Brantingham Road – Maine Road FC

Maine Road FC – 1

Padiham – 2

North West Counties Premier League – 19th March 2011

A lot have been made recently of FC United, the fan offshoot of Manchester United that grew out of Malcolm Glazier buying the club and saddling it with debt. FC United are a fan owned club. Whilst admirable and the most famous, they’re not the first club formed by fans of another. In fact they’re not the first from Manchester.

Manchester City supporters club – Rusholme formed a club in 1955 entitled “City Supporters Rusholme”, a Sunday League side playing in the Rusholme district league of Manchester. After dominating the league for five years they moved to the Maine Road social club, renaming them as Maine Road FC, playing on a Sundays in the Manchester League. After a period of success they joined the North West Counties League 1987 after moving to the current ground – Brantingham Road  – and became a proper football club.

Red vs Sky Blue in Manchester then. Millions miles away from Old Trafford

The move to Brantingham Road was a good one as far as I’m concerned as Maine Road became the nearest football club to wear I live in Chorlton, so on a boring Saturday after a big shop, I walked the 600 yards to the ground to watch the game. I arrive early and was greeted with the sight of the players training outside the ground. Not the best players, the walk to the ground was like a game of dodgeball. Luckily I escaped and paid my five pounds to get in, as well as getting a badge and a steak pie. All for under a tenner. Hurrah!

As it was a glorious day, I took a pew on one side of the ground for my pie and coke, with a few of the Maine Road fans, they were a chatty bunch, talking about their club and how they formed. Was a good bunch. Unfortunately I had to leave them to take photos for you, you lucky, lucky people.

Padiham hit Maine Road on the Break

The first half kicked off with Maine Road pressing hard but with Padiham hitting on the break. Paul Fildes of Padiham had two great chances that they hit on the break, one beating the keeper but it was cleared off the line by the Maine Road centre back. The second came on the stroke of half time where he latched onto a loose backpass, but shot against the keeper. Overall an even, if uneventful half. 0-0.

Ballboys are sadly lacking at this level.

The second half began with more of the same, with Maine Road pressing and they managed to Paul Fildes taken almost completely out of the game, and were rewarded on 50 minutes with Matt Struminskyj scoring a tap in after a high ball from the right wing completely bamboozled the keeper. This brought a leap of delight from the Maine Road manager, who was a character for the whole game, opting for a completly unfootball manager esque beige jumper. Luckily the Padiham Ultras had something to cheer about on the hour mark or so when the ball broke to Padiham’s left back, who drove a shot from outside the bar into the top left hand corner in a fine goal, keeper left stranded. Padiham pressed for a winner, and were rewarded with one when Padiham’s number 8 had a clear header that he nodded in to the bottom right hand corner of the net.

Although the football wasn't the most glamourous, it was hard fought.

Maine Road collapsed, but pushed for an equaliser. A few decisions went against Padiham which brought out the ire of  a couple of Padi fans, who were vocal in what they thought of the referee. Amusingly, the Maine Road fans fought back complimenting the referee’s ability – a rarity in the modern game. Epic banter, but even three corners towards the end couldn’t see Maine Road grab an equaliser. 2-1 to Padiham after a marvellous and engrossing second half.

Padiham and Maine Road Ultra's clash.

Overall, I enjoyed my day out at my local club. Sure it’s smaller than most, but it’s a fan ran club with a long history associated with their local and much richer neighbours. Plus it was walking distance as well.