Carnforth Rangers Reserves v Caton United Reserves
Milnthorpe Corinthians v GSK Ulverston Rangers
Kendal Town v Droylsden
An evening engagement meant a requirement to keep it relatively local today. An area I'd want to cover for a while was that between Carnforth and Kendal, and the fixtures in the West and North Lancs leagues gave a richness of games, so off to Westmorland it was.
The early finish also meant a late start, so it was the 0833 off Sowerby, but the Wainhouse tower barely visible in the mist.
The later start meant the Blackpool services were now running fast, so it was off at Hebden for the usual move.
The by now trade mark shot of the Accrington branch of Farm Foods.
Into my first host location of the day, Preston.
I was heading for the Accademy game between North End and Tranmere, which was being played at the Uclan Arena, which is alongside the railway so had potential for a @nonleague_train. This involved a move down to the city's brutalist bus station. It is always described as the second largest bus station in Western Europe, but no record is kept of the largest?
There had been earlier notification on that there would be a pitch inspection because of a possible frozen pitch, however, when on the bus, a quick check of Twitter revealed this.
I thought about going to the ground anyway to get some train shots but a quick check of Tornado revealed that the Fylde lines were under a T3.
So with no game and no trains, mission was aborted and I jumped off the bus before it departed. More's the pity as Preston Bus don't have a reciprocal arrangement with First, so I'd actually bought a ticket, so here is a completely unused return to Savick Way turning circle.
So somewhat earlier than expected I was back at Preston station.
An insect move on a Pendo...
...took me to Lancaster, with the football ground on the left.
The bay platforms have this very complex pneumatic buffer arrangement, and were also a 153 fest, with a pair parked up and a single one on the Morecambe.
The stabled one was a 'namer'. I'm not sure what John Harrison is most proud of, having a dog box named after him, making the Trotter Brother's millionaires, or revolutionalising 17th century marine navigation and with it facilitating global trade and the commercial drive of the industrial revolution. My guess is the 153.
I was over to the more dignified up passenger loop, for a 156 on a Carlisle via Barrow endurance service. I once did the whole trip on a 142 before heading across the Tyne Valley for Bedlington Terriers v AFC Newbury in the 2003 Vase quarter final. Now Mr Trump, forget your water boarding, that is proper torture.
Approaching Carnforth and there was some kettle action in the DPL.
I was on another one station hop, and was off in the furnace line platforms.
For the unacquainted, Carnforth station is famous for being the setting for Brief Encounter, when Celia Johnson and Trevor Howard have their final farewell under the famous clock. Now what would be ideal would be the timely appearance of a steam locomotive to enable a faithful recreation of the scene.
Why thank you.
So what to do in Carnforth. For two hours. When your'e off the drink. And have already been to the Brief Encounter museum.
Well, there used to be the Steam Town museum. But this has now been taken over by West Coast Railways. These are a rich mans play thing, with some monied farmer buying up once frontline locomotives and rolling stock, then thrashing them to his amusement in a completely reckless and financially inept manner. Just imagine if Portsmouth FC were a railway company. Anyway, the collection of rusting 47s is now closed to the public.
Well, there was the option of a soft drink at the quite excellent Snug on the station. Except it was full of people in plastic St Georges cross bowler hats, which made me think that the shit rugby internationals were on so I gave it a miss.
The railway staff club was shut, which meant I couldn't take in the 'private parties' entrance.
A trip to the high street revealed perhaps the most horrific piece of crockery in existence. Is it at all possible to have a worse piece of china-ware imagery than an ejaculating mutated dog?
Apparently there is.
I wouldn't say I was bored, but I even went and found where my fishing rod course licence application was being processed.
Contemplating my contribution to existence, I decided to head to early to my first game. Ground aficionados will know where anybody in Carnforth is heading.
Or more importantly, here.
And so to Iodine Park, one of the iconic British football grounds.
It's immortality comes from it being located in a former quarry, which surrounds one half of the pitch.
Added to the location, is a small stand, which gives it more of a 'proper ground' status for the level 8 and above snobs.
As well as a brightly galvanised but falling down store on the far side.
The far goal is tight on the touchline, with some recent but now iconic graffiti behind it.
The resident team are Millhead of the North Lancs league, but a check of the website revealed the game against Lancaster Boys Club was now off.
So it was an opportunity to have unrestricted access around the ground. The Iodine moniker comes from the requirement for it in the early days of the ground when the pitch was still plagued by the remnants of the quarry, causing a proliferation of cuts and bruises.
