Match Information
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Garstang 1-3 Holker Old Boys
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When: Wednesday 31st July 2024
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Kick-off: 7.45pm
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Where: The Riverside, High Street, Garstang, Lancashire PR3 1EB
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Competition: North West Counties League First Division North
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Attendance: 88
My week-long lakeside lodge stay in the North West Counties League hinterland was going well.
I enjoyed matches at Holker Old Boys on the Saturday afternoon and Longridge Town on the Tuesday evening. But I was undecided about my Wednesday night new ground although I had a couple of options in mind.
Then at 3.57pm on the day of the game, Garstang tweeted their online digital programme versus Holker.
It was such an impressive production that it instantly made my mind up on which fixture to attend, though no football odds were available on the contest.
Situated 11 miles north of Preston, Garstang is a market town housing 4,000 residents. The football club were formed in 1885 and have participated in NWCL circles since 2018/19 after gaining promotion from the West Lancashire League.
Ground Description
Garstang play in a very picturesque setting. It is part of the Garstang Sports Club embracing 1,000 members for football, rugby, tennis, cricket and canoeing. Pay and display car parking is available outside.
A main club building containing the clubhouse and changing rooms is shared by those various different sports. Current online crowdfunding has so far raised nearly £34,000 to revitalise amenities in a £600,000 first phase redevelopment.
For football matchdays, there is a grandstand providing 50 bench seats in two rows and additional covered standing – both located behind one goal - whilst a small sheltered overhang area lies at the other end.
Most spectators congregate along the touchline where slightly elevated grass banking offers enhanced viewing next to the tennis courts. Cricket facilities are on the opposite side.
Programme Details
A lavish 24 colour pages. The PDF format makes it simple to print out.
Articles included an editorial welcome, club honours, manager’s notes, club lottery details, players and staff sponsors, boardroom viewpoint, histories of Garstang and Holker Old Boys respectively, match sponsorship packages, club news, latest match report/reaction, player profile, walking football focus, reserve team analysis, league table, upcoming fixtures and the squad lists.
All in all, plenty to read while browsing sports betting odds in the stands.
The Match
I was watching Holker Old Boys for the second time in four days and this was definitely a much improved performance following Saturday’s gritty 1-1 home draw against Daisy Hill.
Indeed, Holker racked up a number of good chances tonight and could easily have established a higher winning margin. Their three scorers were Jason Walker (5 minutes), Bailey Backhouse own goal (22 mins) and Jason Walker (75 mins).
The third by Walker was totally inadvertent as he charged down a goalkeeper clearance and the ball viciously cannoned back into the net. An away supporter quickly joked: “He worked on that in training!”
The solitary Garstang strike came via Daniel Squires’ penalty in the 19th minute. I loved the sight of intrepid volunteer Richard Brown dashing off holding a fishing net on a pole to retrieve stray footballs booted into the adjacent River Wyre.
The People
Garstang chairman Adrian Wilding is admirably hands-on and was carefully patrolling the players’ designated parking area when I arrived.
I had been looking forward to meeting first team secretary Nick Panepinto too because – like myself – he has a rare and unusual Italian surname. Nick subsequently told me of his Sicilian father and revealed they are the only Panepinto family living anywhere in the UK.
However, he was surprised by my knowledge of the Italian language when I correctly said: “Your name means BREADCRUMBS in English.” Nick did a great job on the public address system throughout the match.
Furthermore, head of media/programme editor Ryan Armstrong was extremely helpful and enthusiastic. Ryan is really successful in delivering a positive image of Garstang FC.
Football grounds visited: 2,588.
*Credit for the photos in this article belongs to Tony Incenzo*
