated as usual. And at the end of this


campaign, the champions of the UniBond Premier League, Ryman Premier League and Doctor


means th a t the current crop of 66 sides at Level Two will become 44. So where will be the


other 22 sides go'f The three sides relegat­


ed from the Conference will be joined by the sides ranked second to 13th at the climax of the current feeder league seasons.


That adds up to 39 clubs, with the remaining


five places to be decided via a series of play-offs. Because of the shortfall


of clubs in this part of the world, the UniBond League will be allocated just one more space, whereby the Ryman and Doc Martens will each receive two. Currently, underneath


first entrants in the Pre­ mier. The bottom three in the


two Ryman feeders will join the sides ranked 14th- 20th in the Premier in a play-off system to whittle them down to two, while the Doc Martens champi­ ons will face sides ranked 14th-18th in the Premier and undergo the same process. . The UniBond will also


current UniBond Premier will also feature, along with the 12 sides ranked second to 13th in the cur­ rent UniBond First Divi­ sion. • The new Level Four,


undergo the same process, with the First Division champions joining sides ranked 14th to 20th in the Premier for the final Level


Two spot. The 44 teams will then


be split into two halves for the respective divisions.


With it so far'f • From here on, I will


be concentrating on describing the restructure


of the strand of football relevant to the North West - the UniBond League. The names of the


both the la tte r leagues there are two feeders (Ryman East and West, and Doc Martens North and South) whereas the


leagues will remain, Uni­ Bond Premier and First - but will be reclassified at Level Three and Four due to the insertion of the Con­ ference North. Both leagues will also


the UniBond First Divi­ sion, is" the level tha t affects Clitheroe, so if. you’re still with me, read on.


19th in the current Uni­ Bond First Division will be the first six clubs, along with the champions of the throe feeder leagues - the North West Counties’ First, the Northern Coun­


Teams ranked 14th to


ties’ East Premier and the Albany Northern League


First Division. This is where Clitheroe


come in. If the Blues do not fin­


ish top of their league, the Football Association have admitted that the remain­ ing 13 spaces will be based on playing performance, desire and ambition. Thirty-two clubs across


contain 22 clubs, with the seven losers of the Confer­ ence North play-off the


press, no more than two clubs (whether promoted


normally or applying) from each of the country’s feeder leagues will be allowed to make the step up. ,, But this condition may


be set aside to increase the number of Northern clubs,


owing to the current popu­ lous of Southern sides. But football at this level


could yet take a different twist. The 15 feeder leagues


across the country will ultimately be split into 12, opting instead for so-called “motorway leagues” instead of the current counties. That could result in an


M62 league, consisting from clubs as far afield as Liverpool and Leeds. But th a t is all for the


future and, for the time being, clubs at this level are left to sweat on where


’ their futures will lie at the end of the current cam­ paign. There is also talk of a


the three divisions have so far applied for the 13 slots. At the time of going to


pointed the game against Congleton was called off as it's the last thing we need­ ed.


"We don't want to get


rather than have them all at once." Hopefully Saturday's


Warrington in the cup,'! admitted Sculpher. - "But the management


trip to Lambeth Grove in Stockport will not be rained off as any game against third placed Wood- ley Sports is a daunting prospect and one that defi­ nitely doesn't want to be title contender replay at the end of the season. Woodley were knocked


squad at the Cheshire club have built up a fantastic team that are hard to beat, and their manager Tony Hancock really gets them fired up. "They've got a good


out of the Challenge Cup on Tuesday night in a 1-0 battle against Warrington and will surely be looking to bounce back with a win in the league. And the Blues boss is


front line, which is proven in them having two of the top scorers in the league, but fingers crossed all will govvell." Even though the team


fully geared up and expect­ ing a tough game come Saturday. "Any game against Wood-


have not played a game for two weeks going into Sat­ urday's trip, Sculpher has been keeping the squad on their toes in the wet condi­ tions. He said: "We^ve man­


aged to get out and train this week despite the weather and everyone gave their all but no matter how much you train there is no


i i M m w $ Barrie Hart .


