ARTICLE: Clarets to take on the Dolly Blues at the Giant Axe

[ClaretTony]

Tomorrow afternoon v Lancaster, a club close to my heart and a club who were in the same league as Morecambe when I was involved.

See link
https://www.uptheclarets.com/clarets-to ... -giant-axe

[JLaw]

I’ll be going to this, looking forward to it, mainly because my son plays for the Dolly’s. He’s a claret himself, having had a ST in the JML with me and my friends for many years as a teenager and into his early 20s, but he had to give it up when he started playing every Saturday afternoon, firstly in the West Lancs with Thornton and now with Lancaster in the NPL

One other claret connection, Jake Connelly will be in the Lancaster squad - he’s the grandson of the one and only John Connelly

[ClaretTony]

I’ll be going to this, looking forward to it, mainly because my son plays for the Dolly’s. He’s a claret himself, having had a ST in the JML with me and my friends for many years as a teenager and into his early 20s, but he had to give it up when he started playing every Saturday afternoon, firstly in the West Lancs with Thornton and now with Lancaster in the NPL

One other claret connection, Jake Connelly will be in the Lancaster squad - he’s the grandson of the one and only John Connelly

I'd know idea Nelly's grandson was at Lancaster - I'm looking forward to it, couldn't get there two years ago and a long time since I was at the Giant Axe.

[Rowls]

How long has Lancaster's ground been known as the Giant Axe? I don't know anything about the club and it's an unusual name. What's the story behind it?

[claretonthecoast1882]

How long has Lancaster's ground been known as the Giant Axe? I don't know anything about the club and it's an unusual name. What's the story behind it?

Might be wrong but something to do with the shape of the ground or something like that not 100%

[Lancasterclaret]

I have no idea

Its been there since I can remember though, used to play kids football on the pitches next to it back in the day, and my kids have both played on those pitches as well

[ClaretTony]

I think it has always been known as the Giant Axe and that's around a century or so now, but I've no idea why it's got that name.

[ClaretTony]

And I've just found this:

Giant Axe has been Lancaster City FC's home ground since the formation of the club in 1911. It was given its name as the original exterior wall, when viewed from above, was the same shape as an axe head. The ground was renovated in the 1970s, with the main stand built in 1977.

[claptrappers_union]

How were you involved with Lancaster Tony?

[claretonthecoast1882]

How were you involved with Lancaster Tony?

Built the original exterior wall

[ClaretTony]

How were you involved with Lancaster Tony?

I was a director of the club and I think we were the only club in the country at the time with a director whose surname was the same as the club. Needless to say he was known as Burt.

It was an eye opener I can tell you, being involved with a club that was seriously struggling financially but incredibly at the time were in the same division as Morecambe.

[clansman]

My last trip there was to see Burnley Reserves v PNE. I think it was in 2000. The reserves had a really good season and I’m sure if they won the match they won the league. However Stan decided to play most of the first team who really couldn’t have cared less and we got stuffed!
Also Stan and his son were being badly harassed by a couple of PNE fans and ended up in a punch up. Being loyal fans me and my mate went to help!!
Martin Eatough who opened the 1b bar in Great Harwood was skipper at the Dolly Blues.

[ClaretTony]

My last trip there was to see Burnley Reserves v PNE. I think it was in 2000. The reserves had a really good season and I’m sure if they won the match they won the league. However Stan decided to play most of the first team who really couldn’t have cared less and we got stuffed!
Also Stan and his son were being badly harassed by a couple of PNE fans and ended up in a punch up. Being loyal fans me and my mate went to help!!
Martin Eatough who opened the 1b bar in Great Harwood was skipper at the Dolly Blues.

It was 2002 but your details are correct. The likes of Davis, Little & Blake all played. The lads who were one game away from winning the league had to sit in the stand and watch.

As for the harassing; they were kids weren’t they?

[sjb]

It was 2002 but your details are correct. The likes of Davis, Little & Blake all played. The lads who were one game away from winning the league had to sit in the stand and watch.

As for the harassing; they were kids weren’t they?

17 April 2002. Our team was; Cennamo, McGregor, Branch, Armstrong, Davis (S), Johnrose, Little, Grant, Taylor, Blake, Maylett. Subs; Rasmussen, Salisbury, Davis (E), O'Neill, Waine.

