Litherland REMYCA (A)
NWCFL Premier Division
Matchday 37
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Preview
West travel to Litherland REMYCA on Wednesday knowing that a win will create some distance between them and the sides sitting just outside the playoff places.
Opponents Litherland REMYCA are currently 19th with a 16-point cushion between themselves and the relegation zone. They are undoubtedly where they are in the table due to a poor away record which has seen them win only once on the road all season - which is the least of any side in the division.
They are a different proposition altogether at the Litherland Sports Park. Only five teams can boast more than the ten home wins that REMYCA have managed so far, albeit they have also lost nine alongside this and have a neutral goal difference on home turf.
They also have the second highest scorer in the league this season in James Hammill. He has managed 25 goals so far this season, although by his own standards he is experiencing something of a slump at the moment having only scored once in his last four games. That goal came in Litherland's 4-1 win at the weekend over Charnock Richard, and West fans will have to hope that his goal on Saturday doesn't prove to be the start of another goalscoring run.
Hammill scored both of Litherland's goals when they came to M21 earlier in the season. That match ended in a 2-2 draw thanks to a last-gasp header from Ben Wharton. The report from that match is HERE.
If he features on Wednesday night, Billy Matthews will make his 166th West appearance and will draw level with Matthew Cook as West's third highest appearance holder.
Litherland Sports Park is a multi-purpose leasure centre and has a large car park outside. There is a running track around the pitch and there is a small clubhouse inside the football arena selling alcoholic drinks, hot drinks and a variety of hot pies.
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Form Guide
Litherland REMYCA
Position: 19th
Form position: 16th
Home position: 7th
Last six overall: WDLLWL
Last six home: WDLWLW
West
Position: 4th
Form position: 7th
Away position: 11th
Last six overall: WLWLWD
Last six away: LWLDWW
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Litherland REMYCA At A Glance
Home colours: Red / black / black & red
Change colours: Light blue / navy blue / light blue
Travelling distance: 39 miles
2023/24 position: 12th, NWCFL Premier
2023/24 average attendance: 99
West away season round trip: 1,649 miles
Like West, Litherland REMYCA have ecclesiastical origins. They were founded in 1959 as St Thomas, shortly before changing their name to Bootle Church Lads Brigade. They forged strong links with the Bootle YMCA community group and from 1967 were boosted by the financial support of the REM Social Club who began funding the team. The following year, the club was renamed REMYCA United to formally acknowledge the connection between the REM and the YMCA clubs.
The word Litherland was only added to the club’s name in 2013 as the club looked to grow itself within the local community and they have been known as Litherland REMYCA ever since. They joined the North West Counties Division One in 2014/15 and were promoted to the Premier Division four seasons later. They have remained there since and finished 12th in 2023/24 to secure a second consecutive top-half finish.
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Head to Head
Overall:
P7 W4 D2 L1 F16 A10
At Litherland:
P3 W2 D0 L1 F7 A5
Last season's trip to Litherland was a rare post-Christmas highlight for West. REMYCA were once again in excellent home form going into the match, and West fans were fearing another defeat to add to the 11 from their previous 13 away fixtures after going a goal behind early on. The game was turned on its head after the restart, however, as Lewis Billingsley scored two fantastic second-half free-kicks to give West all three points.
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Browse through our wonderful match galleries, from club photographers:
Nathan Ashmall, Chris Michell, Jack Todd and Christina Bowett.