substitute for match prac­ tice. But everyone is com­ mitted and everyone is rar­ ing to get playing on Satur­ day." Clitheroe are still await­


ing the result of the scan on Gary Jackson's injured foot but Sculpher is hopeful th a t the forward will be back playing within the next two weeks. Other injury news sees


-DESPI'TE L-SaturJ; day’s, gamcifallingl .victim'of ithe-weath-^ e r;i!C 1 i t h c r o_c yv c r e | still h'anclcd'a liooslf; i n t h e i r ’ p r 9 m p 1 i b ri| charge as they mbvcdl to,' the ,'V6p • or;ithcf league./ fijlFoIlowing’s'eyeral’ weeks of spec'ulation^| theileague,Kas:nbw| c o nf i r m c d t h it t | Mosslcy ’ fielded:ari| unregistercdplaycrg in theirrecerit/victoryl overClossop North;


Andy Cowking remain sidelined with a back prob­ lem and Martin Aspinwall out with a thigh injury but apart from that everyone is fit and well to play. However, the Blues will


¥ T li e p II n i s h m c II t; for>ttiis,has'bech;a' three-point'dcduc-l tion; and:.the'res'ult| from’the gama^ias) also been cancelled.'ll: sijjThe game_will nbw| have to be replayed aL a later date.'


unfortunately be missing Barrie Hart as he is sus­ pended for this week's encounter which is a blow but should not prove a problem as Sculpher says the side have plenty of ade­ quate cover in that area.


,^s>This' now se'es'Jly:' Blues three’poihtsj c 1 e a r ii; a t;4 h e ,f t o pj; although Jhey.'now) only have one game’;


fltt Tonight'Sces the/' return of , Kevin Kee/i( gan’to Shawbridge/ forranothcrl'AudiS once ' ’ with ...’/ :cvehingljThe event is ,strictly tickct'only -and all tickets have, >, no been sold.' i ); U promises to , be a; g re a t ; fundraising


:®j Obviously this is,a( rcar;boost for:Le'e< Sculpheri’and :liis team, who now have their destiny firmlyl in their own hands. •;§


in hand. F' ' •- V,' 'J'r|


Ton- up Legion on march to the top


T O P -O F -T H E -T A B L E Fr,iscr76, R'I’raynorSG. Royal Br itish Legion are


the first team to reach lUU ciogg 82, R Astin 90; J. WliitUik- points in the first division er 98, R Wilson 54; R Watson G9, of the Cliheroe and D l s - M. Whittaker 81; R Blackburn tr ic t S nooke r L e a gu e 93* A* isherwood, G. Ireland 79,


., V . . . Clitheroc Conservative A 4: P. Conscrv.-iUye B lO


than k s to a 10-4 v ic to r y Charlton 41; I. Nash GO, M. rN y


oyer Downham. Parkinson 35. Royal British Legion 10, The Whalloy Road side Downham 4: C. Lawson 67, U.


are pr e sen tly two p o in ts Gladwin 66; S. Taylor 102, P. ahead of th e ir n ea r e s t WAlmsloy 65; M. Peel 80, M. .


r iv a ls Low M o o r A and f ,


have won and lost the same Bullock 81; B. Watson 85. R. number of games as their Malloch79.


j i j iu Clitheroe counterparts.


recording a victory, with a 12-2 result over Rimington , ,


• Sramil Division And with Low Moor also Whalloy 8, Biilington B G: M. j gQ. q


Behind the top two are Ainsworth 77. Billington A who also won B.',if:-:lfi;it T


.Baylor 1OG. D.


B, the gap a t th e top is Marijreavcs 75; L. Callow 77, J. very close.