As ever, a graffiti critique was required. Firstly, a biro drawn ghoul, simultaneously smoking a large reefer and a spunking cock.
Youthful declarations of love were mixed with various insults about 'Kieth'.
There aren't enough synonyms in teenage sexual conquest bragging.
A by now correctly spelt Keith continued to be the recipient of the artistic ire.
But electoral role like accuracy of the names on this one.
And a final plea regarding animal welfare, though a bit more work needs to be done on the CND symbol, as it just looks like a pair of round Y fronts.
So, back to the fixture list. Whilst Carnforth Rangers were a dud, their reserves looked hopeful.
So another wander across town, back over the railway with a Glasgow bound TPE service heading underneath.
Despite its pure LMS heritage, this signage appeared to be a strange A4/Coronation love child.
Eventually, south of the centre, this was found.
The sign was on the main road. What I wasn't expecting was to then have to wander another mile further on, seemingly to the outskirts of Lancaster.
But as ever, the sight of prolific fly tipping and entry level estate agent's company cars, signifies that a non-league ground is in close proximity.
Sure enough, signs of life, with those present confirming the game was definitely on.
Carnforth Rangers Reserves 0 v Caton United Reserves 3, Baines, Bagguley, Penhale Solicitors North Lancashire and District League - Division 1.
Carnforth Rangers were formed in 1906. They had a 20 year spell in the West Lancs league from the mid 1980s, but are now back in the North Lancs, the first team having a lot of recent success in the premier division, winning it three times in five years and are current champions.
Caton is a village just to the West of Lancaster. Although formed in 1911, they don't appear to have risen above the North Lancs, with the first team in the Premier and the reserves in the first.
Quarry Park looks to have no signs of ever being a quarry, although there are some abandoned works adjacent.
The main feature is this cover, which certainly appears in a better state than it has in recent reports.
Facilities are ex-shipping containers behind the near goal.
With a players entrance that echos that there isn't a league requirement for it to be segregated from spectators.
On the opposite touchline to the stand, was a large earth bank.
This gave a good vantage point and the first game I've watched from a bed of Japanese Knottweed.
I think there is a league requirement for the club provided linesmen to wear yellow. On the far side, one is in full cycling gear, whilst this one has the unique look of a 1970s boxing trainer crossed with a Romanian car washer.
Just to confuse issues, the keeper was in Lino garb.
The away side took the lead.
And added another.
With the lino looking like an extra from Kes, the standard of the match wasn't too far from the football game in the film, so I headed off to my next venue.
This was onto a Keswick bound Stagecoach service.
Great games seen out the back window of a Stagecoach Alexander Enviro400MMC ADL E40D with H45/42F body; Burton Thistle's 3 - 0 win over FC Britannia, at their extremely remote Curwen Woods ground.
Holme hadn't beaten the weather though.
We were shortly into Milnthorpe, where I left the bus to continue on its way through the lakes.
Milnthorpe has the greatest history of any place on earth. Firstly, it was founded on being the centre of the UK comb industry, yes, really. Secondly, when Duralon Combs had ceased production, its place was taken by Libby's Foods, where Um Bongo was made. Now, the current occupier of the site is Lib Dem leader Tim Farron. Utter genius.
Anyway, the pavements are very narrow and the tractors are very fast.
But they take you here. Without doubt one of the most mind-blowing views in non-league.
Milnthorpe Corinthians 3 v GSK Ulverston Rangers 1, West Lancashire League - Division 1.
There isn't too much gen about Milnthorpe Corinthians. They joined the West Lancs league in the mid 1990s, where they have been since, gaining promotion to division 1 last season.
Ulverston Rangers were originally a pre-war youth team from an estate in the town. They played in the Barrow and District league, as well as the Ulverston and District, before. Meanwhile, Glaxo were setting up a chemical works near the town, who's works team had progressed to the West Lancs league by the 1990s. The two side merged in 2000, GSK refering to GlaxoSmithKline, the driving force behind British cycling.
The ground is part of an open recreation area.
It is exceptionally located with dramatic views in any direction.
Even looking back into the village, a bloke wanted to point out Tim Farron's converted Um Bongo factory.
Chundering away adjacent is the river Bela, with pheasants and grouse roaming the banks.
Added to the setting, is a distinct little stand.
I arrived just as the second half was starting.
