Avro FC

The Vestacare Stadium, home of Avro FC based in Oldham, Greater Manchester and play their trade in Step 5 of the Non League Pyramid in the North West Counties Premier Division.

It’s Wednesday night… Well evening although it looks like night again after the clocks have gone back. I’m on the 92 trail once again and this time it’s Huddersfield Town vs Sunderland at one of the Mike Bayly 100! Work is done for the day and it’s time to head over to Huddersfield.

The short journey across the A637, onto the A642 and into Turnbridge WMC. £4 for parking and now for the walk to the ground. A right turn and we are nearly there!

Plenty of Sunderland fans here already, this should be a cracking atmosphere tonight!! Over to the ticket office, let’s go! Me: “One for tonight please” Ticket office: “Is this the first time you’ve bought a ticket?” Me: “Yes” Ticket office: “Unfortunately we can’t sell you one tonight…” Me: “How come?” Ticket office: “Sunderland have sold out and we’re trying to stop them coming into the home end.”

Well……. So now what…? Understandable to not want any trouble in the home end tonight in all fairness but that really is a kick in the nuts… 6:30pm is there still time? Futbology do we have a plan B? Avro FC vs Litherland REMYCA. A 45 minute drive from here with Avro being a 7:45pm kick off. Let’s roll!

A race back to my car and I am back on the road. Across the M62 in the pouring rain at night is never fun… But here we are in Oldham with about 20 minutes till kick off. £7 to get in here! Phew! I will not be beaten! Imagine if it finished 0-0 now eh?

This place has featured on the Twitter page “Footy Scran” in the past so this could be tasty! Macies at Avro is the place to be… And it’s cash only… The cash I used to get in is all gone… It’s time for: “Operation Cashback!” Into the top bar and… No… But what about the bottom bar…? Yes! Into the queue, time is ticking for kick off as the players are lined up in the tunnel. £10 for an Ultimate Burger and salt & pepper fries… Will it be worth it?

Kick Off… OH MY WORD! That is sensational!! I’m on about the food by the way what a burger that is! 265 grounds up and this is the best food I’ve ever tasted at a football ground hopefully so far! As for the football… I really don’t like that rain… Not the day to be a Goalkeeper!

13 minutes in and Litherland come forward, it’s played to nathan Salisbury on the edge of the box, he gets it onto his left foot and shoots… Straight at the keeper!

24 minutes now and Avro come forward, Jake Cottrell has it on the left and he plays it into the middle, where is that going…? He’s hit the post! So close! Litherland get it away.

3 minutes later and Avro’s Jack Worrall drives forward on the right, he goes for goal from around 25 yards out… Good save! Tipped over for a corner, in it comes… It comes to Rathbone… Off the line! The rebound… Over! Good chance that!

34 minutes now and it’s a corner for Litherland, in it comes… Avro head it away but Litherland win it and play it to Jamie Hay just outside the box to shoot… Just wide! Avro’s keeper is not happy with the space given to shoot there…

41 minutes on the clock and Litherland have a throw in on the right on the halfway line, it’s played in and Litherland win it and it’s played to William Dunne who shoots from 25 yards… Keeper gets down and saves! A not so good first half ends 0-0.

Second half, 50 minutes now and Litherland have a throw in on the right, it’s played to Nathan Salisbury who gets it into the box, Nathan Corness goes for it, he goes down… No Penalty! You see them given! William Dunne has it on the by line… But Avro clear the danger, Litherland are furious! I would have been tempted to give that Penalty personally.

65th minute and as the game goes on, it’s looking more and more likely that it will finish 0-0… But it’s a corner for Avro, the players have packed the goal line, in it comes… All the way in… OH! The keeper parries it wide for another, in it comes again… Off the bar and out for a goal kick. So close!

76th minute now and it’s a throw in on the left for Avro, it’s headed back to Wallwork who gets into the box from the left, he shoots… Blocked but he’ll get it again… Good save! Tipped wide. Corner, in it comes again… Keeper drops it… But gets it back and holds… Close!

80th minute and Avro come forward down the left, Litherland get a tackle in but it comes to Jake Cottrell, he’s 25 yards out and he’ll shoot… OHHHHH YES!!! He’s found the bottom corner!!! Look what it means for him and the fans behind the goal!! 1-0! Fantastic!

85th minute and Litherland lump it forward, it comes for Johnny Foy who shoots from 25 yards… Wide! The fireworks are going off around the area now, do they know Avro have scored?

88th minute and Litherland are pressing! They have a corner,in it comes… Headed off the post… They get it back and it’s played in again… Headed away, the volley… Well over!

Into stoppage time now and it’s a free kick on halfway for Litherland, it’s lumped into the box, it’s headed down but comes to Jamie Clark in the box on the left to shoot… Deflected… OH! Just wide! It’s a corner, it’s whipped in… Headed away… A foul on the Avro man outside the box… And the Referee blows for full time! “Come on the Ro!”

FT: Avro 1-0 Litherland REMYCA

Ratings

• Atmosphere: 3/10 – A bit of noise at the end especially but a good community spirit here at Avro.
• The Ground: 6.5/10 – It’s got some good facilities! I like the stand and the view it brings. One half of the ground is really good but the other half is empty, would love to see something put in on the far side but still a great ground for me.
• Expense: 6/10 – £7 to get in, £3.50 for a pin badge, £40 on fuel, £10 for food. Was it worth it? Not quite, the football was not the best tonight sadly…
• Overall Experience: 8/10 – Not the best of games but really enjoyed my time at Avro! The ladies behind both bars were really friendly and helpful but Macies at Avro made my night with that food!! Groundhoppers assemble and give that food a try!!

23.5/40