TT No.75: Mike Latham - Sat 16 April 2016 - Horwich St Mary's Victoria 6-0 Chaddertonians;             Lancashire Amateur League Premier Division; Attendance: 20 (h/c); No admission or programme

Matchday images (24) https://picasaweb.google.com/footballgroundsinfocus/HorwichStMarysVictoriaFC

When you do lots of groundhopping it's easy to ignore the great facilities for watching football on your doorstep and on a chilly but bright April Saturday after a trip to Boothstown for an early kick-off in the Manchester League I stayed close to home and visited Scholes Bank, the new home of the Horwich St Mary's Victoria FC.

I'd seen an early season game here but the weather wasn't great for photographs and so was glad of the opportunity to take some decent shots in conditions that showed off the facilities and views far better.

As a regular at Grundy Hill before Horwich RMI moved to Leigh in 1995 before later folding a few years ago, and author of a club history on RMI I found it particularly poignant to be watching football again with Rivington Pike in the background.

I have several friends associated with Horwich Victoria FC who latterly have played games on the 3G surface at Essa Academy having struggled to find a suitable local venue for Lancashire Amateur League football.

Last summer they merged with Horwich St Mary's, giving the Saturday team a home at St Mary's impressive, redeveloped Scholes Bank ground.

Scholes Bank is approached on the Adlington road out of Horwich just down from the Crown Hotel and close to Lever Park. There is a driveway down to a car park and a big area for football pitches that is being developed and will stage matches in the near future. The new club house, officially opened by Gary Neville, was largely funded by a Football Foundation grant of over £700,000.

The club will ultimately have ten new pitches for all age groups, with two full-size pitches, five youth pitches and three mini soccer pitches.

Horwich St Mary's was originally formed with one team in 1978 from the church attendees and played in the local catholic league. Nowadays they provide organised football for the youth of Horwich and surrounding districts irrespective of their ability.  They currently field over 30 teams, which means they have in excess of 400 boys, girls and adults playing organised football every week and are a Charter Standard Community Club.

The game was played on the far, roped-off pitch which is has the steep, wooded banking up to Crown Lane along the far side and the glorious distant views of the Pike. It is an atmospheric place to watch football and the home side recorded a convincing victory in a well contested and sporting encounter. The visitors were awarded a penalty late on but the home goalkeeper dived to his right to make a great save. When it's not your day it's not your day.

The Lancashire Amateur League is well organised and has an excellent FA Full-Time website. I've seen several games in the league in recent seasons and have always found it to be an enjoyable league for the groundhopper, particularly in early and late season with many midweek games. I'd recommend a visit to Scholes Bank unreservedly.  

contributed on 16/04/16