LITHERLAND IN LA-LA LAND

Penistone Church are stepping into history as they make further progress in the increasingly exciting FA Cup competition. They have played in the Emirates FA Cup before but they won their first ever "tie" against Charnock Richard from Chorley, Lancashire, 4-3 in the Qualifying round.

Today the club prepared itself for the visit of Litherland REMYCA from Seaforth in Merseyside. Both these clubs made their DEBUT in the Cup this year. Both clubs have now been beaten by Penistone Church.

REMYCA club only formed in 1959 as St Thomas FC, playing in the Church of England League (no Sunday fixtures I guess?) The name derives from the joining of the REM Social Club (don't know what REM stands for) and the Bootle YMCA (do know this!) in 1967. The club moved its way through the I Zingari (wanderers??) Alliance and as they demanded Premier League status they had to upgrade their facilities, which they did, ending up at the Litherland Sports Park, a community facility in Merseyside, This set up was sufficient to satisfy the North West Counties League, Step 6 on the pyramid. So up they went.

Penistone Church FC, as a Step 5 club in the North-East Counties Premier, we all know, has a very tidy facility at the Memorial Ground and today's match was played on a breezy afternoon and PCFC deserved their 2-0 win with a goal in each half. They move on to the draw which they will wait in anticipation. Each round means more money and more satisfaction for the club's many helpers, coaches, players and of course their crowd!

I met a "groundhopper" from Aylesbury this afternoon and stood next to a local architect who knew another architect, a friend of mine (who has done work for me) whose practice is in Sheffield. I taught his children, too. Cost £3 conc ession for an old man and £1.50 for a programme. Worth every penny.

So far, Penistone's 1st XI have earned £1500 and £1925 competition fees from their two victories as well as gate receipts and bar takings, food, (raffle, time of goal etc etc). 737 clubs started the competition. The next round is September 2nd when the First Qualifying Round takes place with 116 clubs surviving the early rounds, INCLUDING PCFC.