New Book On Lancashire's Non-League Grounds
Tue 11th January 2011 | General | By Ian Templeman
Followers of our league will find plenty of interest in a newly published book featuring non-league football grounds in Lancashire.
The book, "Non-League Football Grounds of Lancashire" by Terry Gorman, is a follow up to the book he published two years ago, which featured grounds in Liverpool and Manchester.
After browsing the pages of Terry's latest publication, League Media Officer Ian Templeman gives his thoughts and observations below.
Whenever you've been impressed by an author's work, there's always a danger that any subsequent sequels or new offerings prove to be something of a let down, but luckily there is no danger of that here.
Terry set himself a tough act to follow after his excellent first book, which was reviewed at the time it was published in the February 2009 edition of the league's online magazine of the time, North West Side Stories, but he has more than risen to the challenge in producing another top quality publication.
When launching the first book, Terry explained to me he was not a particularly seasoned non-league groundhopper, but a season-ticket-holding supporter of Bury who began exploring initially the North West Counties League grounds, whenever he and his son were not at a Bury game.
However, that lack of a long term association with non-league football is certainly in no way evident, as once again his attention to detail means that a feast of history, trivia and photographs old and new provide a fascinating read for anyone interested in football at non-league level across Lancashire.
A simple glance through the acknowledgements at the start of the new book offers a "who's who" of well known names past and present from around our league and beyond, giving further reassurance - if any was needed - that Terry's diligence in tracking down the right people in the right places is second to none. From there, it's a case of picking your way through the various sections, and marvelling at the level of detail, and quality and quantity of pictures, scattered through each page.
The grounds are listed roughly in sequence of club status, starting with the likes of Chorley, Bamber Bridge and Clitheroe, working through our league and into the West Lancashire League, as well as touching on some grounds with covered facilities or other notable features in the North Lancashire & District League, Lancashire Amateur League, Cheshire League, and the St Helens Combination.
The book is completed by a fascinating look at the "Gone But Not Forgotten Grounds" of Lancashire, with some superb photographs that will evoke memories for many.
For someone like me, who has been involved with the NWCFL for 11 years, I was immediately drawn to the pages involving our clubs, and while some of the pictures and descriptions are obviously familiar, there is always the fascination of finding out something new about a ground you have visited many times over the years.
To give just one example, at AFC Darwen's Anchor Ground, I had no idea that the terrace behind the goal at the club house end was once covered, or indeed that it was once known as the Gracie Fields Stand. I also enjoyed looking at pictures of current league grounds from years ago, and seeing how the likes of the Arbories Memorial Sports Ground at Padiham and the Holt House Stadium at Colne have developed over the years.
Other snippets proved to be equally fascinating. I've been based in the North West long enough to remember the old Blackpool Borough rugby league ground on the edge of Blackpool town centre, but I had no idea that Blackpool Wren Rovers played there for a couple of years during their NWCFL days.
However, I found some of the most evocative pictures and words at the end of the book, which focussed on grounds that have either disappeared completely or are no longer in use. How sad is it that Ewood Bridge, once home to Haslingden and then Stand Athletic, lies derelict despite having a club house, floodlights and a car park. Likewise, the Showground at Great Harwood Town, for so many years a familiar venue for so many of us, and another ground that many will have recent memories of.
In both those cases, the grounds were suddenly and unexpectedly removed from us, and it's odd to think that the last time I (and many others) visited both grounds, they were neat, tidy, up to the required standard and apparently permanent fixtures in our league for many years to come.
For someone of my relatively recent vintage of involvement in the NWCFL, I also enjoyed seeing pictures of St Helens Town's old Hoghton Road home and Nelson's old ground at Seedhill. I've heard plenty about both over the years, but have never had the chance to form an impression of how they looked until reading the book.
By now, I think everyone will have guessed that this is a book that can be enjoyed by everyone with an interest in our league, and indeed by anyone with an interest in North West football generally. I'm sure Terry will find no shortage of football followers looking to buy the book, and with that in mind, he has a special offer available to anyone wishing to get hold of a copy.
The cover price is £17.95, but anyone contacting Terry directly to buy a copy can buy one for £17 including postage and packing, as long as they mention the North West Counties League website. Terry also has a few remaining copies of the first book - Non-League Football Grounds of Liverpool and Manchester - still available. That was priced at £14-95, so if anyone missed the first book and wanted to buy both at the same time, he would be able to do the two for £31-00 including P&P as long as limited stocks last, and provided the North West Counties League website is mentioned.
The book can be ordered directly from Terry at: The Court House, Court Lane, Weaverham, Northwich, Cheshire CW8 3JQ.
Anyone requiring any more information should e-mail Terry at the following address: terry@gormans.org.uk.
