Sunday 1st October 2023
Second Qualifying Round
Marine vs Wigan Athletic
Another intriguing feature about the beach is the one hundred naked men standing in the sand – no, this isn’t a bizarre dream I had after eating too many jelly sweets last night, it’s an art installation. ‘Another Place’ is a sculpture piece by Antony Gormley, consisting of 100 cast iron figures that look towards the sea. Modelled on his own naked body, they proved somewhat controversial since their initial unveiling as a temporary exhibition in 2005, but have since been made a permanent fixture here, apparently helping to increase tourism.
Gormley says that Another Place ‘harnesses the ebb and flow of the tide to explore man’s relationship with nature’ – and the seaside is the perfect place to do this. The point is that the tide and everything it brings can’t be altered by humans, so whatever these iron men experience will be a true reflection of nature. Indeed, biologists from the University of Liverpool studied the colonisation of the figures by intertidal organisms – barnacles and such – showing that, in true Jurassic Park fashion, life will indeed find a way. I’ve wanted to see these figures for a while but unfortunately, the tide today is swallowing up most of them, with just a small amount of beach walkable. You still can easily see them from afar though – just stood there, standing still and pondering life, surrounded by the sea. Reminds me of a few defensive lines I’ve seen on the football pitch over the years.
Located a 15-minute walk away from the beach, Rossett Park (today known as ‘The Marine Travel Arena’ for sponsorship reasons), is home to both the men’s and women’s sides – the men playing in the Northern Premier League (seventh tier) while the women play in the Liverpool Women’s & Youth League (also seventh tier). The club was formed in 1894 by a group of local businessmen and former college students – the name coming from the place where the initial meeting to create the club took place, The Marine Hotel.
Notable in recent years for playing host to a COVID-era FA Cup tie against Tottenham Hotspur, one of the more interesting fixtures at Rossett Park saw the Nigeran national team play Marine on their first-ever international tour in 1949 – as many as 6,000 are believed to have packed the ground to see the match. Despite all but one of the team playing barefoot, Nigeria won 5-2 – Len Carney, the Marine captain, later remarking that ‘their feet were harder than our boots!’ I watched the newsreel footage (no pun intended) of the match on YouTube for myself – it’s quite interesting to watch the silky skills of the Nigerians impressing the big crowd. After the final whistle, spectators flooded the pitch and carried them shoulder-high to the dressing room, with the club donating the gate receipts of £200 (£5,800 in 2023) to the Nigeran Football Association as a way of appreciation.
After a brisk walk from the beachfront to the ground, my eyes are attracted to the smart social club (sorry, bistro) that’s located within the compound that comprises the ground and car park. Named 1894 (when the club was formed, of course), the bistro is the legacy of that Spurs FA Cup tie 2 years ago – a fixture that sold the most tickets in the club’s history, with nobody actually attending. With crowds still prohibited from attending games due to COVID restrictions, Marine hit upon the idea of selling ‘virtual tickets’ for the televised game. Ostensibly a donation to the club, locals, Spurs supporters and football fans across the world snapped up 30,000 of these virtual tickets – 1000% more than the capacity of the ground! Although Spurs would run out 5-0 winners, Marine did themselves great credit on the night, as well as raising some actual credit – the bank they made from the virtual tickets and the BBC providing some much-needed funds to turn the old social club into the bistro, as well as make some improvements to the ground.
The investment certainly looks like a wise one to me, as I enter and have a nosey around the stylish eatery – it balances the need to be a bar (for your match attendees) and an upmarket restaurant (for locals). The importance of venues like this can’t be underestimated for football clubs, especially ones at the level that Marine are at – as an income stream and event space for the club and a gathering space for the community that surrounds it. Instead of spending that windfall on some short-sighted effort to go up the leagues, they’ve invested in the long term instead. People will be attracted to this place, coming here for a bite to eat with family, friends, colleagues – perhaps they’ll even grow an affection for the club, even attend a game from time to time or put a kid through one of the youth teams? Despite the vibrancy of the place suggesting I should drink something more sophisticated, I decide to get a pint of lager and drink it on one of the tables outside, watching people going into the ground. I’ll tell you what, though – if you’re a young Crosby person reading this, you could do worse than take a date (or your mum) to this place for a meal. Trust me, I know what I’m talking about when it comes to impressing with a menu that is essentially a poncy burger and chips.
After supping up my reasonably-priced bistro lager, I make my way to the turnstile on which I pay my first entry fee of the FA Cup run - £3 which includes a four-page programme (a piece of folded A4 paper, basically). ‘You can read that when you get bored’, the gateman guffaws at me. If I’ve learned anything from watching women’s football in the last few years, it’s anything but boring! The interior of Rossett Park is nice and clean, although smaller than I expected – the ground is very tight, and houses are packed in on both sides. There’s one small, seated stand behind one of the goals with the rest (aside from the side I’m stood on, which is roofed) being uncovered.
