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After a disappointing loss to North Walkden last weekend, Stretford Paddock look for a first victory in the 2020/21 Rhodes Cup group stages as they host Signol Old Boys First Team this Saturday (2pm KO).

Signol Old Boys were part of Lancashire and Cheshire’s AFL Division One this year alongside Stretford Paddock before COVID-19 restrictions drew the competition to a close.

In the league, Stretford Paddock came out victorious against Signol Old Boys 3-1 in the only fixture they faced each other.

Stephen Howson’s side are raring to get back at it with a win keeping their Rhodes cup hopes alive.

 

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Manager Stephen Howson has this to say;

“It’s do or die time for us now. After a brilliant first season where I’ve been happy with the progress we’ve made, finishing joint top was a good indicator of how we felt we’d done, no means perfect, but doing well. The contrast in the cup has been frustrating. Collectively we know we can improve. We know we MUST improve and we know we need to win all 3 of our remaining group matches to have any hope of progression.”

“Right now, we can’t look beyond the next 90 minutes. We need to show up. I firmly believe if we do, we’re unmatched. But too often we’ve been under par and too often it’s cost us. There can be no complacency.”

Follow @SPaddockFC on Twitter and @stretfordpaddck for live-match updates and subscribe to our YouTube channel for highlights.

Catch Up With Our Last Game:

Stretford Paddock Football Club, whilst being an entirely new entity, has ambitions to join the official football pyramid in England because we understand the importance of each and every single level of football. How it binds communities, encourages play, and keeps football accessible for all.
As the largest, most popular sport in the country, it is a tragedy that the game is being sold off to the highest bidder and turning its back on its roots. Everyone with ambitions to play at a higher level, with aspirations to one day meet those storied teams, holds those ambitions and those teams in high esteem because those are the teams that have achieved, that are at the top because they’ve earned their success.

The European Super League proposal removes competition from sport. This is the point at which it becomes purely entertainment only. Stretford Paddock are proud to be a grassroots club, we are proud to represent the league, and the level that we exist in, and despite ambitions of rising through the leagues and one day competing in the FA Cup, we’d be perfectly content to simply exist at this level amongst the brotherhood of clubs on the same journey, with the same dreams. We are one of the thousands.

As a club, we have a deep-rooted idea to give back to the fans, to represent our fans, to try and make decisions that are made WITH our fans. We have spoken to a handful of our supporters in recent weeks about the possibility of a Stretford Paddock FC Membership – where supporters, like in Germany will have a large say in the day-to-day running of the football club. Today we have decided, amidst our disillusionment at the ESL announcement, that we as a club WILL be making this scheme a reality. As a club, we are determined to make this a priority, to finalise the workings and legal requirements for the club to become member-ran, and also accelerate our development of a delivery system that allows members to vote on club matters.

Football was founded for the many, not the few. Stretford Paddock FC will be run by our supporters for the supporters.

We will make a further announcement with launch dates in due course.

After Okera Simmonds snatched a late point against Manchester Polonia last weekend, Stretford Paddock look for a first victory in the 2020/21 Rhodes Cup group stages as they host North Walkden this Saturday (2pm KO).

North Walkden were part of Lancashire and Cheshire’s AFL Division One this year alongside Stretford Paddock before COVID-19 restrictions drew the competition to a close.

North Walkden sat sixth in the division having only played five matches with the best points per game – three matches and six points less than Paddock – and opened their account with a 2-2 draw against Signol Old Boys on Saturday.

Stephen Howson’s side recorded the same score-line as ex-England youth player Okera Simmonds scored a brace in a feisty affair which saw two red cards, one of which was issued to the Paddock manager.

“I was not happy with our own performance,” said a disgruntled Howson, “I thought there are gears and levels to go through for us.

“I think that North Walkden is going to be a tough game. Certainly starting this group with a bit of a baptism of fire.

“We’ve just got to be equal to it, or better than it. I think the positives to take from this are that Manchester Polonia said on the way out said that we’re one of the best teams we’ve played.

“I could take a little bit of solace from that but ultimately I’m not happy taking a draw and I wouldn’t be happy with anything less than a win next week neither.”

