PhotoWall updated....................................... January 6th 12:30 hrs
Norcross 3 Garstang Reserves 1: January 3rd 16:30 hrs
After conceding early, Garstang Reserves had more than enough possession to get back into the game but we failed to create the chances, Norcross showing them the way and opening up a three goal lead. Alan Coar pulled a goal back from the penalty spot at the end. Match report here.
Andy Taylor tries his luck
Today's results:
Only one other game beat the freeze - Fleetwood Hesketh 6 v Crosshills 0
Pitch Inspections: *Updated: January 3rd 10:30 hrs
First Team Game Off: Despite the temperatures not having dropped as forecast, the Riverside has not thawed sufficiently and remains unplayable this morning. The First Team game v Vickerstown CCFC is postponed.
Reserves Game On: Norcross & Warbreck, closer to the coast, has had a milder night and their game against Garstang Reserves will go ahead at 2:00 pm.
The Reserves are one of only eight games currently beating the weather.
Weekend Prospects: January 2nd 13:30 hrs
An unofficial pitch inspection at the Riverside today had it frozen hard. With a heavy overnight frost on the forecast, prospects for tomorrow are not good.
A formal inspection will be made in the morning.
Les Taylor also wrote a mid-term summary for the local press. If you missed it, it is reproduced here.
A Happy New Year: December 31st 15:00 hrs
Just a quick line to wish everyone at Garstang Football Club a happy and successful 2009 - from everyone at Garstang Football Club! At some time in the next 24 hours, our website will receive its 10,000th visitor since its launch back in October, so get the Champagne on ice!
Match of the Day: December 26th 11:30 hrs
With no football taking place over the festive season, First Team captain Geoff Wilson is getting married. At 12 o'clock on Saturday the 27th of December, Geoff will be saying "I do" to the lovely Louise Gornall at St Mary & Michaels Church, Bonds, Garstang. As he did not want to cause any arguements amongst his army of friends the big man has chosen his brother and fellow First Teamer Richard Wilson to be his best man. The after match celebrations will be held at The Great Mains Hall, Singleton. The couple will be honeymooning in Kenya. However this will not be for a couple of weeks so Geoff will be available for selection in the upcoming games. Everyone involved at the club would like to wish the happy couple all the best and hope that they have a great day and life together.
'So This is Christmas': December 24th 10:30 hrs
Keeping the song title theme going, this is just a quick 'Merry Christmas' from this side of the monitor. Thankyou for visiting us but, 'look to the future now, it's only just begun'! Thanks, too, to our many budding reporters and photographers: the press bench by the tennis courts is looking quite full on match days.
And if you get bored of mince pies and Garstang Blue, there's always the forum!
It seems so long since we had a game of football: fortunately Scott Somerside has penned a 'Mid Season Review' to get us all back in the groove for January 3rd. You can read it here. Ian Wormleighton has also provided a Reserve Team Mid-term Report here.
Good News and Bad News: December 24th 10:30 hrs
There is to be training, trainers and boots, for all players at the Riverside from noon on Sunday December 28th - Booooo! But this will be followed by the fancy dress tour of the town from 2:00 pm - Hooray!
Team Manager Scott Somerside extends the invitation to all players, committee members and web staff to tour the First Fair Trade Town with him when he will attempt to trade some pieces of paper for some alcoholic beverages! See you there.
A Postcard from the Chairman: December 23rd 10:30 hrs
“I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year”
What a great festive song that is, and a Happy New Year is, I am sure, what we will all have at Garstang Football Club.
In my few months back as your Chairman I feel some excellent foundations have been put in place, both on and off the field. Granted it has not all been plain sailing but life, and certainly footbal, never is. I am sure 2009 will bring many more challenges and by working as a team off the field, as our managers and players do on the field, Garstang FC can and will go forward.