New Book On Lancashire's Non-League Grounds
Tue 11th January 2011 | General
By Ian Templeman
Followers of our league will find plenty of interest in a newly published book featuring non-league football grounds in Lancashire.
The book, "Non-League Football Grounds of Lancashire" by Terry Gorman, is a follow up to the book he published two years ago, which featured grounds in Liverpool and Manchester.
After browsing the pages of Terry's latest publication, League Media Officer Ian Templeman gives his thoughts and observations below.
Whenever you've been impressed by an author's work, there's always a danger that any subsequent sequels or new offerings prove to be something of a let down, but luckily there is no danger of that here.
Terry set himself a tough act to follow after his excellent first book, which was reviewed at the time it was published in the February 2009 edition of the league's online magazine of the time, North West Side Stories, but he has more than risen to the challenge in producing another top quality publication.
When launching the first book, Terry explained to me he was not a particularly seasoned non-league groundhopper, but a season-ticket-holding supporter of Bury who began exploring initially the North West Counties League grounds, whenever he and his son were not at a Bury game.
However, that lack of a long term association with non-league football is certainly in no way evident, as once again his attention to detail means that a feast of history, trivia and photographs old and new provide a fascinating read for anyone interested in football at non-league level across Lancashire.
A simple glance through the acknowledgements at the start of the new book offers a "who's who" of well known names past and present from around our league and beyond, giving further reassurance - if any was needed - that Terry's diligence in tracking down the right people in the right places is second to none. From there, it's a case of picking your way through the various sections, and marvelling at the level of detail, and quality and quantity of pictures, scattered through each page.
The grounds are listed roughly in sequence of club status, starting with the likes of Chorley, Bamber Bridge and Clitheroe, working through our league and into the West Lancashire League, as well as touching on some grounds with covered facilities or other notable features in the North Lancashire & District League, Lancashire Amateur League, Cheshire League, and the St Helens Combination.
The book is completed by a fascinating look at the "Gone But Not Forgotten Grounds" of Lancashire, with some superb photographs that will evoke memories for many.
For someone like me, who has been involved with the NWCFL for 11 years, I was immediately drawn to the pages involving our clubs, and while some of the pictures and descriptions are obviously familiar, there is always the fascination of finding out something new about a ground you have visited many times over the years.
To give just one example, at AFC Darwen's Anchor Ground, I had no idea that the terrace behind the goal at the club house end was once covered, or indeed that it was once known as the Gracie Fields Stand. I also enjoyed looking at pictures of current league grounds from years ago, and seeing how the likes of the Arbories Memorial Sports Ground at Padiham and the Holt House Stadium at Colne have developed over the years.
Other snippets proved to be equally fascinating. I've been based in the North West long enough to remember the old Blackpool Borough rugby league ground on the edge of Blackpool town centre, but I had no idea that Blackpool Wren Rovers played there for a couple of years during their NWCFL days.
However, I found some of the most evocative pictures and words at the end of the book, which focussed on grounds that have either disappeared completely or are no longer in use. How sad is it that Ewood Bridge, once home to Haslingden and then Stand Athletic, lies derelict despite having a club house, floodlights and a car park. Likewise, the Showground at Great Harwood Town, for so many years a familiar venue for so many of us, and another ground that many will have recent memories of.
In both those cases, the grounds were suddenly and unexpectedly removed from us, and it's odd to think that the last time I (and many others) visited both grounds, they were neat, tidy, up to the required standard and apparently permanent fixtures in our league for many years to come.
For someone of my relatively recent vintage of involvement in the NWCFL, I also enjoyed seeing pictures of St Helens Town's old Hoghton Road home and Nelson's old ground at Seedhill. I've heard plenty about both over the years, but have never had the chance to form an impression of how they looked until reading the book.
By now, I think everyone will have guessed that this is a book that can be enjoyed by everyone with an interest in our league, and indeed by anyone with an interest in North West football generally. I'm sure Terry will find no shortage of football followers looking to buy the book, and with that in mind, he has a special offer available to anyone wishing to get hold of a copy.
The cover price is £17.95, but anyone contacting Terry directly to buy a copy can buy one for £17 including postage and packing, as long as they mention the North West Counties League website. Terry also has a few remaining copies of the first book - Non-League Football Grounds of Liverpool and Manchester - still available. That was priced at £14-95, so if anyone missed the first book and wanted to buy both at the same time, he would be able to do the two for £31-00 including P&P as long as limited stocks last, and provided the North West Counties League website is mentioned.
The book can be ordered directly from Terry at: The Court House, Court Lane, Weaverham, Northwich, Cheshire CW8 3JQ.
Anyone requiring any more information should e-mail Terry at the following address: terry@gormans.org.uk.