One of the other major investments of that FA Cup money was the pitch – last summer saw the installation of a ‘FIFA-Quality Pro 3G pitch’ at Rossett Park. I must admit that I’m not a huge fan of artificial surfaces because regardless of what proponents say, the bounce of the ball is different to grass and sliding on it can lead to increased frictions and abrasions. The consistency that the pitch offers only works to give the home side even more of an advantage too, as not all 3G pitches are the same. And then there are those annoying ‘black bits’ that get everywhere too – I’m still finding some in my gym bag despite not having played football for nearly a decade! However, all that being said, I fully understand the need for any semi-pro/community-based club to get one – not only do they virtually eliminate the chances of waterlogged pitches (which cause schedules to become congested and not to mention, costs to rise), they can also be hired out for use too. This creates an additional income stream for the club and provides a sporting facility that all the community can use – I suppose it’s simply a case of what you have available. Some clubs have a ground and additional land around it to develop in support of the community, some don’t – so I can’t say it’s wrong for them to have a 3G home pitch either way.
My programme lists the Marine squad and has a short bit about today’s game – also mentioning that the team was formed as recently as 2020. Further investigation later tells me that they effectively replaced Crosby Ladies (who were the senior team of Crosby Stuart FC) and took on many of their players while providing a pathway for Crosby Stuart youngsters to progress into the team when they reach the age of 16. The connection between the two clubs is certainly an interesting one – Marine get a women’s first team at very little cost, while Crosby Stuart maintain their youth sides while now being able to offer their players an opportunity to play senior football at a facility as good as Marine’s once they’re old enough. The hope being that young players will stay in the game long enough to progress through and once they’re there, who knows the levels they can reach? It’s easy to forget, what with the rapid growth of the women’s game in recent years, that there is still very little (if any) money in the lower leagues for existing men’s clubs to create and maintain a women’s club too – this community-driven initiative between the two local clubs offers a great solution.
The two teams enter the field to a scattering of applause from the 100-or-so spectators in attendance – there’s probably more than that here, as I’m assuming the mascots and some of the parents probably didn’t come through the turnstile! Most of them are sat in the stand, while I take my place under the covered terrace alongside the Wigan parents. And barely a minute has gone when they’re cheering as Wigan take the lead! From what seemed like a non-threatening throw-in near half-way, the ball is headed on and bounces; a Wigan attacker picks the ball up and runs towards the penalty area before placing her shot past the goalkeeper and into the corner. What a start! Then just a few minutes later, it gets even better for the visitors – some neat build-up play gives a forward an opportunity to run towards the penalty area, she takes a step-over and another placed shot finds its way into the same corner. Absolutely quality play – this isn’t them taking advantage of slip-ups in defence or just hitting and hoping their shots go in, they’re passing the ball short, creating space and placing their shots. It’s great to watch! I’ve got a feeling that this could be a long game for Marine – their coach shouts that they ‘need to do better'. Sage advice there. In fairness, there’s nothing much they could do, Wigan have been too good from the first whistle.
Marine, wearing a strip of white with black shorts, do look spritely on the break whenever they’re able to get the ball. One such counter sees them win a free-kick just outside the Wigan penalty area, but the resulting shot is hit straight at the Wigan goalkeeper, who catches it. The warning signs are definitely there – and the sign of a good team is when they heed such signals and ramp up the intensity of their play, which Wigan do. More neat, short passing allows a Wigan attacker to be slipped through; she rounds the goalkeeper before laying the ball off to a teammate at the far post who smashes home.
It remains three-nil to Wigan at half-time, who continue to dominate without adding to their lead. They’ve been a bit wasteful on several occasions – a one-on-one being hit straight at the keeper, as well as being caught offside a few times when they really shouldn’t have. Marine do look half-decent, but there’s nothing much they can do to stem the tide of attacks but wait and hope to hit Wigan on the break. It’s a question of whether Wigan can keep their intensity up – a single goal could conceivably get Marine back in this tie, so I’m not putting them out just yet.
I decide to sit in the stand at half-time – and make an immediate decision to go back to where I was for the second half! There’s netting in front of us, restricting the view which I find distracting. There’s netting like this at the other side of the pitch, understandable as it’s there to prevent balls from smashing the back windows of the houses behind (one ball even slipped through the netting earlier, funnily enough!) It seems somewhat unnecessary behind this goal, however – people are sitting here watching the game, so they’ll be prepared for flying balls!
I've always enjoyed looking at advertising boards at grounds – especially at lower league and non-league grounds where you have adverts for local companies and their ‘unique’ services. It continues that community aspect of non-league football – people who attend this ground are already supporting an asset to the local community, so they’re more likely to connect with a local business or service too. Free marketing tip for you businesspeople out there – sponsor your local football club! However, at this ground, my favourite one isn't a local company but an advert for the computer game – Lawn Mowing Simulator. The irony of it makes me laugh, considering the pitch here is a 3G! But hey, the advert has worked as I make a note to check it out on Steam when I get home. The wonders of non-league advertising.
