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Rugby club’s testing times


Langho footballers on road to success with new sponsors!


LANGHO FC got off to a dream start in their first sea-; son back in the East Lancashire Football League with an ,


unbeaten run and a new shirt sponsor., ^ . : ; ' The club, which has rejoined the league after several ■ seasons in the Blackburn Combination, motored to,tKe!.,:^


;


Garslahg . . . . . . . : ^ -14 top of the Second Division table after their first,nine ' CUlheroe . . ... .; . . . .3 ; games.


THESE are testing times for Clitheroe Rugby, Club. , Freshly settled in their


They currently lie third in the table, five points behind


leaders Rock Rovers, and level with second-placed Padi- ham as the promotion race hots up.


brand new clubhouse, and proudly wearing a brand spanking new set of maroon and gold shirts, however, their rugby over the last few league matches belongs to a different era. The potential is there,


but is seen only in the all too briefest of flashes. Still smarting from the


reverse at the. hands of the same opposition in the Autumn, confidence was high of redressing the bal­


ance. ' ■


hour withdrawals, disrup­ tion in the ranks was guar­ anteed. The front row was hit ■


But with the usual 11th ■ ■


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especially hard,, but Clitheroe were able to draft in the willing Simon Ros- tron into loose head prop, whilst Roger Holmes moved from the back row into the hooker’s berth.. Alan Nuttall, back from ,


injury, replaced him in the loose forwards. ■ A firm, dry pitch and lit­


tle wind gave both sides the opportunity to play some open, expansive running rugby, or in Clitheroe’s case, seemingly to cough the ball up as often as pos­ sible or to give away half­ witted penalties in front of the posts. However, both teams


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iMo'sslc3?i|psmalar^^ closing in’mtop spbt;®%. jp.The*6th'eKsh'6ck4o.the: SYstcmwos the home sup-£


were quite evenly matched, and despite conceding an early penalty, the Little- moor outfit came back strongly and looked to have worked wingman Danny Glover over in the corner, but the referee thought


otherwise. Then, to further turn,


H


insult into, injury, as Clitheroe pressed again, a loose pass was intercepted and the Garstang openside flanker ran in from 50 metres. This really took the wind


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noisy, numter^'it wa-s sutj.j


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out of their sails, and, com­ bined with a number of penalty attempts sailing agonisingly wide, left it all to do in the second half. . At least in the second


period, the whole team managed to get up a head of steam and looked at times to be able to break down a resolute defence.. But, as always, the last


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pass seemed to go astray. Even a series of substitu­


tions - as almost a last


throw of the dice, old stager Bobby Wilkinson returning to first XV colours after a time away from the area - could not change the tide, with the Garstang kicker on target, happy to slot over the kicks as Clitheroe transgressed. It was desperate stuff. Nothing short of some


;fiJ^Perb'aps,^managerIleei \Sculpher handed a similart


soon s’awjthe\v6iccS;baclt4 i n a S i b n ^ ^ g ^ ^ p ! ^


decli^e^tPth^iplayM i ttiey.alsbSpped .their sc e j'


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hard work on the training paddock, and, for certain players, a frank self exami­ nation of their commit­ ment to the cause, will get the town team back where it belongs. ,


.wasrKiU^d.^y^^^jfei^ - ^ ^ h e ' usual JhT n ty alji imadeUheir/customaVy/-


fappearance,-and a rp u ^ g 5vc^sioi^|p|^Tby^^ iEscapesiheantfth'atjihV^^ ’recoveiywas cbrapletei^^


- ; ^ , And the team is also celebrating success with a shirt


sponsorship deal from Bowker, the Accrington-base'd BMW and MINI dealership. . Antony Reader, Langho FC chairman, said; “The ■


sponsorship from Bowker is very welcome. We don’t have too much trouble getting shirt sponsors for our junior teams, but it is much more difficult for the seniors.” Pictured are, from left, Paul Pasquali, new car sales


manager, Bowker; Brian Fox, president of Langho FC and Graham Chillingworth. (s)


Clitheroe facing biggest game of season Home form is key By CHRIS BODEN _______ _


CLITHEROE’S home game with Squires Gate on Satur­ day has taken on massive importance after a key week­


end for the Blues.. When Lee Sculpher and his


men left the field at Trafford on Saturday after a fine 3-2 win, they were met with the news that leaders Mossley and fellow title rivals Woodley Sports had


both lost. That left the Blues six points


adrift of top spot, with three


games in hand. And Clitheroe can really crank


up the pressure at Shawbridge on Saturday, while Mossley are in FA Carlsberg Vase action at home to Winchester City. Player-boss Sculpher admitted; “It was probably the best weekend


of the season so far for us. “It was nice to come off the pitch and hear the other two had


dropped points. “On the back of that, Saturday’s game is our biggest game of the


season so far. It is an absolutely massive game for us, and without trying to go over the top, it is a must-win game for us, as they all are at the moment. ■ - ^ . “Having got such a good result at Trafford, and the others drop­ ping points, we have to build on that to put Mossley under as much pressure as possible.” ' He added; “We are now in a


