Audlem FC Report

I rise quite early this day.

Confined for days now with a very severe back pain . Our medics very good and hopefully they will bottom just what has happened to my spine. Very wearing and am rattling with pain killers . X-rays taken on Saturday.

As I am forced to be idle , I get doing stuff in house. Having employed a professional floor cleaning company to deep clean the tiles herein , I have to move a pine chest. my eldest son Simon carried it up stairs. It was full of memorabilia and I started to go though the contents.

In amongst the papers, I found my call up papers for obligatory National Service.

I was ordered to report to base in Portsmouth to join up in the Fleet Air Arm

Me, who had never travelled further than to Liverpool was to go on the train As you see from my photo , I received a postal order as my first days pay. All 4 shillings !

But enough

The match

We play for first time since the end of November .

Versus Winsford Over F C . A team that we faced last season in a cup tie. And one of their members trashed a toilet door in the changing rooms. A big black mark on them as far as we are concerned.

This is a league game and we truly need to get points . Tough game .

Referee is David Bloor who I feel will have to be very alert .

Big turn out of players , needing to get rid of Christmas waistlines.

Pitch still in a poor state .

Kick off

1100 as the bells of St James fall silent . Car parking a big problem with the extensive Medical Centre work .

Manager Kev Rodgers fields a strong team .

Visiting team get changed on the side line .

Fast and furious play as teams anxious to get going after some 8 weeks of no game

1107

We score ! Seb Burrow nets the ball

1-0

Great stuff.

Then. Disaster . Dan Rooney , a star player , crashes to the ground and breaks his arm in two places. Arm dangling so horribly

Call for ambulance but they say no chance for 4 hours !

First responder attends.

Luckily Dan's father is a doctor and he comes and straightens Dans arm .

Referee abandons the game, with Winsford players objecting fiercely .

Off Dan goes to Leighton Hospital .

After cleaning the changing room, off the players go to the Bridge Inn for welcome curry and chips courtesy of our hosts Richard and Sharon.

Next game is again at home, versus `Betley F C

And a footnote . The pitch was in good order which was good to see

Ralph Warburton
AFC