Barnoldswick Town v West Didsbury & Chorlton

• Saturday 23rd September 2023 
• 3:00pm kickoff
• NWCFL Premier Division, Matchday 14
• Silentnight Stadium, Greenberfield Lane, Barnoldswick, BB18 5LJ
• Adults £7, Concessions £4, U16s £1, U12s Free
• Food and drink available
• Dogs allowed
• Live text updates via West on Twitter 

Preview

West complete a trilogy of away fixtures with a trip north to Barnoldswick Town, a fixture originally scheduled for January 2024 but brought forward due to the unexpected availability of both teams.

For the second Saturday in succession West face an opponent with a formidable home record - Barlick haven't tasted defeat at the Silentnight Stadium since a 2-0 reverse to Bury in April, nine games ago - and are scoring goals in front of their own at a rate of one every 30 minutes, unequalled in the NWCFL Premier Division.

This forgives a penalty shooutout defeat to Billingham Synthonia in the FA Vase 1st Qualifying Round, itself the reason Town are available today which is otherwise the weekend of the 2nd Qualifying Round.

West, of course, are available by virtue of not entering the Vase until the 2nd Round Proper stage on November 11th. 

Barlick are coming into the game having had a week off since last Saturday's 3-2 defeat at Padiham; their midweek trip to Charnock Richard falling to the inclement weather.

West used the survival of their own midweek fixture at Glossop as the catalyst to leap into the playoff places for the first meaningful time this season.

Barlick are enjoying a strong start to the season, losing just once - fewer than any other club so far - and disguised in 11th place at time of press despite sitting 4th on points-per-game.

This is in stark contrast to last season where a run of two wins in the final 18 league fixtures, coupled with the late-season form of FC Isle of Man and Burscough, left Town casting anxious looks over their shoulder. However, their solid early season form and a trio of wins around the turn of the year ultimately provided enough of a buffer and survival was ensured on the penultimate day of the season.

After his brace at Glossop on Tuesday, Lewis Billingsley finds himself West's Capocannoniere with 8 goals from 9 starts, while Barlick's Ben Ashton has provided over 20% of his teams goals, scoring 7 from 14 appearances.

History

Formed in 1972 and named Barnoldswick United (1972), so called due to being canny Yorkshiremen - there had been a previous club named Barnoldswick United with outstanding debts, meaning the new club would have been liable for them but for the subtle nomenclature twist.

The field at Greenberfield Lane started out as a grazing meadow for cattle and, after a lot of hard work, is now the pitch at the Silentnight Stadium. The club had two teams playing in the Craven & District Football League, and in the early 1990s both teams moved to the East Lancashire Football League.

In the late 1990s the two teams moved again, this time to join The West Lancashire Football League, while a new thirds team remained in The East Lancashire League.

Ahead of the 2003/4 season, the amalgamation of Barnoldswick United (1972), Barnoldswick Park Rovers and Salterforth Juniors resulted in the formation of the club that exists today, Barnoldswick Town Football Club.

It had always been in the club's constitution to get the ground up to the minimum standards of the North West Counties Football League and the club was accepted into the First Division, then the second tier, prior to 2009/10.

Immediate promotion to the Premier Division followed and Barlick's position has remained stable since, with a smattering a top 10 finishes amongst other lower to mid table placings.

Form Guide

Barnoldswick Town
Position: 11th
Form position: 6th
Last six overall: LWWWLW
Last six home: WWDWDD

West
Position: 4th
Form position: 10th
Last six overall: WDWLWL
Last six away: WDLWDL

Head to Head

Overall:
P15 W6 D1 L8 F32 A34

At The SilentnightStadium:
P7 W3 D0 L4 F15 A16

Last Meeting

Tuesday November 8th 2022
NWCFL Premier Division
Barnoldswick Town 2 West 1
West scorers: Curtis Miller 56
Attendance: 106

Quick Info

Travelling distance: 46 miles
West away 2023/24 total distance: 189 miles
Pitch: Grass
Last season's position: 19th, NWCFL Premier Division
Last season's average attendance: 184
Home colours: All blue
Change colours: All red

Facilities

Licenced bar with plenty of seating available. Tea bar selling hot and cold food. There is also plenty of covered seating behind the goal as well as covered standing both behind the goal and down the side of the ground.

Directions

By public transport:
Colne is the nearest railway station, just under 6 miles away. 
From the station, take the M5 Mainline bus to Fernlea Avenue and the ground is roughly a half mile from there.

By car:
M65 to end (Colne), straight on at round-a-bout, through two sets of traffic lights to round-a-bout. Turn left to Barnoldswick. On entering Barnoldswick through traffic lights straight on at mini round-a-bout, through built up area. On leaving built up area turn right into Green Berfield Lane (Club signposted). Bear right on track to rear of ground and car park.

From A56 Gisburn turn right signposted Barnoldswick. On entering built up area turn left onto Green Berfield lane, (Club signposted). Bear on track to rear of ground and car park.

The club has a large car park which is free of charge and is situated behind the club room.

Weekend fixtures
Saturday 23rd September 2023
The Isuzu FA Vase 2nd Qualifying Round
Burscough v Athersley Recreation
Chadderton v Charnock Richard
Irlam v Glossop North End
Kendal Town v Newcastle University
Lower Breck v Hallam
Pilkington v Ashton Athletic
Prestwich Heys v Parkgate
Ramsbottom United v Euxton Villa
Redcar Athletic v Padiham
Runcorn Town v Skelmersdale United
Wythenshawe Town v South Liverpool
Premier Division
AFC Liverpool v FC Isle of Man
Barnoldswick Town v West Didsbury & Chorlton
Bury v Colne
Longridge Town v Cheadle Town
Wythenshawe v Squires Gate

Pictures by Chris Michell & Simon Cooke