The FA | Whatever Your Level:
September 25th 12:00 hrs

 

 

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Smokers Corner:
September 21st 10:00 hrs

Standing outside the Riverside Clubhouse in the rain, Dick Gudgeon, a self-confessed smoker, noticed that the area was littered with soggy fag ends which made the area unsightly and, drum roll, the fag ends difficult to light..........

Dick went home and painted up his bucket, which he presented to Groundsman Bob Freeman, below, in the hope that fellow smokers will use it.

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A Face in the Crowd:
#2 Derek Ronson
April 30th 20:00 hrs

There really is so much to say about a man who has been around Garstang football for over sixty years that it is difficult to know where to begin. And those of you who know Derek will also appreciate that once you get him going, there's no stopping him!

Anyway, we've decided that Derek is worth serialising and so the first instalment of his memoirs centres around the famous occasion in 1949 when he earned an international cap representing the North Lancashire Leagues against Scotland.

Even restricting Derrick to the one topic, or trying to, was running to several pages so, what the heck, let him describe it to you himself - here. The match programme for Derek's 'International' is here.

2007/08 Presentation Evening:
April 20th 12:00 hrs

The date and venue of this 'end of season' event are now finalised as you can see from the poster below. You can download your own copy here.

As it says, you are invited to attend the party to be held in the Garstang Sports and Social Club on Saturday May 9th from 7:30 pm. The disco and barbeque are already arranged and we are just waiting confirmation of the identity of the live band.

The highlight of the evening will, of course, be the Awards Ceremony. The First and Reserve Team Managers will each pick their 'Player of the Season', as will the players themselves for the 'Player's Player of the Season'. This season we also have awards for the First and Reserve Team 'Fans Player of the Year'**. There will be the 'Clubman of the Year' award nominated by the Committee and, finally, for the first time this year, The Nomis Award, nominated jointly by the team managers, for the player who has contributed in a way that makes, or has made, a real difference to the club.

Please get there in good time as there is a lot to fit into the evening!

** Fans voting slips were handed out at the home games over Easter. If you still need to vote, email here.

What’s Going On?
March 16th 09:00 hrs

Here, Chairman Adrian Wilding gives you his thoughts on recent developments at Garstang Football Club.

As you will have seen reported on our website, things are now moving forward at great speed on a number of fronts even though, sometimes, it does seem as if it may be too fast on too many fronts! With your support, and the hard work and time given by our Committee, we have been able to put many things in place for the good and future of Garstang FC. The website, the lottery, more and more sponsors and now, the Sports and Social Club redevelopment, are building a buzz about our Club so that, on and off the field, our profile is continuing to grow.

I’m sure that some people at the Club believe that I only worry about our advertisers and sponsors. Well, yes. We do have to look after these people and companies but, ultimately, we do this for the benefit of our team management and players and the Committee and I are fully dedicated to supporting and helping the development of the playing side of the Club.

I believe that strong foundations have now been put in place, starting with the launch of this fantastic website. With your help and support, it will continue to improve in response to our needs as we go along, and continue to lift the profile of our football club, so please tell your friends and family to visit.

The Score Lottery is now moving into its third month with membership at 219 at the time of writing. Yes, people did doubt this idea but, again, it is becoming a huge success thanks to everyone’s hard work and backing, and the revenue stream which it generates will underpin all our future development plans. However, I honestly believe that we can get a lot more members. It will not be easy but, if we keep on spreading the word in the local community, eventually it will happen.

The Club Committee is now stronger and wiser, with regular meetings to discuss all aspects of the running of the Club. We are improving the communication between the management and the committee, and we are all working better as a team. Of course, we make mistakes as we go along but, as we grow, we will learn and try and minimise these. I think that we are good listeners and try to respond quickly and constructively to management requests. So, the foundations are in place and, even though they still need strengthening some more, the future looks good for Garstang Football Club.

As I said earlier, we are moving along at a pace and I am particulary excited about the Clubhouse development. The Sports and Social Committee, on which we have very good representation, are working towards this development and are talking to the relevant bodies regarding funding. It is still the early stages and many more hours will have to be spent on this project to make it happen; but I believe it will. Representation from the main users of the building, ourselves, the cricket club and the rugby club are working hard together to make this happen for us all to benefit now, and for our children to benefit in the future.

