West travel to Merseyside for our first away trip of 2023 as we face AFC Liverpool in the NWCFL.

Key details

� Saturday 7th January, 3pm
� NWCFL Premier League
� The Marine Travel Arena, College Road, Crosby, Liverpool (L23 3AS)
� £6 adults / £3 concessions
� Parking is available on the streets around the ground, some of which is Pay and Display.
� Due to industrial action, it is likely that there will be a very limited service on these days with no trains at all on some routes.
� The ground has a tea bar which serves hot pies and burgers as well as the usual range of hot drinks. The bar in the Graham Lounge is also open on matchdays

Preview

Despite late disappointment at home to Charnock Richard on Boxing Day, the draw stretched West’s unbeaten run to 8 matches. Games in hand and a 6 point gap to the team below, mean we are still looking up rather than down, but the team will know know that they’ll need to perform well to return from Liverpool with our unbeaten run still intact. AFC Liverpool sit 5 places above us in 4th place having played 2 matches more. It’s been a season to celebrate so far for AFC having already won more matches than they achieved last season and on current form they look like making a big improvement on last season’s 14th place finish. Monday’s loss away at Barnoldswick was their first defeat in 6.

West go into the match in good form but without playing an away league match since early November. Fortunately, however,FA Vase successes away from home in Bacup and then Whitely Bay will still be fresh in the players’ minds. Chris Rowley will be hoping to have Darren McKnight back in contention after missing the Boxing Day fixture and will also be hoping that Rhain Davis and Connor Hancock overcome injuries in time to make the squad. Sadly, James Hooper’s goalscoring performance against Charnock Richard will be his last for the club as he takes up a footballing opportunity in Australia. We wish him the best of luck for this exciting opportunity.

Both teams will be looking to start 2023 on a high and we hope to see as many of you there as possible.

Come on West!