Rossendale - Marl Pits Leisure Centre

Rossendale FC

Marl Pits Leisure Centre

Newchurch Road

Rawtenstall

Rossendale 

BB4 7SN

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Ground Number: 1582

Monday 31st August 2026

Rossendale 4-0 Milnthorpe Corinthians

West Lancs Premier

ROSSENDALE FC - A BRIEF HISTORY

The original Rossendale FC. Originally known as Myrtle Grove,  existed from 1877 until 1897 and played primarily in the Lancashire League. They also played in some of the early FA Cup competitions. The current club was established in 1937 as Old Rossendalians by former pupils of the Bacup & Rawtenstall Grammar School, becoming members of the Lancashire Amateur League in 1947. They dropped down to the Bacup Amateur League in 1954 due to travelling costs. A couple of years were spent in the Bury Amateur League in 1964, before returning to the Lancashire Amateur League in 1967. They changed their name to Rossendale Amateurs and tasted success with league wins in 1982, 1984 and 2008. They reverted to the Rossendale FC name in 2010 and joined the West Lancashire League in 2019. Starting in Division 2, the first two seasons were disrupted due to Covid before the league title was won in 2022. The following year, they were Division 1 runners-up to Lostock St Gerards and have been in the Premier Division ever since.

The Rossendale Valley is in the Rossendale area of Lancashire, between the West Pennine Moors and the main range of the Pennines. The area includes the steep-sided valleys of the River Irwell and its tributaries (between Rawtenstall and Bacup), which flow southwards into Greater Manchester. The rivers cut through the moorland of the Rossendale Hills, generally characterised by open unwooded land, despite the ancient designation of "forest". The club is based at the Marl Pits Leisure Centre in Rawtenstall, which is 15 miles north of Manchester and has a population of 23,000. Rawtenstall was featured in the documentary series Who Do You Think You Are? which was aired on BBC2 on 2nd February 2006. The subject, actress Jane Horrocks, was born in Rawtenstall in 1964. Former Preston North End player Lee Cartwright is also from the town.

MY VISIT

From our game at Haslingden, it was only a ten-minute drive to Rossendale. PuffPuff was off to Silsden, so I gave Richard a lift as he has helped me loads of times before. The parking was plentiful and well organised. It was £5 to get in. The ground looked bad on the app but in reality the running track was not bad. The club hosted the game well; there was a large bar with a good range of food and drink at fair prices. Service was not too bad, given the volume of orders. The Harissa Chicken wrap with chips was delicious and well worth the £6.50 paid. It was busy outside, and the one-sided nature of the ground meant it was very busy.

 

Rossendale were having a tricky season, sitting second-bottom and with just one win to their name, along with six defeats. Their last game was a 13-1 thumping at home to leaders Blackpool Wren Rovers. Their only win this season came when they beat local rivals Haslingden St Mary's 3-2. Milnthorpe Corinthians were in 8th and had won three, drawn one and lost three so far. In their last game, they'd won 6-0 at basement side CMB. The game kicked off a minute or two early. It was a fairly even game, Rossendale taking the lead on ten minutes through Izaak Wilde with a deflected shot. It was 2-0 on 26 minutes, a low curling shot that the keeper should have done better on, Wilde getting his second. The quality of the game tanked after that and was very wayward. Rossendale were still the better side, hitting the bar in the second half. They got their third on 77 minutes, a low shot by Brandon Halstead from the edge of the area. It was another low shot from the edge of the area on 90 minutes, Lewis Mensah completing a one-sided contest. Rossendale certainly saved their best for the hoppers; it was hard to see how they'd suffered two heavy beatings recently.

It was the final game of what had been an excellent hop, which had allowed fans to visit many clubs in one trip, and the clubs themselves had done very well out of it. There had been the usual great company with one exception. An individual who shall not be named baffled the hoppers with whom I was standing by, accusing me of hacking his phone and booking him a table at a Toby Carvery, amongst other things. All when I've never done anything to him but have been decent mates with another person whom he despises. He was slinging out insults galore to Colin and me, whom he also dislikes for being friends with me. I just want a quiet life, so I tried to avoid him, and I'm glad there is not another hop until March when hopefully things will have blown over. It was a long old journey home, due to problems on the M6, we were sent via Stockport, Buxton, Ashbourne and the M1. After leaving just before 4, I was back at 8.30 after dropping Colin off. I spent the evening typing these blogs and having a couple of drinks. After a decent weekend, it was probably a good thing I only had one bottle of cider in the fridge.

THE GROUND

MARL PITS LEISURE CENTRE is not the greatest of grounds, although the running track does not impede your view as much as you'd imagine - the view is not too bad. It is just one-sided, though, and many choose to stand on the back opposite as it offers an elevated view. Back in the ground, the bar and food were excellent, and it is a decent-sized place. The only merch I saw was old shirts. Parking was plentiful and very well organised. All in all, the club did brilliantly to make the most of what they had, and I enjoyed my visit. 