Atkin.son 73; .1. Waggotl 70, J. a “;


last week but remain a full uca,, 69, F. Whittaker 123; G. 10 points behind the lead- Laxlon 89, ,1. Winder 131: D. ers. T h e s id e won 10-4 Boothman 89, S. Proctor G5; S. a g a in s t stru g g le r s Slaid- Dean 80, P. Proctor 112; S.


burn who are p r e s en t ly ^ T o ^ lo ^ B ^m ^ n g to n A . residing 12 points adrift at 2: P. Nutter 83, G. Watson 74; D. the bottom of the league. Johnson 70, B. Taylor G7; M. In the Second Division Wensley 91, S. Potty 50; A. Ford


proved to be table-toppers waddington CO, No Flavor 0. Chatburn A beating base-


’Phis win puts Chatburn


0 evening for the club/ *as the.current Man;/


;i'chestcr Cily;,and 'ex-| ;;England.,'managcr| iretufns'tb the,club/f house. Saturday .sees the


Blues travel to Jhird j placed Pc?5Woodley: Sports. Woodley have’


:becn this'season’s ■ surprise package iii


'the league,'and many ■ fans will be surprised; ; to see them still dial/ lenging at the top.ofj


•/waysion; their.'own ''ground.


'.the table.;!); -i ,(;In one of ’ the few games to be' played at the weekend,'they were defeated 3-1 :by Nantwich Town so they will be keen to return':to;:winning:


/


Clithefoe’s superb! u n b e a te n ; away


'record will be putjo -the test, but anothey


'/three'poinls bn their, (travels could put,a


/serious ;._dent/:,'in ;WoodIcy’s wdream


'season; Finally, anyone not


number of North West Counties Second Division clubs gaining UniBond First Division status. But all clubs can do is


aim for as higher finish as they can, and play the waiting game.


"the reserve'team in ■ action -.'at.j-SHaw,;/ ■(bridge. They.,'ente'r/!i 'tain paisyHill in the) R e s e r V e; vf Division


1 travelling to Woodley, mayLwish jo watch;


"Trophy on Saturday; > ' / Andy Alston


Exciting title race in prospect as leaders are held to draw


THE gap at the top of the Clitheroe and District Pool league has been cut to six points after league leaders Buck A were held to a 6-6 draw by Rose and Crown A;


And although Royal JO ' ' k i f "


British Legion A may have only gained one point on the Rose since last week with a 7-5 away win at Stork Hotel A, the second half of the season is sure to be a closely contested affair where every point will be needed. , Having won the same


moth 11-1 victory over Buck B to move 10 points clear of the rest of the league. - , 'While, second-placed


Bay Horse 5; St Peter’s Hurst Green 7, Brown Cow Clitheroo 5. Second Division


White Hart aimed to stay in touch with the top with a closely contested 7-5 win over bottom of the league Bay Horse. All’s well in the Second


Bridge A 6; Craven Heifer 4, Horse Shoo 8: Waggon and Hors­ es B 6, Pendlc Witch 6; Bllling­ ton B 2, Now Inn 10. Tliird Division ;


Royal British Legion C 6,


Division for leaders New Inn, as they notched a comprehensive 10-2 ■victory over Billington B to go 17 points clear of nearest rivals Bridge A. And the title hopes of


number of games as the top two teams, Castle A sit on 105 points in third spot after taking a 7-5 victory over fourth placed Billing­ ton A. Meanwhile, at the oppo­


site end of the sliding scale, Chatburn's Brown Cow won their first game of the season with a 7-5 result over Stork Hotel B, but despite this much needed result the village pub side are still rooted to the foot of the table by a nine-point deficit. '.. In the First Division, league leaders Rose and Crown B recorded a mam-


I ik yt-"'


Third Division Iloyal British Legion D remain firmly on course after they produced a 7-5 win over Bridge B. ■ This victory pushes the


