News

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)

Yesterday, the Lancashire & Cheshire League announced a new plan to finish the season across all the divisions. The league have now decided to void the current league season in the eight divisions. Instead, a four league cup competition will be introduced, meaning that the Stretford Paddock FC 1st team and reserves will resume to play football once again.

The league have stated:

“The plan now is to run the four league cup competitions, originally in a divisional format, to give all of the teams the chance to play at least five fixtures followed by quarter-finals, semi-finals and cup finals.”

Our first team will be placed into the Rhodes Cup. This competition will include teams from the Premier and Division One in four groups of six teams, playing each other other once with the top two teams in each group progressing to the quarter-finals.

Nairobi Newsam’s reserve side will be placed into the Wray Cup. This will feature teams from Division Two and Three, applying the same format which will be used in the Rhodes Cup.

The league secretary, Malc Kershaw said:

“We will look for the group matches to be played on Saturdays, avoiding midweek games where possible and there will be some adjustments where teams share pitches. Referees secretary Stephen Howard is confident that he has enough officials to cover the busy programme and hopefully we will not be affected by bad weather and more Covid restrictions as we look to provide an exciting and competitive end to another very difficult and frustrating season.”

The draw for all teams will soon be made. We will update and inform our followers regarding the new fixtures in due course. The schedule will begin on April 10 with the quarter-finals planned for May 15.

Manager, Stephen Howson said:

“I am sad to hear that the league isn’t going to continue. I think we’d have been able to finish, given the extension granted by the FA, but I understand not all clubs would be in a position to do that. So we welcome the shift in focus to a league cup to at least finish the season with some competitive football.

The prospect of playing sides from the division above excites me, I am eager to know what the level is and how we match up, as our goal is to be playing in that division as soon as we earn it.

I hope the lads are working hard doing whatever training they can to return as ready for action as they can be. There’s no margin for error as we come out of this and winning the competition is the only thing I’d consider a success.”

This is great news for everyone at Stretford Paddock FC. The staff, coaches and players have already been preparing and will continue to work hard to insure that both teams are ready to compete in our set cup competitions.

In the meantime, keep an eye out across our social pages for more updates regarding fixture releases.

Thank you for your continuted support.

Up The Paddock.

You can read the Lancashire & Cheshire League’s full update here: https://landc.org.uk/2021/03/14/new-plan-in-place-to-finish-the-season/

Today, the government has announced that Greater Manchester will be placed into Tier 4 restrictions.

The FA have issued the following update in regards to the introduction of Tier 4 areas:

“Football for adult participants across ‘non-elite’ football in Tier 4 areas is not permitted, including all training and fixtures. This immediate advice in place from 31 December applies to the following aspects of ‘non-elite’ football in England in Tier 4 areas.”

As a result of this, Stretford Paddock FC’s fixtures will be postponed until Greater Manchester restrictions are reduced. We will provide further updates of a restart as soon as we’re notified.

You can read the FA’s full update here: https://www.manchesterfa.com/news/2020/dec/30/updated-covid-19-guidance-following-tier-4-announcement

By Mitul Mistry

Stretford Paddock came out victors in their first fixture back after 43 days in the Lancashire and Cheshire League against Trafford United. This result put Stretford Paddock FC in a great position with only goal difference separating Paddock and first placed Moston Brook.

Paddock again got off to a great star, with a great goal by debutant Isaac Buckley-Ricketts in the 30^th minute. It was back and fourth until the 38^th minute when top scorer Jay Phillips pops up to give Paddock a 2-0 lead.

Straight from Kick Off Trafford nick a goal back to make it 2-1 in the 40^th minute which gave Trafford hope just before half time.

Throughout the first half Paddock showed their quality on the ball with some tight and precise passing around the Trafford side.

Stretford Paddock started the second half well with a brilliant second goal from Isaac Buckley-Ricketts in the 51st minute. Paddock dominated the half with beautiful football, one of the best from the lads this season. After a corner Left Back, Will Hobson scored a brilliant first goal for Stretford paddock with his left foot, quickly after that Simmonds scores a wonderful chip in the 68^th minute. Jay finished off the scoring for Paddock in the 81^st minute beating the keeper from long range to make it 6-1.

