CMB - CMB Sports Ground

Chew Moor Bridge FC

CMB Sports Ground

8 New Tempest Road

Bolton

Greater Manchester

BL6 4ER

Official Website

Twitter

Ground Number: 1466
Monday 25th August 2025
CMB 1-3 Eagley
West Lancashire Premier

CMB FC - A BRIEF HISTORY

CMB Football Club was founded in 1970 as a works team of the Cunnard Metal Box factory, a company that produced cans and tins for the food and drink industry. Cricket was also played, but the closure of the factory led the adult team to go into abeyance; however, the club continued as a youth team. They competed in various local leagues under the name CMB Nomads when sporadically reestablishing their adult team, moving to their current ground in 2000. The open-age team was reinstated full-time in 2007, with the club rebranding itself as Chew Moor Bridge, representing the village where they play. The new CMB began life in the Lancashire Amateur League, gaining promotion from Division 2 in their first season. They followed with a second consecutive promotion to the Premier Division the next year, remaining there for the following three seasons before transferring to the West Lancashire League in 2012. They spent four seasons in Division 2 before winning the title in 2016. In 2019, they were promoted to the Premier Division as runners-up behind Lytham Town. They have remained there ever since, finishing as runners-up in their last three seasons.

Chew Moor is a village situated between Lostock and Westhoughton in Lancashire. The population is around 850. It was home to one of the UK's shortest-lived train stations. The station was opened in 1848 by the Liverpool and Bury Railway. In August 1852, the company opened Lostock Junction station less than a mile to the north, which rendered Chew Moor station redundant. Chew Moor station was located immediately north of what is now the M61 overbridge across the line. By 2016, no trace of the station could be seen. The double tracks through the site were still in use as part of the Manchester to Southport Line and were planned to be electrified. The village also has a history in silk making, with up to 100 workers operating at its peak.

MY VISIT 

From the game at Burscough Richmond, it was a 35-minute drive to our Mercure Hotel in Blackrod, Bolton, which was actually nearer Wigan in public transport terms. We could see the Bolton Toughsheet Stadium en route, though. There was just enough time to dump our bags and head to the bus stop. The 575 to Wigan was ten minutes later, but it was an economical way of getting around, free for Colin. I was looking forward to relaxing, and with that in mind, I decided to stay local next Saturday and not have a weekend in Lowestoft or Bradford as previously envisaged. There were a couple of Spoons to tick. Firstly, the Moon Under Water, where I had a Shawarma wrap, chips and a bottle of Aspalls for £9. Then a 20-minute walk to the Brocket Arms, where I had a Stowford Press and Old Rosie, as we had time to kill due to the hourly bus service. It was as ever, good value and relaxing.

The good people of Wigan were in party mood and looking to make the most of the Bank Holiday Weekend. Colin, meanwhile, just wanted his bed. The bus, as ever, was a few minutes late, but at least it turned up and was quite busy. I then spent an hour or so getting my first two blogs up and having a drink. I awoke at 6.30 and got the third blog from yesterday up whilst watching Corrie. There was still time to relax and make some future plans, as well as having a shower before leaving at 9.20. It was around a ten-minute drive to Wetherspoons in Westhoughton, a revisit for me but a new one for Colin. Having only visited on public transport before, parking was a bit of a pain and I ended up dumping the car eight minutes away. We met Richard, Daniel and Andrew there and it was my usual breakfast muffin and energy drink. From there, it was a five-minute drive to the ground where we would park for the day. It was well organised and plentiful. The place was busy and buzzing. The clubhouse was packed but doing a roaring trade. I treated myself to a nice chocolate fudge cake dessert for £1.50 before going outside, where it was calmer.

 

CMB sat 11th in the table, having won one, drawn three and lost two games so far. Their last game saw them draw 2-2 at Burscough Richmond. Eagley sat top of the table, having won four and drawn two of their six games. They'd drawn their last two, including a 2-2 at Hurst Green on Tuesday. The hosts were ahead in the opening minute, a good through ball found Winstanley, who finished well with a low shot. Eagley scored with their first attack too, a goalmouth scramble led to a penalty that was dispatched with ease by Stafford. The game died down as it went on as both teams were more cautious. CMB were the better side, though. Around the hour, they blasted over when it looked easier to score and then had a well-worked goal disallowed for offside. The game had a sting in the tail as Eagley snatched a late winner with a decent strike by Stafford for his brace. They even grabbed a third as the CMB keeper came upfield to try and assist his side, but got caught out of position, and Waterhouse was the benefactor.

 

THE GROUND

CMB SPORTS GROUND is a spacious setup. There is a decent-sized clubhouse which has a can bar and various food options. There was no mech that I could see. Car parking was plentiful. The ground itself had a wooden rail and has an unusual shape as well as a footpath. A covered standing area and open seating area were provided, and overall it was one of the more interesting grounds of the hop.