Some background to our next two matches from Garry Clarke.
Tomorrow, Saturday January 11th , 1874 Northwich visit Brocstedes Park to face Ashton Athletic in a friendly game. Currently 9th in the NWCFL Premier Division , Ashton Athletic have not played since December 21st, their last two scheduled games, home v St Helens Town (Boxing Day) and away v Silsden (last Saturday) both being postponed due to unfit pitches. Their last game ended in a 4-0 defeat at Runcorn Linnets.
Managed by Jay Foulds, Ashton Athletic’s NWCFL record this season is:
| P | W | D | L | GF | GA | PTS |
| 24 | 12 | 3 | 9 | 34 | 29 | 39 |
At home their record reads:
| P | W | D | L | GF | GA | PTS |
| 12 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 19 | 11 | 23 |
The average attendance at Brocstedes Park this season, including two cup ties, is 64. The highest crowd being 139 against Runcorn Linnets and the lowest 39 for the visit of Barnoldswick Town on December 14th which was the last game Athletic won winning 3-0.
Address of ground – Brocstedes Park, Downall Green, Ashton in Makerfield, WN4 0NR.
Next Tuesday – January 14th – 1874 Northwich travel to Kirklands to play Cammell Lairds in the 1st round of the Cheshire Senior Cup. In their away preliminary round tie I this competition Lairds beat Congleton Town 5-4 on penalties – the game having ended 3-3 after extra time with the score after 90 minutes being 2-2. One of Lairds’ penalty scorers was our own Daley Woods, who this season played 17 times for Lairds scoring 4 goals before switching to 1874.
Lairds last five league games have produced a mixed bag of results with wins over Clitheroe (2-1), Northwich Victoria (3-0) followed by a 6-0 defeat at Radcliffe Borough before a 2-1 home win on New Year’s Day over Prescot Cables and last Saturday they lost 2-1 at home to Farsley.
Tomorrow, Saturday, Lairds are scheduled to play away at Kendal Town.
Managed by Tony Sullivan,Lairds record in the Evostik League Division 1 North this season is:
| P | W | D | L | GF | GA | PTS |
| 25 | 9 | 4 | 12 | 41 | 37 | 31 |
Their home record reads:
| P | W | D | L | GF | GA | PTS |
| 13 | 5 | 1 | 7 | 22 | 21 | 16 |
Their average home attendance this season so far is 62. The lowest being 39 against Padiham and the highest 163 against Darlington 1883.
Address of ground – Kirklands, St.Peters Road, Rock Ferry, Birkenhead, C42 1PY.