Premier Division RESULTS


Legion A 7; Buck A 6, Rose and Crown A 6; Brown Cow (Chat­ burn) 7, Stork Hotel B 5; Royal British Legion B 3, Waggon and ’ Horses A 9; Castle A 7, Billing- ton A 5. ■ '


Stork Hotel A 5, Royal British . First Division


./■; ‘


/ Hotel A 5; Rose and Crown B 11, Buck B 1; Pcndle Hotel B 8, Dog Music Bar A 4; White Hart 7,


' White Horse A; 7, Pendle ’f


Legion D,7; Royal Oak B 9, Buck In Broncos 3: Dog Music Bar B 3, Station 9; White Lion 7, Kings Arms5. . FIXTURES : Tonight


Bridge B 5, Royal British ■ Second Round: Rose and Harrison Challenge Cup


Crown A v White Hart; Royal British Legion A v Waggon and Horses A; Stork Hotel B v Brown Cow Clithoroo: Bay Horse v Bridge A; Kings Arms v Billington A; Waggon and Hors­ es B v Craven Heifer; Buck A v Pondlc Hotel A; White Horse B V Stork Hotel A.


( : Tuesday ,


Whalley Road side a full 22 points clear of the rest of the pack.


Horse Ladies; Buck Wrinkleys v Royal Oak A; Castle B v White


■ ■ Rearranged Mulches Billington Ladies A v White


;StorkB........12 ' 2, 0 10 57 Bra™Cow(Cliat)12 .; 1- 1 10 48,


Buck A ... . . . .1 2 ; 9 2 i t 117 RBL A ............12 9 1 2 111 CastlcA .......1 2 9 1 2 105 BillingtonA....12 . 8 1; 3 102; Rose & Crown A 12 , 4 •, 4 4 83 Stork A...'.......12 5 1 6 80 Wagon & Horses 12 3 2 ■ 7 69 RBLB . . ......1 2 ' 3 1 8 67-


Horse B. ■ ' TABLES . Premier Division ; " - P W D L P


First Division P W D -L P


Rose & Crown B 12 9 . 2 1 115 White Hart ....12 8 2 2 105 St Peter’s (HG) .12 6 2 ' 4 90 PendleHotelB .12, 5 -■ 3 . 4 86 PendleHotelA .12 5 4 - 3 85,. WhiteHorscA .12 „ 6 0 6 8‘1 BrownCow(Clith)12' 5/ 1 6 82 Dog Music Bar A12 .5 0 ..7 80 BuckB........12 2 1 Bay Horse .....12 1 ;T ’ Second Division : ■ • •


10 52'


New Inn ..\....12 10 1 Bridge A.......12 7 2 Pcndle Witch...12 7 2 RBLC........12 5 3 HorseShoe.....l2 4 2 BuckWrinkleys.il 5 2


P W D


; Craven Heifer ..12 6 1 Wagon & Horses 12 .2 4 . BillingtonB....12 1 1


Royal Oak.........11 8 0 . Thirti Division . P W D


.RBLD........12 ,10 2 Kings Arms ...:12 6; 3 WhiteHorseB .11 7 3


L P 1116


A eight points clear of sec- g g j


the second string Sit three cutheroc Conservative B v points adrift a t the foot of Downham; Talbot B v Rhning- tholcaguc.


., J , • _:i I I_ _ __ _ _ vativo A; RBL v Billmglon A;


Meanwhile, Whalloy had MoorA.^ a close set of games against ns u


second bottom Blllington Billington A v Police: Catholic C B that ended with the sec- v Chatburn B: Rimington A v ond place side just edging Talbot A; Low Moor 13 v their near neighbours. Waddington B.


, , ,, “ I Chatburn A v Whalley: n


fram e s end ed w ith le s s .....s. simkin v M. TIolmes; M. than 10 points separating Garner v S. Traynor; P. Clegg v each set of players with the 1. White; F. Whittaker v K.