The second half kicks off and is only two minutes old when we get a goal – and it goes to Marine! Told you this wasn’t over! A long ball is played upfield and a Marine attacker takes control, finds space to turn before chipping the goalkeeper from the edge of the area. Despite her getting fingertips to the ball, it still had enough on it to drop into the corner. Marine are buoyed by the early goal and use it as an opportunity to commandeer the ball – they win a free-kick close to the area a few minutes later, the resulting shot of which is palmed onto her bar by the keeper, the ball bounces to a Marine player who can’t quite turn it in and is eventually blocked for a corner. They continue to pile on the pressure, probing around the visitors’ penalty area – but Wigan deal with it and end up creating the clinching goal. Marine have it close to the area, but they can’t find a way through – a pass is blocked and bounces to a Wigan attacker on halfway. She proceeds to take the ball, sprint past a couple of defenders – driving between the two centre-backs – before slotting past the goalkeeper. Absolutely against the run of play, but it exemplifies the difference between the two sides here – Wigan are quicker to ball, whether in a defensive or attacking situation.
The Marine ultras – a group of young girls with football kits on (they must have played in a pre-match game here) – are doing their darndest to get behind their team. Sat in the stand, they’ve been chanting what sounds like 'Come on Marie' throughout the second half. They’re quite impressive – their chanting goes on for about 3 minutes without interruption, which far exceeds what you hear from supporters of Premier League clubs! Intrigued by the support they’re showing to this particular player, I look in the programme and there's nobody called Marie? It later hits me that they’re chanting ‘Marine’ and I simply don’t understand the local accent!
Despite what must have been a morale-damaging moment, Marie (or Marine) continue to dominate the ball after the goal; Wigan being 4-1-up, are happy to let them have it. The Wigan keeper is busy – making a great save after a Marine forward finds space to get off a shot, while also seeing another shot go wide. Wigan are managing the game expertly, though – organised and compact, they’re constantly looking for opportunities to pick up on a loose ball, and it’s not long before they get a fifth goal. After being awarded a free-kick in shooting range, it’s hit the ball straight at the goalkeeper, bounces off her and Wigan captain Emily Melvin is on hand to turn the ball in (finally, we’ve got a name!).
The crowd have been somewhat good-natured – supportive of their kids, rather than wanting to play the game themselves. However, throughout the second half, the sound barrier has been increasingly pierced by a screechy woman – she’s got a daughter playing for the home side and has been making what I can only describe as cringeworthy comments. Every other word is a ‘fucking this’ or ‘fucking that’ and curious looks are shot in her direction. While I can understand the need for ‘passion’ in supporting your club/daughter, I like to remind you that she’s got a daughter playing here! She must be mortified at her mum because nobody else here is behaving like this. One aspect of watching football that I’ve not enjoyed in recent years is this unnecessary ‘passion’ that turns people into raving lunatics – which I think has gotten worse since COVID lockdowns were lifted a couple of years ago. Whatever happened to creative chanting and trying to encourage your team louder than the other set of supporters do? And why is shouting absolute nonsense inundated with swear words considered ‘passion’, anyway? It’s a shame because, with a voice as high as hers, she’d do a great job as the leader of the Marie Ultras behind the goal.
Sadly, her passion is all in vain as Wigan close out the game with two more goals. The first sees the free-kick taker from the last goal brilliantly place the ball into the corner – avoiding the goalkeeper this time! Marine are tiring and giving away fouls all over the place and with a handful of minutes left, they give away a penalty. Wigan’s pace sees them go clear again, a defender simply can’t keep up and has to stick out a leg. Captain Melvin steps up and places the ball beyond the goalkeeper’s reach – the scoreline seems harsh on Marine, considering how well they’ve done in this second half, but Wigan just possess a range of different qualities in their side that sets them apart. They should even be further ahead as the game reaches its end – they have TWO one-on-ones in the last couple of minutes, which the goalkeeper does well to smother.
In what must be injury time – I haven’t seen a board, nor were there any announcements, so I have no idea – a nasty injury occurs close to where I’m stood. A Marine player goes in for the ball, goes to ground and falls awkwardly on her arm. 'I've broken my arm' she immediately says, as calm as you like. Not sure if it's broken or dislocated, but I can see it from where I am, and it's bent out of position. People rush on to help, and with it being near the end of the match, the ref decides to blow for full-time. She seems relatively okay, in fairness to her, as she's made comfortable for the arrival of the ambulance.
Everyone files out to allow the medics to get on, and all that’s left is to reflect on another exciting Wigan performance. It’s clear to me that the women’s football pyramid is nowhere near as settled as it should be – this Wigan side should be playing at a couple of levels above where they are and judging by the results of games elsewhere today, it’s not uncommon for sides from supposed ‘lower leagues’ to trounce opponents from higher levels. So, where next? Unlike this round where I knew beforehand where I’d be going after the first round, I have to wait until the draw to see who's next. As such, I’m looking forward to knowing where that next Another Place will be!
Marine 1
Wigan Athletic 7
Attendance: 101
0 comments:
Post a Comment