position where we can catch Moss­ ley, and wo have to ensure we don’t slipup. “In the past, as every team does,


we have dropped points against lower sides in the table, and we have to make sure we don’t. “We have won both our games


against Squires Gate this season 1- 0, and they have been very tight matches. “They are struggling a bit and


we will be expected to win, but, as I say to the players every week, we are a scalp for everybody, and we have to be ready for every game. . “We can’t take our foot off the


pedal.” Incredibly, the win at Trafford


saw Clitheroe pick up their 32nd


point of 36 available away from home as they remained unbeaten on their travels. Clitheroe’s only three defeats


have come at Shawbridge, and Sculpher said: “We’ve only dropped four points away from home all season, which is scary! “We’ve got to go back to Shaw­


bridge now and get another big result.


“If anything, we get too excited •


at home, and push too many men forward. ,; , “Some of the fans don’t agree


with that, but as the manager, I have to try and make sure we defend more at home and have cover at the back. “But we are confident of beating anyone at the moment.


, “We have scored 11 goals in our last three league games,; and if we maintain that, we shouldn’t be too


faraway.” ' On the goals front, Lee Cryer


■ has been in lethal form since his return from Rossendale United , scoring a goal in each of his four games back, taking his seasonal tally to 15 in all competitions.


His blossoming partnership with


Glyn Barker, who has scored three in three league games, is a major plus point for Clitheroe. And Neil Spencer is available


again this weekend, although Sculpher said: “Whether he comes with the first team or reserves has yet to be decided.” ■ Gary Jackson is back in training


as the Blues’ forward options are beefed up, while Glen Ainsworth and Chris Heslop could also return to the squad on Saturday. Russell Clark is also available as


of Monday after his ban expires. Stewart Parkinson is a doubt for


: must have half a dozen goals for us.


Saturday with a thigh strain that forced him off at Trafford, but Steve McDonald has scored in the last two games after coming on as substitute, and Sculpher said: “Steve has an eye for goal and


“His problem is he has never


been properly fit, and if he gets himself in good physical condition,


he will be a big asset.” ® Up-to-date league tables -


page 33. Sculpher’s men battle back to win


Trafford ........................2 CUlheroe....................... 3 THE old football saying about a game of two halves was perfectly illustrated on Saturday as the Blues recorded a crucial victory against an improved Traf­ ford side. Under new management,


the home side were unbeat­ en in seven games going into this game, and their first half performance was sensational. And in all honesty,


Clitheroe will have been relieved to reach the inter­ val trailing by just one goal as the home side dominat­ ed the opening exchanges. The first goal of the


Clitheroe’s plans were .


then further disrupted after just 15 minutes when Stuart Parkinson was forced off with an injury, although his replacement Steve McDonald, was to have a big say in the final outcome. Further chances came


Trafford’s way as a header from Ian Varley on 30 min­ utes came back off the post and was eventually scram­ bled away, and then Scott -Weir also went close with another header. The Blues eventually


game arrived for Trafford after just four minutes as


' Liam Ralph picked up the ball and ran unchallenged, before shooting home from 25 yards out.


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Captains put their best foot forward for charity


CLITHEROE Cricket Club’s captains,:;the Christmasholiday penod. .-)


have been keeping in shape for the forth4v.; ';;The;.trio raised well over a thousand coming season — and all for a good cause. . pounds, to be split equally between the


'


made some headway in the closing stages of the half, and crosses from Barrie Hart, Martin Aspinwall and Chris Whittingham all caused problems. : . After the break the


. Blues turned in a hugely improved performance, as : their neat, quick, passing


game of recent weeks came to light to gain an equalis­ er after just two minutes of


the restart. Lee Cryer seemed second


favourite to reach a Hart. cross, but the Clitheroe front man nipped in front of his marker and was able to poke the ball home. Buoyed by the equaliser,


the game and went in front on 50 minutes with a


superb individual goal. . McDonald picked the


ball up just inside the Traf­ ford half, and set off on an outstanding solo run that saw him ghost past four or five men before placing the ball past the goalkeeper from just inside the penal­


ly area. More neat approach


play, and the third quality finish of the afternoon, pro­ vided some breathing space


for Clitheroe on 67 min­


utes. Cryer fed the ball to


Whittingham and the winger’s cross was perfect for the head of Glyn Bark­ er, whose looping header nestled in the top corner. More neat football fol­


lowed, and a swift passing move saw Whittingham’s


Clitheroe took control of ■ angled shot palmed away


by the goalkeeper. Trafford set up a tense


last 10 minutes when Weir pulled a goal back on 80 minutes.; But despite a few free


kicks in and around the penalty area in the closing stages, the home side were unable to find a way back, and Clitheroe’s much improved second half per-. formance eventually proved the difference between two very good ■sides.. ■


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• s h J l ' Thursday, January 15th, 2 0 0 4 . 34