There are many commercial projects ongoing at the moment but, most importantly, we are working hard to build a relationship with the local business community, trying to get Garstang FC more into the public eye. Why, you ask? Simple, to get more people down to the Riverside to watch a very good standard of football and support the management and players who are working so hard to put us on the football map.

Thank you to everyone who has helped and supported the Club this season. Tell your friends what a good afternoon they can have watching our two teams, and let’s get behind the lads for the remaining weeks of the season.

Adrian Wilding

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And now, "The Garstang Globetrotters":
#1 Rod Beatson
February 22nd 10:00 hrs

Hot on the heels of our first 'Face in the Crowd' feature an email dropped into our postbox from Rod Beatson in North Carolina, USA. You can read Rod's email below.

The obvious thought was that Rod is not alone; there must be many others, scattered around the world who, via the website, have found their way back to Garstang FC. So, if you are a 'Garstang Globetrotter', please get in touch here.

Greetings. My name is Rod Beatson and I played for Garstang FC between 1963 and 1970 when we moved to Lancaster, then London and, eventually, in 1986 to North Carolina in the USA. I came across this team photograph recently and hoped that I could scan and send it to you to include on your site.

Garstang FC - 1964

This was the 1964 Garstang FC First Eleven. Here are the names, with some dubious commentary, although as it was 45 years ago, I make no apology for misrepresentation.

Back row L to R:
Bert Freeman - Eddie Livesey brought Bert in as a trainer and I'm sure he, Eddie, will be able to give more detail.
Tony Billington - Full back par excellence. Tony and I used to vie for who was fastest when we had races during training.
Rod Beatson - Yours truly. I played full back and centre half (central defender) most of the time but I remember one season playing in all ten outside positions. However, Fred Jenkinson would not let me anywhere near the goal line - especially when I accidentally put one past him in an important Guildhall Cup match - and we lost. I don't think Eddie was too pleased.
Fred Jenkinson - A rock of a goalkeeper and one of the most loyal team members John Neild - John and I used to swap positions as full-back and centre half as I recall John Cross - midfield I think Les Foden - mid-field, I recall Les being very tricky
Eddie Livesey - the one and only.
Front row L to R:
Tony Pegg - A good friend of mine and very creative in midfield or up front
Will Bradshaw - A fast, direct right winger.
Lance Dickinson - a tenacious midfielder in the mold of Alan Ball (for those that remember him from the 1966 World Cup) and a great captain.
George Reynolds - An aggressive and dangerous striker*
Brian Cross - A fast and dangerous left winger.

I would like to wish everyone in Garstang, and the footballers of Garstang FC, all the very best. I visit Garstang from time to time to see my relatives and I will be back in July to check up on everyone.
All the very best

Rod Beatson

*Note: George Reynolds was Ian Wormleighton's great uncle. George died of leukemia in 1986.

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February 17th 19:00 hrs

The GFC Marketplace is a new addition to the Riverside Forum. You will already be familiar with our sponsor's logos and website links scattered around the website in recognition of their support of Garstang FC. The 'Marketplace' goes one step further in allowing them to talk directly to you with offers and promotions targeted at the fans of GFC.

The first contributor is John Wilding Citroen: have a look at what is on offer.

And be sure to mention GFC Marketplace if you contact an advertiser.

If you are a sponsor, or a potential sponsor, and would like more information, please contact Les Taylor on 07979 235217.

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A Face in the Crowd:
#1 Dick Gudgeon
February 13th 20:00 hrs

**This feature came about as a result of Dick's suggestion that it would be good to know a little more about the people on his side of the white line. So, thanks for the idea Dick and thanks for being the guinea pig! If you, or someone you know, would like to be featured in this section, please email here.

Hello there, my name is Dick Gudgeon and I have recently moved from Caton Green in the Lune Valley to Chester Close in Garstang, a good move. I have always been a keen supporter of local football and also Newcastle United, who seem to be having a bit of a blip!

I only ever played football at school and, a few years later, for Bentham United juniors. I followed Bentham through the 50's and 60's, Ingleton in the 70s and then, when my son was their goalkeeper, Settle United in the 80's.

My only claim to fame in football was when I won a trophy for being the most consistant and fair Linesman in the 1987/88 season in the Craven league, voted for by all the referees throughout the season.

I am now enjoying supporting the Garstang teams, and the Club, who seem to be a friendly and forward thinking club.

Good luck to all concerned.
Dick Gudgeon