Reserves and Youths – all the games

Last updated : 03 July 2002 By Tony Scholes

The reserves have just three pre-season games arranged at Nantwich, Accrington Stanley and Ramsbottom United. The game at Accrington is virtually an annual fixture and the Ramsbottom game is now also becoming a regular event although last season it was postponed after a heavy afternoon downpour – yes rain in Lancashire. Nantwich is a new fixture added to the pre-season and I can't recall us having played there in the past.

The reserve team will again be in the Avon Insurance League Premier Division. We came within one game of winning it last season but had to settle for fifth place in the end. The league has been further reduced this season. Wrexham and Port Vale have been relegated and they are replaced by Bury and Walsall, two sides who play their games in the afternoon. Also gone are Birmingham and West Brom who have moved into the Premiership Reserve League and so we are now down to eleven teams and just twenty games in the season.

It is a far cry from the old Central League where 22 teams took part in a 42 game season. Stan has continually complained about the lack of reserve games although having said that when the chance for extra games has come along via the cup competition we have not entered.

As the reserve league goes down the youth league goes up and this season Stockport County have been added to the teams in the North West's Youth Alliance League, other than that it is the same teams as last season. It is to be hoped that the extra games don't prove too much, last season only three of the nine teams completed their fixtures in this league.

We have finally had confirmation of last season's Merit League Table for the Youth Team, the Football League did and still have it incorrect. This and all the fixtures have been added to our Reserves/Youths section or you can click below

Last season's tables

Reserves – Avon Insurance League
Youths – NW Youth Alliance and Merit League North Division 2

This season's fixtures

Reserves and Youths Pre-Season Fixtures
Reserves – Avon Insurance League Premier Division Fixtures
Youths – NW Youth Alliance Fixtures