Skelmersdale United FC

the club was founded, in 1882, their early successes were as members of the Liverpool County Combination, which they competed in until 1955, during which time hey were Champions on 10 occasions, Liverpool County FA Challenge Cup Winners on 8 occasions and George Mahan Cup Winners 5 times. For the majority of their first seventy years the club played at Sandy Lane that is now the site of an office block. The Sandy Lane ground had a deceiving slope and was one of the biggest playing areas in non-league football.

For the 1955-56 season the club moved into the 2nd Division of the Lancashire Combination, and in their 1st season they lifted the Championship. Spectators from those days will remember goalkeeper Don Tucker, defenders, Wilf London, Joe Simpkin and forwards, Billy Pilson, Charlie Whiteside and Ernie Corfield. Another player around that time was Wesley Bridge who later had a major influence on the successes between 1967 & 1971.

In the modern era of non-league football, the playing side is controlled by a Manager, supported by Assistants and Coaches, which mirrors the management structure of league clubs. However, up to the early 1960’s Skelmersdale United, like many other non-league clubs, did not have a Manager with a Management Committee selecting the side and being responsible for the signing of players. With regard to Skelmersdale United the normal course of events would be for the Management Committee to meet on a Monday evening and select the team for the following Saturday. The team sheet would be displayed in the local shop window – how times have changed.

Reference has been made to Wesley Bridge, a prolific centre forward who finished his career at Skelmersdale United after sustaining a broken leg. In August 1961, Wesley was made Secretary/Manager of United, which was three years after the move to Whitemoss Park. Wesley had many contacts in the game, and set about restructuring the club from a playing perspective. In 1964-65 he persuaded the Management Committee to field a team of amateur players which, of course meant that the club could enter the Amateur FA Cup. What happened after that is of course is remembered by Skelmersdale fans with a great deal of pride and some pleasant reminiscences.

Following the highly successful Amateur Cup era the club decided to progress into the professional ranks and moved into the Northern Premier League for the 1971-72 season. The move to the Northern Premier was a major step for the club, with a significant increase in both players’ wages and travel costs. Whilst the first three years in the Northern Premier were reasonable, the club found the overheads increasingly difficult to sustain and a decision was taken to return to the Lancashire Combination for the 1976-77 season.

The club remained in the Lancashire Combination until 1982, when the league amalgamated with the Cheshire League to form the North West Counties League. Skelmersdale United were placed into Division Two of the NWCL and reached the inaugural League Challenge Cup Final, losing in a replay to Darwen. In 1987 the NWCL was restructured as many sides left the league to join the Northern Premier. This saw the club promoted to the NWCL First Division. However, United had mixed fortunes in the 1st Division and following three seasons of just avoiding relegation to the 2nd Division in the early 90’s, the inevitable happened at the end of the 1995-96 season.

At the close of the 1996-96 season the club restructured, with a new Management Committee and the astute appointment of the vastly experienced Russ Perkins as Manager. Russ quickly assembled a squad of players who regained United its 1st Division status at the end of his first season. Further progress was made on and off the field, with improvements being made to Whitemoss Park, including new changing rooms. On the playing side United went from strength to strength, finishing regularly in the top half of the table and winning the League Challenge Trophy in May 2000, which was their first major trophy since lifting the Amateur FA Cup & the Anglo Italian Cup in 1971.

Russ Perkins was replaced as Manager by his then assistant Paul Gallagher towards the end of the 2001-02 season, and the following season United established their highest ever finish in the League when they came 5th.

A major development announced in October 2002 was the club’s decision to pursue relocation to a new stadium on the Stanley Industrial Estate which is approximately 1.5 miles from Whitemoss Park. United is currently ground sharing with local rivals Burscough until their new stadium is completed hopefully in time for the 2004-05 season. The new ground will be known as the Westgate Interactive Stadium, the club’s new main sponsors.

During the 2002-03 season there have been several notable achievements worthy of note; these include:
Captain & Striker Stuart Rudd scored 46 goals to take the League’s golden boot…and was handsomely rewarded with a new 3-year contract.
Goalkeeper Robbie Holcroft completed 333 consecutive appearances for the club.
Full back and longest serving player John Brownrigg notched up 277 appearances.
Fullback Ian Price took his tally of appearances for the club up to 194.
The 1st Team finished 5th, their highest ever finish in the NWCFL Div One.
The Reserves finished 2nd in the NWC Reserve Division, they also lifted the League Cup.
The newly established Youth Team finished 4th in the Lancashire Evening Post Youth Division.
United announced its intention to link up with the Junior League’s culminating in the development of a Junior Boys & Girls section.

In a difficult season at Victoria Park, United lose their opening 5 league games yet still manage to finish the season in 8th place with only three defeats in their last 18 games, and Stuart Rudd bags 39 goals, despite carrying several injuries throughout the campaign.

An new era begins at the 'Westgate Interactive Stadium' but not before a hiccup as their opening game is put on hold until Tuesday 21st September 2004 due to technical hitches with the new stadium. One of the problems being the pitch that would eventually be the cause of greater problems as the season unfolded. Nevertheless their opening game against Nantwich Town is worth waiting for as they romp to a 4-0 win in front of 347 expectant supporters!

United's good form continued in both Cup and League action, and it's only after neighbours Burscough spoil a 12 match unbeaten run in front of 1,002 people in the 2nd Qualifying Round of the FA Cup, that their pitch problems become more magnified. Postponements & Cup success compound their problems even further and eventually they switch their FA Vase 4th Round Tie back to Burscough, and as a result they bow out of the competition with a 2-0 defeat to Frome Town.

Miraculously they some how manage to continue playing at 'Westgate' until mid April, largely down to the sterling work of Groundsman Peter McGee, but in the end they are forced to play their remaining 4 fixtures at Burcough & Formby.

The season albeit a difficult one in terms of logistics; proves to be a fruitful one, having reached the semi-final of the Marsden Trophy before bowing out once again to rivals Burscough. They also get to the final of the NWC League Challenge Trophy Final at Gigg Lane. Sadly the heavy toll of games, (playing as many as 4 games a week) eventually saps them of strength, as Cammell Laird's beat them 2-0.

United still manage to finish in a lofty 6th place despite all the adversity, and once again Manager, Paul Gallagher & his Assistant Mick Buoey continue to turn out a team with an excellent blend of talent despite their youth.

Before the final whistle was blown on the 2004/05 season, work commenced on the ground to rectify the pitch problems. The old turf was dug up to be replaced with seed, following on from remedial work on the old drainage, and the prospects for the 2005/06 season look to be extremely positive.