So this it. This Saturday we welcome Broughton Park, worthy winners of South Lancashire/Cheshire 1 this season. They have led from the start and are promoted to North One West at the second time of asking. Congratulations to them.
Park are one of the oldest clubs in the world, being founded in 1882, and for the last ten years they have alternated between North One West and South Lancashire/Cheshire 1.

Relegated to South Lancashire/Cheshire 1 in 2016, Broughton Park finished third last year, ten points behind Douglas, and managed to defeat the Saints comprehensively home and away. We lost 27-37 away and were thrashed at Malone Field 59-12.

Last November we travelled to Houghend Crescent and lost 19-35, although the game was far closer than the result suggests.

In fact, we have to go to our time in North One West to note the last time the Saints won this fixture. In November 2011, we triumphed 25-17 at Eastham and Broughton Park would later be relegated that season. We were to follow in 2012-13 and we swapped divisions as they were promoted after one season in South Lancashire/Cheshire 1. They spent three seasons in the higher division before rejoining us in 2016.

Park are already planning for next season. On their website there is an article entitled “Park’s new league next season?” in which the anonymous author calculates the distances clubs in next season’s North One West will have to travel. Glossop are there and we are not. Obviously, Park assume they will defeat us today and Glossop will win both their remaining league games and the play-off, probably against Aspatria, and finish second.

It is up to us to prove them wrong.