Clitheroe F.C.

Ground 7
Match 7
Clitheroe F.C. Club Colours : Blue/Blue/Red (home), Red/Red/Red (away) Club Nickname : The Blues Ground : Shawbridge, Clitheroe.Ground capacity 2,000 . well known ex player Carlo Nash . Moved to present ground in 1925 Nicknamed 'The Blues'

Attendance 312 Pint Bitter £2.30 Baileys £3 Tea/Coffee £1 Admission £5 Distance from home approx 22 miles (30 minutes)
Clitheroe F.C.v FC United Of Manchester





It had been raining all day and i contemplated giving the match a miss but at half past six i grabbed my car keys and set off . I passed Ribchester on the way once famous for The Lodestar ,the Sex Pistols and Bob Gedoff who stopped at the Victoria Hotel in Clitheroe during his first tour to England . Arrived on the approach to Shawbridge Street and parked up on the roadside . There seemed to be more than one Shawbridge Street and i set off in the wrong direction realising my mistake when i saw Clitheroe fans walking the other way .As you go down the hill the stadium is located on the right . The Sun broke through the darkenned skies as i continued down an alley with two locals , passing a sandwich board avertising the game . There it was , appearing through the sunny horizon like a mirage in the dessert; Welcome to Clitheroe F.C. FC appealed to me , todays opponents are FC United of Manchester who have a large fan base and fanatical support . Formed in 2005-06 by diillusioned Manchester United fans in protest over the Glaziers handling of the club . Nickname ' The Red Rebels .' I asked the steward to take a few pictures at the only turnstile entrance and paid the amission fee . It was like something out of a Dickens novel , i felt like i was in an old curiosity shop , the ground is fascinating ,almost Victorian, in the centre is an undulating pitch sloping from one side to the other and foodlights adorning the sunlit sky . No Programme was available but an official FA team sheet was displayed in a cabinet on the club lounge building .
Clitheroe started well and gained the ascendancy with a couple of decent opportunities going begging . FC couldn't get into gear and Clitheroe weren't in the mood to give anything away . After 22 minutes Clitheroe scored after a slick passing move and shot into the corner from close range . Seemed like Clitheroe were going to add to their slim lead but couldn't capitalise on their possession . FC came more into the game and created opportunities including a inexplicable miss from one yard out . It appeared 'The Blues' were riding their luck and eventually,on the stroke of half-time , United pounced in the penalty area to fire home . ^Above H-T 1-1 .


Clitheroe started the second half as the first , quick in the tackle and first to the ball . United were getting rattled and the Clitheroe number 6 laid out for more than 5 minutes after a crunching tackle which forced the big defender to be substituted . This seemed to spur United on and, with a few substitutions , they became more dangerous . The last fifteen minutes saw chance after chance to United and two penalty appeals go begging . Clitheroe still looked dangerous on the break an in-between Uniteds emerging dominance , fired home to make it 2-1 . United could't find the equaliser ,the ref blew the whistle not allowing much added time for the break in play to the injured Clitheroe number six . Final Score Clitheroe F.C. 2 - 1 FC United of Manchester

So 'The Blues' beat 'The Red rebels'


FC UNITED missed chances + Penalty Appeal Below


More photos Click on Photo

Clitheroe FC