Haslingden St Marys - St Marys Community Sports Hub

Haslingden St Mary's FC

St Mary's Community Sports Hub

South Shore Street

Haslingden

Lancs

BB4 5DX

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Ground Number: 1581

Monday 31st August 2026

Haslingden St Marys 2-2 Lostock St Gerards

West Lancs Premier

HASLINGDEN ST MARYS FC - A BRIEF HISTORY

The club was established back in 1887 and tasted early success with the Haslingden District Amateur League title. After the First World War, they won the Haslingden Sunday School League in 1920 & 1921. They dominated the Rossendale Sunday School League between 1929 & 1935, creating an unbeatable record in 1933/34 by winning all their league matches. Next up was the Rossendale League, where they won the title in 1940. After the war, Haslingden joined the Blackburn Combination, winning the Division 2 title in 1954. They stayed here for a long time, progressing through the divisions to challenge at the top of the Premier. In 1996, they joined the West Lancashire League, starting in Division 2, which was renamed Division 1 two years later. They tended to struggle, and in 2004, Haslingden finished bottom of the table, going down to Division 2 of the expanded league. However, this was a blessing in disguise as they regrouped and were champions two seasons in a row, getting to the West Lancs Premier in 2006. In their debut season, they were runners-up to Kirkham & Wesham (soon to become AFC Fylde). It was a series of top-half finishes until they were relegated in 2010 after finishing bottom. They were relegated to Division 2 in 2013, taking two years to come back up as champions. The Division 1 title followed in 2017, after which two seasons were spent in the Premier before relegation. In 2024, they were promoted after finishing as runners-up to Eagley and have remained in the Premier Division ever since.

Local cup wins include the Bailey Cup in 1920, the FR Cashell Cup in 1921, the Eddlesden Cup in 1954 and the West Lancs League Richardson Cup in 2008. Haslingden is a town in the borough of Rossendale, Lancashire, England. It lies 16 miles north of Manchester. The town population (including Helmshore) is just under 16,000. The town is surrounded by high moorland: 370 metres to the north; 396 metres at Cribden to the east; and 418 metres at Bull Hill to the south. The name Haslingden means 'valley of the hazels' or 'valley growing with hazels'. Some evidence of Bronze Age human presence exists in the Haslingden area. Thirteen Stones Hill is west of the town and probably dates from about 3000BC. There is now just one stone visible. Haslingden was once connected to Accrington and Bury Bolton Street by railway. The East Lancashire Railway built a station here, which remained open to passengers under British Railways until November 1960 and to goods until November 1964. The Bury–Accrington line itself remained in use until December 1966.

MY BLOG

It was a case of winding down once I'd got my blogs up on Sunday, with me getting into bed around 11. I wasn't tired though and carried on watching YouTube. I must have got to bed around 12.30, waking around 6.45. It was going home day, so I started packing up for the trip home. We left at 8.45, handing the key in and meeting Shaun in reception. It was just under half an hour drive to Heywood, where we parked up in Morrisons and walked a few minutes to the Edwin Waugh Wetherspoons. This is named after the dialect poet Edwin Waugh, described as the ‘Burns of Lancashire’. In 1847, he became assistant secretary to the Lancashire Public Schools Association and moved to Manchester, which he hated. However, his horizons were widened by new acquaintances full of political ideals and wide reading. He earned a living by writing poetry and reciting verses in public. When he died in 1890, he was mourned by thousands as the ‘voice of Lancashire’s homely virtues’.

We met up with Martin in there, who had come up from Peterborough for the day. It was the usual breakfast muffin, black pudding and energy drink for me. It took a while to come, but was tasty as usual. We left at 9.45, going to B&M although they didn't have Colin's yoghurt drink, so he kept us waiting for ten minutes whilst he went in Morrisons. It was then a 20-minute drive to the ground, with us parking up on the nearby industrial estate. It was a hilly but pleasant walk to the ground, where we paid a fiver to get in. I went into the bar and met the Essex hoppers, PuffPuff kindly getting me a shirt as they were only a quid. The mobile signal was rubbish though, and I couldn't check in. The heavens opened too, so I went back to my car to get my umbrella. The rain stopped the moment I had it in my hand, but I took it anyway. At least I was able to use Howden's free wifi to check into the game. I then went back to the ground, arriving five minutes before kickoff.

 

Haslingden St Marys were in 11th place and had won three and lost four. In their last game, they lost 4-2 at Kendal County. Lostock  St Gerards were in 5th. They'd won four, drawn one and lost two so far. Last Saturday, they'd lost 2-1 at home to Poulton. Haslingden took the lead on 13 minutes, a decent shot from the edge of the area which went in off the post. On 20 minutes it was all square, a deflected shot from just inside the area. Lostock took the lead on 24 minutes, a nicely worked move with the striker unselfishly passing the ball to a better placed man. Lostock were the better side, and they hit the bar and post within the space of seconds just after the hour. On 72 minutes, Haslingden forced a great save out of the keeper. On 81 minutes, a great strike from range made it 2-2, and that was how the game ended.

 

THE GROUND 

ST MARY'S COMMUNITY CENTRE is another picturesque ground with a fully railed pitch but no cover. The clubhouse is behind one goal and has a decent range of food and drink. There was also a decent range of merch. There is plenty of parking nearby too.