At the nearing the end of the gae Trafford scored two quick fire consolation goals in the 83^rd and 89^th minute after paddock switched off.

Midfielder Cam Watters got the Man of the Match with a brilliant performance in the middle of the park. The game finished 6-3 to Stretford Paddock.

Stretford Paddock FC are back in action on Monday night with non-elite football being allowed to resume after the national lockdown. Paddock’s first game back was originally meant to be played last weekend against Newton, however, that fixture was postponed due to bad weather. Now, Paddock welcome Trafford United to Wright Robinson College hoping to restart the campaign with a positive result.

Manager Stephen Howson and his will be looking to pick up where they left off. Before lockdown, Paddock’s most recent fixture saw them come back from 2-0 down against Urmston Town to win the game 4-3. A scoreline which somewhat flattered the opponents, as Paddock were the much more dominant side throughout the 90 minutes. Nevertheless, Paddock came away with the all important three points thanks to goals from Adam Ashton, James Oatt, Jay Phillips and Okera Simmonds.

Paddock currently sit 4th in the league table after gaining 13 points from the first 7 games. Hadfield Athletic in 3rd and De La Salle in 2nd also sit level on 13 points. A win for Paddock could possibly see them go above Moston Brook in 1st place. But the side would have to beat Trafford by at least 5 goals.

As for Trafford United, they sit in 7th spot in Division One of the Lancashire and Cheshire AFL after picking up 8 points from 5 games. In their most recent fixture, they drew 2-2 against Signol Old Boys. Their last win came against North Walkden in an outstanding 6-5 win back in October.

Stephen Howson said: “Disruption to our playing schedule has been annoying to say the least. Getting match rhythm for the players was important, especially for a new club like us, and even though I still felt performances had more in the tank, it was good to be in the thick of it. Good to see the beginnings of the team starting to mesh together, partnerships and understandings beginning to form.”

“We completed 7 consecutive weekends of fixtures which was a fantastic taste of the intensity of action we were hoping and searching for, when we entered the club into this league. Covid has made the birth of this football club difficult for multiple reasons, including scarcity of facilities, inability to play at all 3 of the venues we’d booked for the first and reserve sides – but we also found ourselves in a decent position in the league. With 2 matches now until Christmas, I’m aiming for nothing except maximum points.”

Stretford Paddock will be hopeful to return the Butchers Arms Ground for their next home fixture against Dukinfield Athletic next Saturday. For this match against Trafford United, the side will play at Wright Robinson College on Monday night for an 8:00pm kick-off.

Fans are allowed to attend, but you are advised to wear a face mask and you must maintain social distancing around the outside of the pitch.

After a month in lockdown, non-elite football is back from suspension and fixtures will now be played for the foreseeable future.

Following the government’s announcement last week, Stretford Paddock FC and the Lancashire and Cheshire Amateur Football League will resume on Saturday 5th December.

Now the national lockdown has come to an end, Manchester will revert back to Tier 3 restrictions. This means that Stretford Paddock FC will continue to follow all the correct guidelines to ensure that every game is played with safety measures firmly in place.

Our first game back see’s Paddock face Newton away from home on Saturday 5th December at 14:00.

To our loyal fans,

Unfortunately, due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and tightening restrictions, our current campaign in the Lancashire and Cheshire league has had to be put on hold.

The government has stated that all non-elite competition will be put on hold until at least December 2nd of this year. You will remember earlier this month, we sadly had to vacate the Butcher’s Arms Ground due to restrictions and now this news seems like another bump in the road, but we will work to get past it.

Everyone at the club from the staff to the players has worked hard to get this club to where it is today and we assure the fans that as soon as we are allowed to play again, we will bring the same determination and hopefully a winning style of play back with us.

Until that time, we hope you all stay well and safe during this pandemic and hopefully you’ll hear again from us soon.

Stretford Paddock FC