Follow @SPaddockFC on Twitter for live-match updates and subscribe to our YouTube channel for highlights.

By Mitul Mistry

Stretford Paddock rescued a last-minute draw in the Lancashire and Cheshire Leagues Rhodes Cup against Manchester Polonia. This result in a physical game with a team who were in the league above before the season was cancelled.

 

 

 

 

 

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The first half was an even affair with both teams playing a physical game with the first half ending at 0-0 with the Paddock goalkeeper being tested with a few spectacular saves to keep it level.

The Second half started off the same as the first a physical battle with Stretford Paddock conceding a penalty midway through the first half. Polonia scores the penalty sending the keeper the wrong way. Paddock respond immediately with a beautiful goal by star man Okera Simmons 2 minuets after the restart.

Polonia went ahead again in the 80th min with the game heating up on and off the pitch. Manager Stephen Howson gets sent off in the 87th minute by the referee for dissent after a few harsh decisions against Paddock. Despite this paddock worked hard to get back in the game and 2 minutes later James Oatt gets fouled in the box from a corner giving Paddock a last-ditch penalty. Okera Simmons steps up and finishes it in style to rescue a point for Paddock.

Final Score Paddock FC 2-2 Manchester Polonia on the first group game of The Rhodes Cup.

By Mitul Mistry

Stretford Paddock came out victors in their first fixture back after a 111-day break in the Lancashire and Cheshire League against Didsbury. This result put Stretford Paddock FC in 2nd place with only first placed Hadfield Athletic AFC First ahead by goal difference. The Lancashire and Cheshire AFL have announced the suspension of the league with a cup competition to see out the rest of the season. See who we have 

Paddock again got off to a great start, with a lovely goal by Okera Simmonds in the 18^th minute. It was a back and forth game with both sides eager to show what they are about after such a long break.

Paddock finished the first half the strongest with an onslaught of chances just before the break.

Didsbury FC started the second half well with a goal from the penalty spot after they forced a foul from Cam Watters in the 57th minute. Paddock dominated the second half Okera Simmonds running into the box and winning a penalty for Paddock in the 70th minute. Ronaldo Brown stepped up slotted the ball to the keepers left. 

Paddock soaked up Didsbury’s chances near the end of the half with the fresh legs that came on for both teams.

Final Score Didsbury FC 1-2 Stertford Paddock FC on the final day before the season was null and voided before the Rhodes Cup starts next week.

After the recent announcement of the Lancashire & Cheshire League introducing a league cup competition, Stretford Paddock FC have been placed in an exciting group following the Rhodes Cup draw.

Paddock have been drawn in Group D and we’ll be competing against sides from the Premier Division and Division 1. High Lane (Premier), North Walkden (Div 1), Abacus Media (Premier), Signol Old Boys (Div 1) and Manchester Polonia (Premier) will be joining our first team in Group D.

For our first fixture, we play Manchester Polonia at home on April 10th. Later fixtures are to be announced in due course.

For the season restart, we will now play our home fixtures at Valley Road Stadium, Flixton. At this moment, fans will not be allowed to attend on April 10th. However, it is possible that fans will be allowed to attend after April 12th depending on new government guidelines and restrictions regarding amateur football and spectators. Once we have official confirmation, we will notify and update our followers regarding attendance to our home fixtures.

RHODES CUP DRAW IN FULL

Group A:

Newton (Div 1)

Dom Doyle (Premier)

Rochdalians (Premier)

Irlam Tiger (Premier)

Trafford United (Div 1)

Bury Amateur (Div 1)

Group B:

Hadfield Athletic (Div 1)

De La Salle (Div 1)

Didsbury (Div 1)

Milton (Premier)

AFC Oldham (Premier)

Moston Brook (Div 1)

Group C

Dukinfield Athletic (Div 1)

South Manchester (Premier)

Urmston Town (Div 1)

Salford Victoria (Premier)

Radclyffe (Premier)

Mellor (Premier)

Group D

High Lane (Premier)

North Walkden (Div 1)

Abacus Media (Premier)

Signol Old Boys (Div 1)

Manchester Polonia (Premier)

Stretford Paddock (Div 1)