The near touchline is shared with the cricket pitch.
Milthorpe were 2-1 up and added a third with a penalty.
The first @keepers_towel of the day.
The stand had a lean-to store added at the pack.
With a great collection of agricultural clutter.
There seems to be a growing trend amongst match officials to try and gain some authority by getting Peaky Blinders style hairstyles. Any power gained is negated by poses like this. And by being shit.
The pitch is tended to by the FAs current groundsman of the year.
For the first time today, the rain had ceased and the sun was starting to make an appearance.
The game ended 3-1.
With the sun finally out, a last look at the ground.
I was back to the centre for the bus. I'd framed this picture perfectly, then just as the bus arrived, the van pulled up. Of mice and men.
Heading north to Kendal and the clearing rain left some stunning views over southern Lakeland.
With the sun beaming down over Morecambe bay.
And the fucked up Guillaume Beaumont topiary of Leven's Hall.
I was off on the southern outskirts of Kendal.
It was over the historic bridge crossing the River Kent.
Kendal is famous for two products. The first is Mint Cake, which for the uninitiated is basically solidified supermarket own brand toothpaste, favoured only by world war two evacuees and stranded mountaineers who's only other option is to eat one of their own limbs.
The other product is K shoes, the poor kids Clarks, and the only single letter registration allowed to remain in the British Trade Marks Register. They had been producing shoes in the town for over 200 years before the Netherfield factory shut in 2003, and is now an outlet centre.
The football ground is accessed rather ominously, through a cemetery.
It has one of the most public views of a ground at this level, though no one was taking advantage of it.
Probably because the gate was open as there were only ten minutes left.
Kendal Town 5 v Droylsden 0, Northern Premier League - Division 1.
Kendal were formed in 1919 as the works team for the aforementioned K Shoes, and until 1998 were called Netherfield. They played in the Lancashire Combination, before becoming founder members of the Northern Premier League in the 1960s. A short spell back in the North West Counties was required in the 1980s, as a result of the financial implications of a seven match attempt at beating Bridlington in an FA cup tie. However, they returned to the NPL in the late eighties,
Droylsden is an Eastern suburb of Manchester. The football club were formed in 1892 and by the 1930s were in the Lancashire league, and switched between that and the Cheshire league (back when it actually existed) which became the North West counties in the 1980s. Fortunes were on the rise as they then progressed to the Northern Premier and Conference North, but successive relegations has found them back in NPL-1.
The Parkside ground is another non-league classic, being developed in a piecemeal way with lots of very characterful structures.
The actual main stand isn't too distinguishable from the others, and is located on the far side. Like every other park of the ground, it has been painted in the club's black and white stripes.
Adjacent is this low cover which appears to have had seats added since my last visit.
On the opposite touchline, a similar cover remains standing, but the hillside behind has seen housing built on it.
Behind the goal is a large open terrace, behind which is the wooded cemetery, which masks Kendal Castle which sits atop the hillside.
Atop the terracing is the club house, which looks a modern addition, but actually dates from the 1950s.
The final sides is just hard standing, but with some dramatic skies above it.
Immediately I arrived, calamity in the away defence saw the home striker toe poke a goal from 40 yards, which is no mean feat considering the ferocious slope.
It was only on walking round the ground that this made the score 5-0.
I am fast coming to the conclusion that @keepers_towels are the greatest sign of a teams fortunes. The home team keeper had this large effort, and didn't have anything to do.
The away keeper had this, which was little more than a handkerchief, and let in five.
The travelling supporters obviously weren't hopeful of their side scoring six goals in the last five minutes, and the Droylsden flag was packed away early.
Indeed they were right, and it soon finished 5-0.
So it was back through the graveyard.
As usual, the direct route shown on Google maps was actually over a mountain, which took me to the remains of Kendal Castle.
Though this did give give good views of the town.
I was back to the rather grand station.
On to a Northern 156.
This was conveniently a through service to Preston.
Where a Leeds bound 158 was awaiting.
I was off at Hebden for a gig at the Trades Club.
Also in town were Stockport fans, stopping off on their way back from a 0-0 draw at Halifax.
I'll spare you the later picture of the 2331 service onwards to Sowerby, other than it was surprising to find it full of Huddersfield supporters on their way back from a 0-4 win at Rochdale. God alone knows how they'd occupied themselves there for five hours after the game ended, it makes two hours in Carnforth seem less of a challenge.
