LANCASTER HONDA NORTH LANCASHIRE AND DISTRICT FOOTBALL LEAGUE (MEMBERS OF THE LANCASHIRE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION)

90^th Celebrations Letter To All Clubs

90^th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS

It was mentioned at the Open Meeting in September that this season is the 90^th Anniversary of the Re-formation of the league.  Clubs were asked to take photographs of its current teams. We are hoping to get enough photos to have them printed in the local papers. If any club does have a photograph taken they could send them to me. I will keep them safe and return to clubs at a later date.

In the late 1890’s and the early part of the 1900’s the league was known as ‘The Lancaster and District League’.  The league consisted of teams such as Kings Own, Skerton North End, Freehold Athletic, Galgate, Caton, Scotforth, Halton and St. Peters and others. In 1899 we had teams like Morecambe and Garstang. In 1900 we had Freehold, Freehold Athletic and Lancaster Caledonians. In 1901 we had Pilling, Ingleton and Freehold Old Boys. In season 1902 we had Lancaster Temperance. In season 1903 George Street Central, Woodville Athletic and L & N.W. Railway. In season 1904 we had Marsh Hornets and Calder Vale. In season 1905 we had Kendal Swifts and Moor Lane. In season 1906 we had Lancaster YMCA. In season 1907 we had Bare. In 1908 we had Lancaster Parish Church. In 1909 we had two sections, a Northern Section which had Lancaster Reserves, Carnforth Rangers, Warton and Kirkby Lonsdale. The Southern Section had teams like Lune Mills, St. Marys and Morecambe Reserves.  In 1910 we had Ingleton College, Lancaster Territorials, a Junior Section had 11 teams and a Minor Section had 6 teams.  In season 1911 we had John O’Gaunt, Park Villa, Bentham and Bentham Wanderers. The Minor section had 8 teams, Christ Church, Galgate Amateurs, Carnforth Juniors, Morecambe W.E. Amateurs, Bolton Le Sands, Poulton Athletic, Caton Juniors and Bare Cadets.

According to our records the League was reformed in 1919 and consisted of two divisions. In Division One we had Champions, Lancaster Discharged followed by Poulton Athletic,  Carnforth Rangers, White Lund, Freehold Athletic,  Galgate, Ingleton United, Kings Own Depot and Warton. Division Two consisted of Champions, Wards Employees followed by Lancaster YMCA,  Scotforth, Caton,  Marsh Wesleyans,  Springfield Athletic,  Silverdale,  Poulton Athletic Reserves, Moorlands Celtic, Carnforth Rangers Reserves, Bolton Le Sands (they took over the League records and fixtures of White Lund Reserves who had one point deducted for breach of Rule), Glasson Dock United, Dolphinholme, N.P.F. Juniors, Waring and Gillows and Halton.  The Parkinson Cup was won by Ingleton with Galgate runners-up.  The Lancaster Infirmary Senior Cup was won by Lancaster Discharged from Caton. The Lancaster Infirmary Junior Cup Subsidiary Competition was won by Lancaster Discharged from Carnforth Rangers.  In season 1920-21 the league had three Divisions, Division One had 13 teams, Division’s Two and Three contained 14 teams.

Anything old relating to any of these clubs/teams from those dates to the present would be very much appreciated and can be sent to me.  Again I would keep them safe and return to clubs at a later date.   A room in Skerton Liberal Club will be set aside to display any memorabilia we receive to show people.  We have photographs of the three teams that have won the Lancashire Football Association Amateur Shield, Lancaster Moor Hospital, Bolton Le Sands and Bentham together with reports which will be on show. Up to the late 1940’s the North Lancashire League representative teams played in matches against Scotland and was classed as ‘Junior Internationals’. Players who played in these were awarded a ‘Cap’ similar to what players get now for representing their country. At least one of these will be on display. If any old photographs are sent could they have the names of all the people on the photos if possible.

A representative match is in the process of being finalised and will be held on Giant-Axe, Lancaster and will probably be held in either the second or third week in March probably a Tuesday or Wednesday.  We are hoping and trying to get a Football League manager to present trophies to the teams at the end of the game, people we have in mind are David Moyes the Everton manager, Sam Allardice of Blackburn and amongst others. We are hoping to produce a ‘Souvenir Program’ for sale at the representative match at Giant-Axe. We need sponsors to insert in this program, so if you know of anyone who would be willing to place an advert in the program either give them my number or ring me and I will ring them.  

Other projects for this year are under discussion. Clubs will be informed as they progress. It has been discussed that all mementos this season will be special for this season.

If anyone has anything of interest to put on show they can contact Lawrie Postlethwaite, telephone 01524-770095 who will gladly collect it.