There is something I do not understand and see any reason for. Why does someone, likely a local resident, feel the need to run to the council whenever the club does something?

I was brought up to deal with things and if there is an issue, speak to the people involved. Well there is someone around the ground who needs to grow a set and come and speak with me, instead of hiding behind emails/calls to the council.

There are four cabins currently sited on the car park, they are strategically placed behind the cover of the trees to reduce impact on residents. They are for a company who are carrying out work/repairs to social housing in the area. Therefore, we are assisting them and local people having work carried out at their properties. This causes minimal disruption to residents as the cabins are off the highway and away from the public.

The car park is private and for patrons of Prestwich Heys, not for dog walkers who don’t want to get wet, using the car park to park and allow their dogs to use the car park as a toilet.

Some residents adjoining the club land have been seen tipping their garden waste over the fences or even coming out of gates, which, by the way, are not supposed to be there.

The club land goes to within one metre of the fences of the houses, that one metre is a public footpath. The public have a right of way along that path, but would struggle as the residents have piled it with garden waste consisting of some rather large lumps of stone.

It is sad but it looks like we will have to start enforcing any issues, maybe release fees for anyone using the car park who is not a patron of the club. Fencing and gating off the car park all except the one metre footpath, may be an option, which would then mean the local authority would have an obligation to maintain the walkway.

The club is here for all to enjoy, not to abuse it, or the land. We are working with Marauders, who want to develop the field at the bottom of our land to establish pitches for junior football and sports.

So, the person in question, who wants to disrupt anything and everything we do, take a long hard look at yourself. You are spoiling things for the majority, because you do not have courage in your convictions to speak to us.

Now onto the football, after some horrendous rain and a postponement due to a waterlogged pitch.
we managed to get the Buildbase FA Vase game on against Liversedge and what an entertaining affair it was on a very wet night.

Liversedge were a big, physical team and well set up. After some slack defending and being slow to get out of the blocks, we were two goals down in the opening eleven minutes. But I have got to say after that initial set back the lads started to pass the ball around and began to play some good football. Unfortunately, our finishing was not on point, we created plenty of chances but with no end product.

It was good to see some of the young faces in our team enjoying their football, playing with a smile and getting stuck in. Who was it who said you won’t win anything with kids?

Well the young lads in the squad will undoubtedly form the future of the club, with a blend of experience and youth, things look bright.

These are more, small steps keeping us going in the right direction. Remember it has taken almost thirty years to get to where we are. We are building good foundations which are the key to strong, sustainable development.

The Reserves had an emphatic victory in the Lancashire Amateur Shield against Golborne coming out 8-0 victors. The team was again a mix of experience and youth and it was the youth who did the damage. Alfie Belcher got a hat-trick and Jordan Burton a brace.

Last Saturday, saw the first team away at Eccleshall where they put in a good performance coming away victors with a 5-3 result.

The victory was marred by an injury to our goalkeeper Andrei Stinca in the last second of the game when an Eccleshall player landed on his leg, causing potential ligament damage. Hopefully it won’t be too serious, we do not want to go through another season stricken with injuries to keepers.

The Reserves home fixture was switched to Salford Sports Village to protect the pitch for tonight’s game against Daisy Hill. Unfortunately, due to a double booking, the game was postponed.

Hopefully, we will continue in a winning vein against Daisy Hill, our visitors tonight, who are more than welcome to Adie Moran Park.

Neil Gilmore