Robbie Blake played 5 Reserve team games that season - and some names to conjure with who also appeared for us in what was then the Avon Insurance League; Sean Blakey, Jonathan Leary, Rick Titus, George Alexopoulos, Sergio Kandauorov, Victor Torres Mestre & Stephen Richardson.

[clansman]

Ct two 30 year olds started on Stan!
The PNE safety officer had words with me after the match!

[ClaretTony]

Ct two 30 year olds started on Stan!
The PNE safety officer had words with me after the match!

I was told it started with two young kids but I was sat in the stand in the other side although we could see there was a kerfuffle.

We’d beaten Barnsley on the Turf at the beginning of the week when Damien Hindle scored a last minute stunner. That left us needing a win to lift the title.

[sjb]

I was told it started with two young kids but I was sat in the stand in the other side although we could see there was a kerfuffle.

We’d beaten Barnsley on the Turf at the beginning of the week when Damien Hindle scored a last minute stunner. That left us needing a win to lift the title.

Hindle's great strike gave us a 4-3 win that night after Cennamo had saved a Barnsley penalty. That meant we had to win at Lancaster for the title but PNE just needed a draw to win it themselves. Cennamo had to go off at half time and sub keeper Salisbury gifted North End the first goal & was then lobbed from distance for the game to end 2-0 to North End. Our senior players did themselves no favours that night but I have no memory of the incident involving Stan.

[dougcollins]

I always say, if you're gonna have an axe, have a giant one.

[ClaretTony]

I'm ready for my visit and I was reminded yesterday of the occasions when I actually played at the ground and that's a long time ago.

[Lancasterclaret]

Weather forecast is currently windy but warm

[ClaretTony]

Weather forecast is currently windy but warm

Rain from 11 although there isn't so far to walk from the station.

I've given up with forecasts though after yesterday. I had a 1.5 mile walk to the station here and then similar at the Preston end, the same coming home although I got the bus back in Burnley. Coat went on because I knew it was going to rain but there wasn't a single drop of the stuff.

Really looking forward to today - so long since I was there.

[Lancasterclaret]

Won't be there so look forward to the score updates

[TheFamilyCat]

17 April 2002. Our team was; Cennamo, McGregor, Branch, Armstrong, Davis (S), Johnrose, Little, Grant, Taylor, Blake, Maylett. Subs; Rasmussen, Salisbury, Davis (E), O'Neill, Waine.

Robbie Blake played 5 Reserve team games that season - and some names to conjure with who also appeared for us in what was then the Avon Insurance League; Sean Blakey, Jonathan Leary, Rick Titus, George Alexopoulos, Sergio Kandauorov, Victor Torres Mestre & Stephen Richardson.

Rick Titus sounds like something I'd go and see the doctor about.

[jtv]

And Victor Torres Mestre started his career at Real Madrid. In 2002 he was 32. According to wiki he was at Varzim in 2001 but then disappeared for 3 years and resurfaced in 2004 at Sporting Mahones. How many times did he play for Burnley reserves?

[sjb]

Rick Titus sounds like something I'd go and see the doctor about.

He was a Canadian born centre half who was also a Trinidad international. Played all his career in Canada & the USA. How he ended up playing 1 Reserve game for Burnley I have no idea!

[sjb]

And Victor Torres Mestre started his career at Real Madrid. In 2002 he was 32. According to wiki he was at Varzim in 2001 but then disappeared for 3 years and resurfaced in 2004 at Sporting Mahones. How many times did he play for Burnley reserves?

Just once - played left back at home to West Brom in March 2002.

[randomclaret2]

For all the stuff about us never exploring foreign markets, we had players in from all over the place during Stan's and Steve Cotterill's time. Few were signed or stayed long but we were certainly looking far and wide...

[sjb]

For all the stuff about us never exploring foreign markets, we had players in from all over the place during Stan's and Steve Cotterill's time. Few were signed or stayed long but we were certainly looking far and wide...

You're quite correct- there is a very long list of players who appeared for the Reserves on just 1 or 2 occasions and were never heard of again, many of them foreign footballers.

[Lancasterclaret]

Weather update - chucking it down up the valley so its probably heading your way

[Exsus]

Lost 3 nil Dolly Blues looked good.