. ’Phree of th e sev en , , . , , , bmcles KnocKoiii


f ir s t m a tch p ro v in g th e Kcough. ____1 „„


c lo se s t as Blllin g ton S D. Flynn just edged it with a score of 85 to M. Smith of Whalley’s S l .


First Division RESULTS


n Matches must be played Pubmary 13th.


tables First Division


RBL............. II 7 0 I 100 Low Moor A ...11 7 0 . 4 98


I’ W D L P Billington A 10, Slaidburn 4: Billington A . . . .11 8 0 3 88


J. Gibson 88, E. Rigby 46; J. A. Downham...... 11 6 0 5 80 Wright 94, N. Hey 80: S. Flan- TalbotB ........11 5 0 G 80 nory 113, D. Cowking 46; N. Waddington A ..11 0 0 5 76 Harris 116, B. Johnson 57;'r. ClithorocCon B 11 5 0 0 08, Rydehoard 55, T. Robinson 104: Riminglon B ...11 G 0 5 68 E. Marsh 79, G. Parker 85. Clitheroe Con A 11 4 ,0 7 62 Talbot B 4, Waddington A 10: Slaidbum . ; . . . . 11 1 0 10 50 D. Robinson 90, K. Kcough G4; 0. Hayhur.sl 72, L. Cowking 82;


Second Division


C. Hayhiirst 72, D. Cox 83; M. Chatbura A . . . .11 7 1 ; 3 97 Garth 65, M. Dewhurst 69; P. Whalley .......11 9 0 2 89 Whittaker 63, B. Waddington 90; Talbot A .........11 6 0 5 88 A. DiekinsonSl, R. Kay74. ■ Waddington B . .11 5 0 6 80 Rimington B 2, Low Moor A Police..............10 7 0 3 78


P W D L P


12:P. Hobson 99, D. Ireland 101; Low Moor B ...11 5 1 5 71 D. Seed 51, M. Holmes 103; J. Rimington A ...11 , 3 0 8 70 Lund jnr 71, S. Traynor 82; P. CatholicCiub .,10 5 0 5 66 Winkley 69, S. Whittaker 93; R. BillingtonB ....11 4 0 7 G Bolland 110, S, Thompson 54; I. Chatburn B ----11 2 0 9 57


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Capture the moment with a unique photograph of when you were in the news


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10 55 .8 50


L P 0 119 3 97


Buck In Broncos 12 7 : 2 3 .89 > Royal Oak B :. .12 5 3 4 ,85


StationB ......12 5 1 ‘ 6 85 WhitoLion ;...I2 6 0 6 83 BridgcB.....:.12 2 2 8 65 CasllcB.......10


DogMuacBarBll ’.0 1- 10 43 ’ Ladies'Division - ’ P W D L P


1 8 52


' Buck Ladies .V . . .8 ■ 7. 0 .1 68 RBLLadies.....8 .5 0 .3 55:


• WhiteHorse..;-..7 ' 5 : 0 • 2’ 49 Pendle Hotel ....7 5 0 2 45


Royal Oak . . . . . .9 ;4 -0 5 43 BillingtonA . . . . .8:: 1 • 0 .7 28 Billington B . . . . .8 >: 2 0 6 27 Dog Inn....... ;. .7 2 / 0 5 : 27/


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, ■ , .£10.75 O


ton B: VV.addinglon A V Low .


th e m a tch of th e week %. S.Edmundson 65; F Wilson 1 I. u J- 1 1 .-.


91, C. Edmondson 107; G. chatburn B J, Chalburn A


ment side and village rivals lO: A. Booth G8, G. Simkin 107; Chatburn B 10-4.


ond placed Whalley at the ciark98. head of the table, while a defeat for Chatburn B,


,I, Read 62, M. Lawson 83; R. gg; S. Simkin 68, R


f ix t u r e s first Uhisiim their ninth this season, sees r “‘‘’a Ileesom 81; G. Blackburn 51, J.


Thursday, February 5th, 2004 36


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