Irlam FC - Silver Street
Silver Street (home of Irlam) is a ground I have wanted to visit
for a while now, I have read a couple of Blogs on the place and they all read positive
words about the place and with the mighty Colls playing it was official, I
would go and tick another NWCFL ground off my list and visit Irlam F.C.
My transport to Irlam, as always, was the train. The night before
the game I used the very handy National Express train journey planner thingy and
for a return of just £2.05 the train was a certainty!
The journey to Irlam, for me, began at 11:45, setting off from my
house heading towards Bromley Cross train station, stopping off at The Village Chippy
for some; you’ve guessed it, chips along the way.
The 12:23 train from Bromley Cross to Bolton was my first transit
followed by the 12:56 train from Bolton to Manchester Deansgate then after a
quick swap of stations finally, the 13:18 train from Deansgate to Irlam which
arrived just after 13:30.
For those of you who don’t know Irlam, it’s a suburban town in the
city of Salford. Simple as that. Not a lot of major things happen in this
little place apart from it has the largest farming community in Greater Manchester.
There we go another Half Time Whistle fun fact for you all.
Walking from Irlam train station to Silver Street was my plan, no
need to Google map it as I was under the impression the ground was nearby after
being told all I had to do was follow Liverpool Road and keep an eye out for
the ‘Irlam FC’ sign.
Oh, how wrong I was. Liverpool Road seemed to be endless; I walked
and walked passing many weird and wacky small businesses (my favourite being a
dog salon called ‘Doggie
Styles’) still looking out for the sacred ‘Irlam FC’
sign.
Eventually, I found the sign, then Silver Street. Later, for my
own satisfaction, I Googled how far away the ground is from the station – 1.7
miles.
Anyway, I went through the turnstile picking up a programme along
the way. Would I recommend the programme? Well, yes, it’s not bad; the problem
is it’s just not good. It’s borderline. There are some good pieces of writing,
match reports, columns, a good section on the clubs history; it’s the fact that
it’s littered with adverts!
As for Silver Street, it’s my sort of Non-League ground. It’s
simple, pleasant and does the job. All the main facilities of the ground are
housed in the corner were you enter. The changing rooms, refreshments hut and
two stands are there.
Anyway, to your left you will find the main area of the ground. On
this side of the ground you will find the two dugouts and a nice, good-sized
sheltered seating stand, with blue and green seats, the coulors of Irlam. Next
to that stand is the refreshments hut.
Opposite, that side of the ground you will find a fairly basic,
simple hard standing area which runs all the way down the pitch with three
flood lights towering over you.
To your right is where the second of the two sheltered areas are
found. It is a simple standing area that is two rows deep and runs half of the
pitch behind the goal. The other half being simple hard standing.
Opposite you is the other goal. Down this end is just plain hard
standing, nothing too fancy.
After a quick word with Emil and the Colls Crazy Gang I went in
search for some food. Irlams refreshment hut didn’t have the widest range of
food. You had the choice of either a pie or a hot dog. I wasn’t in a pie mood
so I asked for a hot dog. Only to be told that hot dogs are only available at half
time. I had to wait.
Soon the teams came out and it was time for the game to get
started!
After a 6-0 victory against Eccleshall last Saturday expectations
were high among the Colls faithful as they travelled to Silver Street to face
tough outfit Irlam FC whom beat Chadderton in a nine goal thriller in the
Manchester Cup on Tuesday night.
Colls first registered shot on goal came on the second minute,
Aaron Cringle played an inviting ball through to Paul Atherton passing the
Irlam back four on the way, Atherton’s weak shot was easily saved by Irlam
stopper Jamie Brewer.
Two minutes later and it was Irlams turn to take a shot on goal. A
corner whipped into the Colls box was easily headed out by Kieran Halliwell,
only to be met by Irlams Gareth Mooney on the edge of the box who aimed his
shot for the top right hand corner, only to see it fly well over.
On the eighteenth minute Colls fell behind. Irlams number eleven
Ben Christopher found himself
in the far left hand corner of the pitch.
Christopher wiped a delightful ball into the box which was met by Jordan Icely
whose half volley went flying into the net.
Forty minutes in and Colls nearly went further behind. Brewer
cleared the ball out of the Irlam box to Mooney on the half way line, he
turned, finding all the space in the world he ran down the wing cutting into
the Colls box and fired just wide of Joe Brobbins goal.
It was a poor first half performance from the Colls, nothing like
the week previous.
At half time, I went in search for the hot dog I was unable to buy
before the game, and I found it. If I’m honest it wasn’t what I expected, for
£1.50 all you got was a little sausage in a little bun, at Colls you get a
massive sausage in a massive bun.
Second half my granddad arrived, doing his usual 2 games a day
thing.
However, second half Colls looked a completely different side.
Just five minutes from the restart Colls were level. Cooke collects the ball on
the half way line and delivers s to Cringle who takes a touch and whacks it
down into the bottom left postage stamp.
Two minutes later and Colls were ahead. A free kick sent straight
from the training ground was took by Jonah O’Reily, he passed the ball straight
along the floor, much to the surprise of the Irlam back four who were frozen to
the ground, Atherton latches onto the ball and with time and space slots the
ball into the back of the net.
At this stage, Colls were in control a confident; they were
playing some proper football.
On the seventy sixth minute an Irlam shot caused problem for
Brobbin who managed to just get his fingertips and rebound the ball. The
rebound fell to Irlam goal scorer Icely, this time though his shot went well
over.
Eighty one minutes in and Atherton won the ball deep in the Colls
half and sparked a counter attack. It was three against two and Atherton took
the decision to pass to Gareth Peet just outside the Irlam box. Peets shot went
over after a fifty fifty with Brewer.
A penalty was awarded to Colls in the last minute of the game; the
ball was handled Irlam captain Steven Mills. Gareth Peet stepped up and sent
the keeper the wrong way making the score line 3-1 to Colls.
A fine second half performance gave the Colls three points and
moved them up to third in the table.
The ref’s full time whistle brought an end to a superb Colls
performance.
I was staying at my Granddads that night so instead of walking
another 1.7 miles and getting the train back I went back in his car, stopping
off in Walkden on the way to get a world famous Divadis Pizza. If you have
never had one of these, you must
have one soon. Whoever makes them, they are a genius!
Overall, a great day at Irlam, it’s a lovely place and the club is
run by some welcoming people. I would recommend visiting as like I said before,
it’s a nice little ground, it has a homely feel about it. However, if you get
the train, be prepared for the 1.7 mile walk.
Ground: - 8/10 - Nice atmosphere
around the place. Lovely layout.
Programme: - 5/10 (Quality for money) – Some
good bits, littered with adverts.
Food: - 5/10 (Hot Dog) – Small but
nice.
Match: - 8/10 – Superb result
for Colls. 
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