KICKOFF COUNTDOWN
Last weekends cancellation means that the Blues should be well rested given the extra week to prepare for this weeks fixture. A trip to Lancashire see’s us heading to take on Bamber Bridge FC in the NPL premier Division.

Bamber were also postponed at the weekend however, a midweek round of fixtures saw them play Blyth Spartans which ended in a 1-1 drawn after Bamber went down to 10 men, Blyth managed to level the scores in the 80th minute. This final November fixture is certainly one that both teams will be looking to take points from, especially as we head into a packed 5 game December schedule.

The True Blue Army will assemble at?
Bamber Bridge play their home games at the Sir Tom Finney Stadium located In Bamber Bridge, just outside of Preston. The quickest route takes roughly 90 minutes. Heading north on the A523 through Macclesfield before joining the Manchester Airport eastern link road and onto the Wilmslow bypass. Heading into Cheadle before getting onto the M60 to Junction 15 where you join the M61 and exiting at junction 9 onto the M65 for one junction and exiting onto the A6 which leads directly into Bamber Bridge.

We will be wearing our away kit of all orange #ORANJ

How much to get in?

Adults – £12.00
Concessions - £8.00
Juniors (U’18s) - £2.00
U11’s - Free

The Opposition?

Bamber Bridge FC – Brig
Formed – 1952
Ground – Sir Tom Finney Stadium
Gaffer – Jamie Milligan

Their Website?
Bamber Bridge

How are they doing?
Bamber currently sit 17th in the league table heading into the game. Just 3 points above the Blues. The current form guide suggests that Leek are marginally the form team heading into the game having picked up 1 more point than Bamber in the previous 6 games. The Brig’s last league win was a 2-3 away win over Workington at the end of October, however they have not picked up a win during the month of November in league or cup action.

Their Main Man?
Lucas weaver was the man in form for the Lancashire based Brig, but has been recalled from his loan and now playing at Radcliffe.The Altrincham loanee is with the Brig to help him gain valuable first team playing experience and he is certainly proving his worth so far this season. Simon Grand is the next highest scorer with 5 to his name.

Their Gaffer?
Jamie Milligan is an ex England international youth with footballing pedigree from his stints at Everton and Blackpool. The bulk of his playing career was done in the lower leagues with teams such as Hyde, Fleetwood, Southport and Stockport. Following his retirement from playing in 2019 he was quickly placed as first team manager in 2019 where he finished 13th.

6 of the best – Things you may not know about Bamber Bridge

The club is fully owned by a community organisation that represents supporters of the club
The ground was officially named the Sir Tom Finney Stadium after Finney's death in 2014. It currently has a capacity of 2,642, of which 499 is seated
The record attendance of 2,300 was set for a friendly match against the Czech Republic national team shortly before Euro 96, as the Czechs were using Irongate as a training ground; the result was a 9–1 win for the Czechs
Record transfer fee received: £15,000 from Wigan Athletic for Tony Black, 1995
Record transfer fee paid: £10,000 to Horwich RMI for Mark Edwards
Best FA Cup performance: Second round, 1999–2000