We are very fortunate to have some great people and characters involved with the club, people who are committed to keeping Garstang FC successful, and I thank you all for the time you give to the club. The website and the 'Score' lottery happened very quickly and everyone’s help is needed to keep these going. I never expected these initiatives to be up and running at such an early stage, but now they are we must fully support them as they could easily fold as quickly as they came. I, like other people, know these are excellent for the club and will help to improve facilities in all areas at the club. At Garstang FC, we are not losers so we all need to work hard to make these winners.
The games I have seen so far have been of mixed interest and frustrating at times. But, what is obvious, is that through your hard work, major improvements can now be seen and that can only be for the good as we move through the season.
Garstang FC has got great determination, friendship and spirit throughout all its playing, management and committee teams. Let’s keep that going in all areas and I believe the right people working together can only bring enjoyment and success for all our efforts. Have a good Christmas and here’s to a fruitful 2009.
Adrian
OK, We're Open: December 22nd 16:00 hrs
Come and see us here. But you have to register to join in the fun!
Baron Cup Final: December 22nd 13:30 hrs
For a number of years Garstang FC has been proud to host the Baron Cup Final at the Riverside. This trophy, played just before the start of our season in August, is the final game of the Catforth & District Summer League season and is the most important game of the Summer League.
Garstang FC was concerned to read an article in The Courier indicating that the fixture was being switched to Fleetwood Town's ground. As a result we have spoken with Summer League officials to clarify what is happening and we have been informed that, at present, no decision has been made. It would appear that, through a new sponsorship deal, the league has been offered the opportunity to utilise Fleetwood's ground for their prestigious game, however only the league members, ie: the clubs themselves, can decide.
This decision will be made in February 2009 when the league holds it AGM. Garstang FC have put their case forward to retain the right to host this fixture with the clear advantages of keeping the match within the local area. Once the club knows more, a further update will be provided.
Houston Cup Draw: December 22nd 12:30hrs
The Reserves have a home tie against Wyre Villa in the Third Round of the Houston Cup. The game is currently scheduled for February 14th.
Here is the full draw:-
BAC/EE/Springfields or Eagley v Stoneclough or Fleetwood Hesketh
Barnoldswick Town v Tempest United or Burnley United
Crosshills or Fulwood Amateurs v Burnley Belvedere or Coppull United
Garstang v Wyre Villa
Riverside Forum: December 21st 20:00hrs
The Forum is now completing it's pre-flight checks with take-off scheduled for 20:00 hrs tomorrow, Monday, evening. You can visit the forum now, via the FanZone/Riverside Forum menu link, but you will not be able to interact with it until your registration has been approved.
You can get ahead in the game by pre-registering now, but we recommend that you read the registration help files here before you do! See you on the forum!!
www.westlancashirefootball.co.uk: December 21st 09:00hrs
We are happy to announce that the West Lancashire League have joined the growing band of 'West Lancs Websites' with the launch of their new website last night.
The content will build over the next few weeks as Chris Wight and his team transfer all the data from the old site to the new. You can access the site by clicking on the logo on the right or via the fanzone/football links pages.
Desperate for Football? Updated: December 21st 09:00hrs
What was that about Groundhog Day? You've guessed it - it's 'Game Off' at Wyre Villa!
Today, Sunday, at 2pm Wyre Villa Old Boys are playing Garstang Old Boys. The game is being held at Wyre Villa and they have assured us that the fixture will proceed whatever the weather!
Among the stars featuring in the Garstang line up is First Team Assistant Manager Dave Porter, Reserves Manager Paul Bailey, Club Treasurer Marc Armstrong and Committee Member Paul Hutton. Medical Match report later.
