Cammell Laird 1907 - The MBS Stadium (Kirklands Stadium)
Finally, the NWCFL season is here!
When it was announced in
June that the team I support, Atherton Collieries would be playing NWCFL new
boys Cammell Laird 1907 away in the opening game of the season I thought, great,
a new ground that I’ve not been to and also a ground Colls were kicking off
their season with – so, I instantly pencilled it in.
The Kirklands is always a ground I’ve considered doing but
when it I just couldn’t be bothered, mainly because of the distance and quite
pricey train fare. So, with Colls visiting it provided me with a good
opportunity to finally tick it.
This is Lairds first season in the NWCFL after re-starting
as a whole new club at the end of their Northern Premier League Division One
North (mouthful) campaign. Lairds renamed themselves Cammell Laird 1907,
applying to the NWCFL. The application was soon accepted and that’s where we are
today. A new club, Cammell Laird 1907.
During the week leading up to the game I was on a short
family break to Aberystwyth in mid-Wales. Don’t get me wrong, Wales is a nice
country, with beautiful scenic views but seriously, the 3G connection there is
god awful. Anyway, on the Monday before the game I e-mailed club secretary Emil
asking if a lift would be available from the club to Lairds. I was in luck
there was. The next message was then sent to club coach Scott asking him for a
lift from my house to the club, he very generously offered me one and
everything was planned. Excellent.
Downpour. That’s the only word I think I can use to describe
the morning of the game. You would never of guessed it was the 2nd
August, heavy persistent rain, grey clouds and no sign of it changing. I
honestly thought that Colls first competitive game of the season was going to
be a wash out.
Anyway, despite the weather we all continued like it was a
normal match day. I awoke at about 9:00am having breakfast, charging my camera
and having a shower. After, I packed my bag ready for today’s rather damp
(weather wise) day.
As arranged the day before Scott picked me up at 11:30am, on
our way to Atherton we talked all things football, more specifically all things
NWCFL. We stopped off to pick centre back Gaz Carson up from his house in Moss
Bank and then our journey was back under way. Scott explained to me that I’ll
be getting dropped off at fellow ‘Media Officer’ Joeseph Gibbons’ house; from
there Gibbo’s Dad would very kindly give me and Gibbo a lift.
After a complicated phone call asking Gibbo where exactly he
lived, at 12:00pm I arrived at Gibbo’s house. Gibbo invited me in and he and I
sat and watched the Commonwealth Games for a short while whilst Gibbo’s Dad,
Chris, was checking the car, just in case. Thankfully, the rain had now stopped
and began to fully believe that the game wouldn’t be in any kind of doubt.
12:30pm was the time at which we set off, plenty of time to
get to Rock Ferry for today’s action.
It was around the Frodsham area that the rain restarted. At
first, it was only a light shower, we thought, so what, we’ve been to a game
and seen worse. However, it was after that thought that the rain came flying
down at a rate of knots. It was unbelievable, again, weather you wouldn’t even
consider in August, well, maybe not in Spain. Of course, this is England, it
was expected, but with the good weather we were having no-one even considered
the rain as an option.
Despite the weather and the tweet-less Cammell Laird 1907
twitter account we ploughed on down the M53 still believing there was a game
on. A tweet came through from Emil, finally, we all thought, some information.
Unfortunately it was a tweet informing us that he was listening to the Frozen
sound track in Vincent’s car on the way down to the ground.
Anyway, we arrived in Birkenhead, welcomed by a blue sky,
game on, no doubt. From what I saw from the Chris’ car Rock Ferry looks to be a
nice little area, plenty of houses, plenty of shops.
Chris opted to park in the Social Club car park, Emil
noticed our arrival and came over to say hello. Chris, Emil and Gibbo went into
the Social Club for a drink, I opted to go into the ground first and have a
look around/take some photos whilst it was empty. I went through the Turnstile,
paying £2.00 as a Student for the pleasure and on my way, picked up a copy of
today’s match day Programme ‘Laird Review’ for a further £2.00.
The Programme was a nice all coulor publication with plenty
of information about the two clubs on show today. The Laird Review also has a
nice simplistic design with plenty of reading material in it. I feel for any
programme at this or any Non-League level that £2.00 is a bit steep but the
Programme justified itself by being all coulor and quite a sizeable
publication.
As for the ground, well as you walk through the turnstile
you find yourself behind the goal. Behind this and the goal opposite you is
just plain hard standing with a sizeable quadrant of grass further behind.
To your left you’ll find what I am going to call the
’Stagecoach Stand’. This gets its name from the Bus depot located behind this
side of the ground, obviously, storing Stagecoach busses. Anyway, on this side
of the ground you’ll find the two dugouts, one sheltered standing area (this
runs around 2/5 of the pitch and is located on the left side of it), one
sheltered seating area (this runs around 1/5 of the pitch and is centrally
located, it’s around 3/4 rows deep).