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Clarets cash


crisis By EDWARD LEE


THE Turf Moor cof­ fers willbe empty a t •


Burnley Football Club ' facing a cash shortfall of


the end of next month. And that will leave .


up to £700,000 for the cur­ rent season. The club is currently los­


ing up to £12,000 every time they stage a game at Turf Moor. And something has got to


be done about it to secure the future of the club. Chief Executive Dave


, Edmundson has admitted that the cash dilemma is “staring at us like a huge


abyss”. And now he wants fans to


throw their whole backing behind the club to stave oft the cash crisis currently fac­


ing the Clarets. Edmundson has refused


to rule out the possibility that the Turf Moor club might end up in administra­


tion. But, as far as he is con­


cerned, it is not an option, and fighting off the threat of administration will be one of the most remarkable achievements in the club’s long and proud history. ' ; Edmundson knows that


every fan has a hero in Claret and Blue. And now he wants the


ble Valley - to become the heroes and fight for the future of the club. Edmundson said: “The


fans themselves - many of which are based in the Rib-;y


Dave Edmundson


on the field. We’re all in this and we have the belief. “We then have to have


campaigns to put all this action into operation. There has got to be a commit­ ment. We have the confi­ dence but we need the com­ munity. One of the visions that we have is to make Burnley the people’s club.” Although laying the cash


shortfall firmly at the door of the collapsed ITV Digi­ tal television company - which has left a £2.1m. hole in this year’s Turf Moor budget - Edmundson realis­ tically expects the club to have to sort it out them­ selves. “These wounds are not


self-inflicted,” Edmundson continued “but it’s some­ thing we’ve got to deal with. “The


relationship


' ing it’s greatest-ever chal­ lenge. “We need to rebuild the


latent supporters have got to come back to this club, V we have got to get them into the ground. “I ’m appealing to sup­


porters to put things in the past behind them for the ;


time being. “If they want the club to be here in the future, they


need to come now. “This is not a case of


passing the begging bowl around, this is about the future of the club. “Anything will be a help.


If we raise the money, we can continue - no problem


at all.” With the club’s current


plight very much in mind, Edmundson has launched an ABC plan for survival. He continued: “Adminis­


tration is a word that has been bandied about, but I would rather hear action than administration, and this is where that action starts. “We have to go into bat­


between Burnley FC and its supporters is probably fac-


relationship between the club and it’s supporters, we need the loyalty of the com­ munity. “I ’m convinced we can


get there, i t ’s within our capability to succeed.” ^ Burnley Borough Coun­


cil, MP Peter Pike and the club’s most famous fan, Alistair Campbell, are all backing the club in their survival fight. Edmundson said that


Burnley Borough Council are key partners in the cam­ paign, and that Pike had been “magnificent” in his support. And Campbell has


already agreed to speak at : two functions, in early March to bang the drum on Burnley’s behalf. But the chief executive


Chris Whiltingham


Stonyhurst progress in


rugby cup STONYHURST College’s Under 15s rugby team has


•won through to the sixth- round of the national Daily Mail Cup competition with an impressive 17-10 win a t , Durham College. ' ■ ■ . ■ They were 10-5 down at


half-time, but rallied to play some top-class rugby


;and storm into the lead. Point scorers, all aged 14, were Ribchester’s Adam


■ Morgan with a conversion, Mwewa Kaluba of. Brack­ nell and .Greg Wood of Staines with a try,each,/ and Jack'McGovern of;.


;;Windsor.with a penalty t and conversion. ;; ■


Adam, Mwewa and Greg .


hurst College Under 15s coach,, said :, “Ilm very; ’ proud of the.whole team. ■


: , “They came from behind ■going into the second half and played some outstand­ ing rugby against worthy opposition.” “ • On Saturday,,the Under


„ "vir t .u


First team skipper N e i l Bolton vvaa ‘.East Lahesishire Hospice and junior crick-:; 15s hosts Queen Elizabeth joined by his second and third team counA>'jet'coaching at Clitheroe CG. ;, ■, .■ , ■ Grammar School. Wake-


' terparts John Green and Dave Musson to.' Amazingly, all three.captains complet- run the Ribble Valley 10k road race over ed the run m under an hourl


. , SPORTS DBSK: Phone 01282 426161 Fax; 01.282 439863, ‘ V:/


Grammar School, Wake­ field, in the next round of the competition;’


were also recently, selected. for the North Lancashire : Under 15s squad. ' Adrian Bidwell, Stonyr


iW lA R lH


tle for Burnley FC and we have to have the belief that we can win this battle. My job is to put that belief into all my staff off the field, and Stan Ternent will do it


refused to be all doom and gloom and added: “We have a fantastic commercial operation, we are still a First Division club and we have a manager who has been able to bring success to the club. “If we stay in the First


Division and get through this cash hole, it -will be one of the greatest achieve­ ments in the club’s history.”


llotfMi


EMord Road, CllldBroe, BB7 SLA Fax 012(XI444535 i ,


‘^j*’ }


^ '


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M o p r l


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