The match against Whitby town on the 12th January 2019 has now been brought forward to Saturday 24th November 2018 kick off 3pm at Stafford Rangers Marston road. 

Admission Prices:

Adults £10.00

Concessions £7.00

Juniors without membership £2.00

Click here for Away Travel Fans Information

Giant Axe, West Road, Lancaster, Lancashire. LA1 5PE  | Tel: 01524 382238

This coming Saturday we venture north up the M6 to Lancaster City (LA1 5PE). Lancaster play at the imposing named ground of Giant Axe. Please note, as I was informed last season that the name is ‘Giant Axe’ and not ‘The Giant Axe’.

Giant Axe has been Lancaster City’s home ground since the formation of the original club in 1905. Giant Axe Field was given its name as it was the centrepiece of a sports club. The exterior wall was, when viewed from above, the same shape as an axe head. In those early years, tennis, hockey and rugby were also played at the ground and the football pitch was at the centre of a huge circle of grass called ‘the sixpence’, which also featured cricket pitches. The ground now consists of an enclosed football ground with covering on three sides and a well-appointed car park. It also has scenic views of Lancaster Castle.

Lancaster City currently lie 20th with 15 points from their 17 games. Home form is not too grand with only one win at home to Stalybridge. However, that was their last home game in front of 195 fans, and they have since gone on to win at home last Saturday to Ossett in the Trophy. They are therefore on a roll and a win would put them on level points with ourselves. We therefore need to get our third league away win as we try to get clear of the group of clubs in that dreaded relegation zone.

Sadly our 150th FA Trophy game ended in what was possibly our biggest defeat in 42 years of Trophy action, and we now need to put that behind us as we now build up our points tally. Can we catch Lancaster on a bad day? Could they be thinking of their next Trophy game a week later. We will have to see, but again you the fans can be the 12th man, so please try to travel to the game. Giant Axe is not too far off the M6 and the ground is right next to the railway station with direct trains from Stafford. See you there.

Games played this century on November 17th

2001 Newport Isle of Wight away 0-1 Southern Premier League
2007 Droylsden away 1-1 Vauxhall Conference
2012 Nantwich away 1-1 Northern Premier League

This Saturday we make our way towards Wembley via Basford. We may joke about a Wembley run, but if you think of all the incentives for promotion to the football league, then some step 1 clubs may take the FA Trophy lightly, which means with luck of the draw, who knows, a step 3 side could make it to Wembley.

Standing in our way is Basford and we make only our second visit to Greenwich Avenue, almost to the day of our last visit, when on 7/11/15 we came away with a creditable 1-1 draw, and of course, that season we went on to win the NPL Division 1 South title, a feat Basford did last season.

Luck could have been better for us, but if you want a money-spinning cup run then you must beat what is in front of you. Form guide makes interesting viewing as we embark on our 5th cup game in a 6-match run of games. We are currently on a 4-match unbeaten run and a win on Saturday will equal our best run this season. Basford are however, on a 5-match consecutive win run. They lie third in the league with a home record of won 8 and lost 1. We can take some comfort that their only home defeat came on Bank Holiday Monday to Hednesford and they were knocked out of the FA Cup at home by lower league Staveley.

Their home gates hover around the mid 250’s, so a good away following on the day could act as the twelve man and help us progress into the next round of the trophy. The next round sees the National League North and South clubs entering the draw.

Game played this century on 10th November

2001       Crawley                                H           0-0          Southern League Premier Division

2012       Bradford Park Avenue      H           3-1          F A Trophy 3^rd Qualifying Round

2015       Rushall Olympic                 H          1-0          Integro League Cup Round 1

 Basford United website HERE

We appear to be overdosing on cup football at the moment, with our 4th cup tie in 5 games (and another one on Saturday). Tuesday night we entertain Rocester in the Staffs Senior Cup.

This will be our first game defending “our” trophy that we picked up last season when beating Hednesford at Stoke City, so we do not want a banana skin of a game. Despite a weakened side losing at Lye in the Walsall Senior Cup, I am pretty sure Steve Burr will take no chances this time, but we can expect some changes to give squad players much needed pitch time.

Despite their position we need to respect Rocester but ensure that our performance enhances players prospects for the games ahead. Steve from his own words is developing a useful squad which he believes has the potential to climb the league, so we can hopefully expect a good attacking game on Tuesday. Rocester arrive in a precarious position in the Midland League Division 1 (step 6, one division below Lye) in 17th place of a 19-team division. They have played 12 games, and surprisingly 8 at home yielding 1 win (3-2 to Nuneaton Griff) and 1 draw (0-0 derby game with Uttoxeter). Their 4 away games have seen 1 win (3-2 at Heath Hayes). Their most recent game was last Saturday losing 3-0 to table toppers Lichfield City. Rocester’s only other win was a 3-2 defeat of Brocton ion the previous round of the Staffs Senior Cup.

We have played on this date this century 6th November.

2001       Guisley                                                 H             4-2          FA Trophy Replay

2004       Hinkley                                                 A             1-3         FA Trophy

2012       Wolverhampton Casuals                   A             3-1          Walsall Senior Cup