On your right you’ll find the Main Stand. This side contains
all the clubs main facilities: the changing rooms, hospitality area, tea hut
and club shop. It is also home to the Main Stand inside of Kirklands. This
stand is only four rows deep but is very wide, running a good 3/5 of the pitch
and obviously, is centrally located.
After doing a lap of the ground I bumped into Colls manager
Cleggy and his assistant Warren, I said hello and we discussed how much we all
were looking forward to the game ahead. Anyway, after our chat I made my way
back through the turnstiles to get out of the ground, across the road and into
the ‘Lairds Social Club’ – which acts as a sort of Clubhouse for Lairds. A
strange set up indeed but one that works for Lairds.
As you walk through the front doors, the Social Club is an eerie
place with a sent I can only match with a care home for the elderly. However,
when you walk into the Bar area it’s bright and modern, the place comes back to
life again. I went over and sat with the 30 Colls fans that had travelled down
from Atherton and we stayed there till about fifteen minutes before kick-off.
We opted to make camp behind the goal Colls were attacking;
there we watched the first half unfold.
The opening twenty minutes of the game were controlled by
Lairds who by this stage in the game were the far better side. Colls gave away
possession a good number of times in the first twenty which caused the Colls
defence to be on high alert.
However, on the nineteenth minute mark Colls took the lead,
definitely against the run of play. Ben Hardcastle collected the ball and ran
with it down the wing, cutting inside and passing the ball into Mark
Battersby’s feet. Battersby passed the ball back to Hardcastle who only had to
shoot and the goal was his. A fine goal, which seemed to take ages to cross the
line.
Colls had a few more chances to increase their advantage.
Natahn BAttersby with the efforts, the first just tickling wide and the second
being well saved by Lairds keeper Mike Langley.
Since the goal Colls looked to control the game more and
they did just that. As time went on the Colls increased in confidence.
Half Time – Cammell Laird 1907 0-1 Atherton Collieries
During half time it was decided we should move the flags to
the opposite end as this, obviously, would be the end that Colls would attack
for the second half. At this point the weather took a turn for the
worst and the rain began to fall, albeit lightly. Not wanting to get wet we
took shelter in the Main Stand waiting for it to ease off, which it eventually
did. I went for a mooch in the club shop which sold a fantastic collection of
Programmes old and really old – I took advantage of the five programmes for
£1.00 offer and picked five random programmes handing over my £1.00 at the same
time.
It was my turn to now tie the flags behind the goal to the
right of the Main Stand, oh and what a poor job I did – even with the help of
Vincent I couldn’t tie a not to save my life. When the flags were eventually
tied the second half began.
Before scoring their second goal Colls captain Andy Heald
had a superb opportunity to double our advantage. Following a set piece from
the Colls which was dealt with well by the Laird defence the following corner
was drilled in and met Heald’s head, his header went flying into the safety net
above and beyond the Lairds goal.
The second goal for Colls came on the 60th
minute. Mark Truffas picked the ball up on the left hand side, cutting inside
and launching a low shot in the direction of the goal. Langley couldn’t do
anything about the shot, especially because it took a deflection on its way.
It was around this point that the rain began to start, and
boy did it rain. Everyone from Colls stood behind the goal went running into
the stand on the Stagecoach Side with Emil and Arthur deciding to brave it and
stand under the nearby tree, it seemed a good idea at first but then the downpour
got heavier and heavier before they gave up and joined us in the Stand. This picture
took by Gibbo shows it best.
Lairds ensured a nervy end to the game when Joe Holt scored
a header on 73 minutes.
Colls had a fine string of shots that on another day I’m
sure would have flew into the back of the net but well done to Laird kepper
Langley who made a superb number of good saves, keeping his team in the game.
Full Time – Cammell Laid 1907 1-2 Atherton Collieries
A fantastic win and the lads in black and white were
deservedly clapped off at the end of the game, a hard but deserved win – the lads
did everyone proud.
After the game we all went into the Social Club for a post-match
drink and discussion – attention turned to Colls next game on the following
Monday at home to Wigan Robin Park (Colls ran out 5-1 winners). The atmosphere from
the Colls camp was really positive; everyone was in a fine mood after a very good win in
what arguably will be the hardest game of our season.
Chris gave myself, Gibbo and club photographer James Lobley
a lift back to Colls, before he went on to travel home. I then got a lift back
home from Scott, as ever I was and am very grateful.
Overall, it had been a good day out at Larids who seem to be
a nice club. The ground is, well, different but nice enough with a decent club
shop. I’m glad I’ve finally ticked Kirklands and would recommend that people do
go and tick it themselves.
Saturday 2nd August 2014 – Cammell Laird 1907 1-2 Atherton Collieries – NWCFL Division One – The MBS Stadium (The Kirklands Stadium) – Game #9 – Ground #38
Ground: - 6/10 – Nice enough ground – good to tick.
Programme: - 7/10 – Full coulor, lots to read –
a bit pricey.
Food: - N/A
Match: - 10/10 – Great win for
Colls
Miles Travelled TO Ground: - 53.6miles
Money Spent: - £7.29
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