Saturday Results Service: December 20th 19:00hrs
Groundhog Day all over again for Garstang with both teams waterlogged again. So that's the football done with until next year. May as well get into the holiday mood! Oh, and here are the results of the games that made it through the rain:-
Premier Division:
Blackpool Wren Rovers P v P Charnock Richard
Burnley United P v P Garstang
Eagley 1 v 0 Turton
Fulwood Amateurs 4 v 0 Coppull United
Haslingden St. Mary`s P v P Dalton United
Poulton Town P v P Freckleton
Stoneclough 1 v 3 Euxton Villa
Vickerstown CCFC P v P Barnoldswick Town
Reserves Division One:
Burnley Belvedere 3 v 1 Blackpool Wren Rovers
Charnock Richard 2 v 0 Tempest United
Euxton Villa P v P Thornton Cleveleys
Freckleton P v P Eagley
Garstang P v P Poulton Town
Turton P v P Norcross & Warbreck
All the results for the West Lancs Leagues are here.
League tables are here.
Pitch Inspections: Updated December 20th 10:45hrs
Both the Burnley United pitch and the Riverside failed pitch inspections this morning!
Gutted!! See you next year!!!
January Fixtures: December 19th 23:00hrs
There are a couple of revisions to our January fixture list with the First Team now playing at Euxton Villa on January 10th and Coppull United on January 31st. There are no changes to the Reserves programme. The full list is here.
West Lancashire League: December 19th 23:00hrs
It is with regret that the West Lancashire League announce the recent deaths of Life Member Mr Ray Goddard and also the Chairman of Milnthorpe Corinthians, Mr Terry Wills.
Weekend Previews: December 19th 19:0hrs
Burnley United v Garstang: The First Team travel to face 'The Dingles' at the Athletics Centre for a 2pm kick off tommorow afternoon. Burnley are currently the leagues bottom side with only one point so far. However, that point was gained away at Haslingden St Mary's and we all know that is a tough place to go.
Burnley find themselves a bit like Garstang, in that the weather seems to be causiang havoc with both side's fixtures this season. The last time Burnley played was on December 6th although, what is more concerning is that they have not played at home since November 15th. All efforts will be made, of course, to get the game on and, with Wrens v Charnock scheduled tommorrow, as well as tough away games for Freckleton, Barnoldswick and Dalton United, a win for the First Team tommorrow could put them in a very healthy position over the Christmas period.
Scott Somerside only has injury doubts over Fawcett and Williams, with everybody else reporting fit for duty.
I have just spoken with the Burnley Secretary, and there will be a pitch inspection at 9:30 am in the morning.
Garstang Reserves v Poulton Town Reserves: Steve McAllister brings his table topping side back to The Riverside, still smarting from the Houston Cup defeat a fortnight ago. Poulton Reserves have not lost a league game since September 27th and Garstang will need to show all the same form that they showed in the recent cup victory.
With the likes of Danny Morris, Guy Sharrock and 'Bomber' all playing reserve team football at Poulton at the minute, tommorows game promises to be another gripping encounter.
Bails should have a near full strength side to pick from although Matty Baldwin and Andy Taylor Snr may well be on First Team duty; weather permitting. The Garstang Manager will be looking for more good performances from Maycock, Miller and Walton as they go looking to ruin the Poulton Town Reserves Christmas Party!
Update: There is a pitch inspection at 10:30 am at the Riverside.
Fingers Crossed: Previews later.....
Reminder: Les Taylor and his team are on duty outside the Kings Arms on Tuesday between 6 and 8 o'clock. If you have a little time, please pop along and help with the Lottery sales stall.
Saturday Result Service: December 13th 18:30hrs
Premier Division:
Charnock Richard 3-0 Poulton Town
Sorry Folks - It's Shopping! December 13th 09:30hrs
Neither of today's fixtures have beaten the weather, so it's another blank weekend for Garstang FC. Our full postponements service will be on here later.
You will find older news items in the News Archives and Match Reports for this season are accessible via the relevant Fixtures Pages or here.
'So This is Christmas':
Garstang Reserves v Poulton Town Reserves: Steve McAllister brings his table topping side back to The Riverside, still smarting from the Houston Cup defeat a fortnight ago. Poulton Reserves have not lost a league game since September 27th and Garstang will need to show all the same form that they showed in the recent cup victory.
Sorry Folks - It's Shopping!