Turton - Thomason Fold

Turton FC

Thomasson Fold

Turton

Bolton

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West Lancs Page

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Ground Number: 1580

Sunday 30th August 2026

Turton 0-3 Carnforth Rangers

West Lancs D1

TURTON FC - A BRIEF HISTORY

The club was established in 1871 and was one of the leading clubs in Lancashire during their early years. They were one of the clubs who led to the creation of the Lancashire FA in 1878. It is believed that their white shirts and blue shorts inspired Bolton Wanderers in their choice of kit. John Bentley played for the club before helping form Bolton.  Later went on to be president of the Football League, vice-chairman of the Football Association and Manchester United secretary. He maintained his close relationship with Turton FC throughout and was president of the club in the early 20th century. The introduction of professional football saw their influence wane as they chose to remain strictly amateur. Unfortunately, on two separate occasions the club has folded and then been inactive for a lengthy period. Early days were spent in the Lancashire Combination, with them going down from Division 1 in 1904 and then exiting from the league altogether in 1910.

After a long period out of the game, Turton would return to local football and would join the West Lancashire League in 1987. They won the Division 2 title in their first season and were promoted to Division 1. In 1994, they finished as runners-up to Burnley United. By 1999, though, they had been relegated back to Division 2 but came straight back up as runners-up to Burnley Belvedere. In 2002, they were Division 1 runners-up to Milnthorpe Corinthians and won promotion to the Premier Division. Turton were relegated in 2010 and would remain in Division 1 until 2016, when they won the title. Despite a 5th place finish in 2019, they were relegated in 2024 and have been in Division 1 ever since. 

The current home of Turton FC, Thomason Fold, in Edgworth, is about a mile away from the original ground, Tower Street, in Chapeltown. This old ground is still in use, with Lancashire Amateur League team Old Boltonians having been the residents for over 50 years. This ground is possibly the oldest remaining football ground in the world. Turton have played three seasons in the FA Cup, progressing to the 3rd Round twice and facing off against the likes of Sheffield Wednesday and Nottingham Forest. Local cup wins include four Lancashire Junior Cups, two Lancashire Amateur Shields, the West Lancashire League Richardson Cup in 2019 and the West Lancs League Wilf Carr Memorial Trophy in 2020.

MY VISIT

For the last game of the weekend, the main pre-match talk was about the parking due to the entitlement and hostility of the local residents to people parking on a public road near their property. There was a particular territorial old hag at 6 Moorfields. Quotes such as 'Be aware that she may put stickers that are hard to remove if you try to park on her hallowed turf' and 'She's a proper Hyacinth Bucket and it's not just her....other locals come out to back her up'. Also 'If you can, park your coach outside 6 Moorfield to wind her up. We had a stand-off with her before a game a few years ago, and she called the Chairman on speed dial to lay down the law on football fans parking....' and 'Just a heads up for the Turton game in the Hop......the locals have their own gestapo against anyone trying to park around Moorfield Rd area near the ground. They have their own parking cones and leave notes on car...' summed up a pretty deranged bunch of locals. The vast majority of the hoppers didn't want to cause the club any grief, so lots of suggestions had been put out.

 

 

It was a slow getaway from Eagley as around 300 cars tried to leave at the same time. I felt sorry for the ice cream man who must have been expecting a quiet industrial estate but was faced with a torrent of cars. The drive was around 15 minutes; as it happened, parking was not so bad, very easy on the side of the main road. It was just under a mile walk to the ground. The traffic cones were out in force, and I heard reports of the charming lady outside her house in a hi-viz giving evils to any car that slowed down near her property. Entry was £5, and first stop was the food place. The queue was quite long, snaking out of the door and causing difficulty getting out. However, they did very well. I went for a chilli hot dog, cake, cookie, Strongbow and Irn Bru for £9. All of it was first class, especially the chilli. I went and joined the others on the hill overlooking the ground, a great view in every respect.

 

Turton were in 7th place having won four and lost three. Last time out, they won 3-1 at Kendal United. Carnforth Rangers were top of the league and had won five, drawn one and lost one. In their last game, they beat Askam United 3-0. Carnforth took the lead on 8 minutes with a penalty. A long-range strike on 25 minutes made it 2-0 in what was a one-sided first half. It was only the performance of the keeper that kept the score respectable. Another long-range shot made it 3-0 just before half-time. Turton were better in the second half, and they hit the post and had a goal ruled out for offside. Hoppers had lost interest by now, with Colin watching the wrestling on his tablet and PuffPuff was watching the oncoming storm. That storm started shortly after the full-time whistle, and we got a bit wet on the way back to the car. It was a half-hour drive back to the hotel via a Morrisons petrol station so that my passengers could get some snacks. We were back around 7.45, and I finished off my cider whilst getting my blogs up.

THE GROUND

THOMASON FOLD is a very picturesque venue with a large grass hill on one side. The pitch is fully railed, but there is no cover. There was a range of merch but the best thing was the great selection of food and drink, which the club looked to do well from. The only let-down was the parking; there was no car park that I could see, with the ground hidden down a footpath. It's advised to park up on the main road due to the territorial local residents.