Sandbach Is More Than Just a Service Station

For any who travel the tarmac ribbon of hell that is the M6 then all you probably know about Sandbach is the Services and little else,that was me until yesterday when I paid a visit to Sandbach United FC at the invitation of their club photographer Kevin Warburton,it turned out to be a very pleasant experience unlike the motorway and Services on the way up



United are like my own club AFC Wulfrunians a fairly young club having formed in 2004 when Sandbach Albion and Sandbach Ramblers joined forces,starting in the Staffs County League they moved into the Cheshire League in 2011 and gained promotion to the North West Counties League at the end of last season,the current ground was built in 2011 and floodlights installed within the last few weeks.


This is obviously not a ground for the aficionados of historic grounds with character but is made up for by the pleasant facilities and very friendly locals

The above shelter drew the ribald attention of the visiting Atherton Collieries fans with a chorus of "My garden sheds bigger than your stand"


The match itself was a challenge for the home side as the visitors are the reigning cup holders and well placed a division above in the North West Counties League, after an even start Atherton took the lead with a well worked goal that left the Sandbach keeper Ryan Moss flat footed

Sandbach however fought back well to equalise before half time when a penalty area melee was calmly finished by Danny Bartle

The second half was well contested but Atherton just had the edge and although Sandbach hit the bar the clinical finishing of the visitors was the ultimate difference

Sandbach fought hard to the end but were always in danger as Atherton looked dangerous on the break and Moss had to be alert to prevent the home team falling further behind

Slightly away from the action it was good to meet up with Groundhopper Alex Latham who is fairly local at me ,at well over 6 foot and in a yellow jacket you cant miss him and at one point we were buzzed by a low flying aircraft

So an excellent day out and commiserations to Sandbach but on the evidence of what I saw I;m sure they will have an excellent season,oh and the dreaded M6 was better on the way home