Clitheroe v Stockport County....The Preview !

PAST MATCHES

Complete list of games between County sides and Clitheroe's 1st team. County score first.

Season Lev comp Home Away
1894-95 F LL 24 Nov 5-3 23 Mar 2-1
1895-96 F LL 3 Apr 8-0 7 Dec 2-1
1896-97 F LL 16 Apr 0-2 17 Oct 2-3
1897-98 F LL 15 Jan 7-0 12 Feb 6-1
1906-07 R LC 12 Jan 5-1 13 Oct 2-2
1908-09 R LC 14 Nov 6-2 16 Jan 1-1
1909-10 R LC 9 Apr 3-0 4 Sep 1-0
1999-00 Y FR 17 Jul 2-3
2000-01 Y FR 29 Jul 0-2
F - County first tean, R - Reserves, Y - Youth. LL - Lancashire League, LC - Lancs Combination, FR - Friendly
 


IN THE PAST

The pre-season action for County's almost all-new squad begins with a return to Clitheroe on Saturday, 15 years after our most recent trip to Shawbridge. That game saw a side of mainly youth players, with a sprinkling of first team men, go down 2-0. The home side scoring once in each half. Team: Sam Turner, John Myers, Ben Johnson, Jonas Larsson (Michael Ogden), Anthony Kielthy, Rob Clare, Phil Carratt (Stuart Fenna), Martyn Andrews (Ryan Elderton), Michael Hennessy (Haydn Eames), Neil Ross, Andy Welsh (Blake Norton)

Around half these men had also played in a match at the Lancashire venue one year before when Clitheroe beat County 3-2.

The last time County's first team travelled for a game in Clitheroe was over 106 years ago. That was the last of four consecutive seasons of meetings in the Lancashire League days. The list of Victorian footballers, who lined up that day, when top of the table County won 6-1, were:

Saturday 12 February 1898
Clitheroe (1) 1 (Slinger) Att. 250
Stockport County (4) 6 (Worrall 2, Heyes 2, Bridge, Foster)
County: Joe Lee, Harry Blears, Jimmy Wainwright, Bob Mann, Clibborn, Billy Bolton, Roger Bridge, Bert Heyes, Arthur Worrall, Joe Foster and Arthur Lee.

THIS TIME AROUND

This game is being played as a gesture by County following their signing of Clitheroe defender Danny Morton. Danny was not a contracted player at Clitheroe which meant no fee was payable, but the Hatters' management agreed to visit. Given it's the opening Friendly of the season for County it seems likely Clitheroe will be rewarded with a good turnout. Those travelling to Clitheroe can read this previous blog entry for guidance on the journey.

Clitheroe's player-manager Simon Garner, son of one of Neil Young's backroom staff at EP in Carl Garner (himself a former Clitheroe chairman and manager), has been looking to bolster the defence during the summer. The incomers include Greg Anderson, who has helped North Ferriby to a couple of victories over County in recent seasons. He is joined by Jimmy Heywood, regarded as Morton's replacement and signed from Jim Gannon's Northwich Victoria, plus Tom Murphy, who returns to the club from Padiham.




The likely Clitheroe squad (as close as the blog can get to it anyway - obviously it's likely new names and men with no name might also be involved as is often the case in these pre-season clashes.)

NamePosKnown Past Clubs (may not be complete)
Callum Jakovlevs G Burnley,  Nelson,  Bacup & Rossendale Bor
Alex Palffy G Local league
Roberto Bonaminio RB Bamber Bridge
Jimmy Heywood RB Bamber Bridge,  Clitheroe,  AFC Fylde,  Northwich Vic
Gregg Anderson CD ex-Clitheroe,  Buxton,  FC Halifax T,  North Ferriby U
Danny Brady CD
Tom Murphy LB/CD Clitheroe,  ?,  Clitheroe,  Bamber Bridge,  Padiham
James Walker D/F AFC Blackpool
Robbie Bromley M Fleetwood T,  Padiham
Ryan Cattermole M -
Ross Dent M
Simon Garner M Clitheroe,  Stalybridge Cel,  Fleetwood T,  FCU of Manchester,  Clitheroe,  FC Halifax T,  Chorley,  Bradford PA (L),  Ramsbottom U,  Northwich Vic
David Lynch M Burnley,  Droylsden (L),  Stalybridge Cel (L),  Nantwich T (L),  Burscough,  Workington
Scott Harries W Kendal T,  Northwich Vic. More than one(L)
Sefton Gonzales F Stafford R,  Kendal T,  Bamber Bridge,  Kendal T,  Clitheroe,  Droylsden
Louis Mayers F Clitheroe,  Bamber Bridge,  Squires Gate,  Burscough,  Padiham







FORM

No real guide to how a club will play, especially in a pre-season friendly, but last season Clitheroe finished 13th in the 22 team Evostik (Northern Premier) League Division One North.

I imagine the Clitheroe players will be ready for some football given they were condemned to long runs, hill climbs and weight training in the first week of training. But they have only been back for a couple of weeks, so might well be a little ring-rusty with just four training sessions before meeting the Hatters.

PLAYING CONNECTIONS

There are a couple of connections from the 19th century, namely Harry Barnes, and W Yates (sorry no first name for him yet.) The only more recent connection I have on record is goalkeeper Carlo Nash, (pictured right) who moved into League football when he left Clitheroe for Crystal Palace in the mid-90s before moving on to County.

Ian Watts

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