Andrew Kearney, Author at Moss Bank Junior Football Club

Dear members

We are sure you have all heard the news that Bolton Council have withdrawn plans to build a new school on our Captains Clough Playing Fields.

Throughout this whole process we have kept a dignified stance with the local community and our landlords Bolton Council, whilst also attending meetings in relation to the protest to build the school on our football pitch green space. We have always refuted any rumours that we had communication with Simon Bramwell and his Academy Trust. We maintain this and throughout this whole process we have had no contact with him or the Academy.

We have updated our members accordingly throughout the different stages and have voiced our views and concerns initially to Bolton Council, Robertson’s, our residents, campaigners, protest meetings, Roger Heyes local councillor and Chris Green MP. From having being informed 3 weeks prior to a football season to move over 10 teams away from our venue we feared for the clubs identity for these teams who are all part our our wonderful club and the logistical nightmare this caused in the reconfiguration of our pitches and formats. This not including other factors it caused from a financial implication.

We have always maintained both sites to an exceptional high quality standard and have great working relationships with our residents particularly those houses that back onto our sites. Both sites have been kept in immaculate condition since we took the lease over in 2017 and the club have invested large amounts of members monies to keep both sites highly maintained. These positive relationships with our local residents have continued throughout the campaign. We thank them for their support. We hope to have our lease back in the coming weeks for both sites. This is imperative for our growth as a football and sports club; and for our community who use the facilities. Our 650+ young people deserve this!

We do hope in the future that those very people who have objected, attended protest meetings and signed petitions to stop the school being built and for signing the petition for village green status will support our wonderful football club in the future. The very fact that the 2 sites were used extensively for football and sport have certainly been a big part of the decision for Bolton Council to pull the plans. During the process Roger Heyes our local Liberal councillor visited our club on a packed Saturday morning and saw first hand the work we do for our young people and members. Roger was very impressed with Moss Bank Junior Football Club and hopefully going forward we can work more closely with Roger and our local elected party in maintaining these relationships.

We now move forward with our plans. We would like to thank each and everyone of our young people, parents, carers, coaches and volunteers for their support and understanding of our stance throughout. Let’s now get back to football and doing what we do best by serving our community with football, sport and activities. Thank you.

Moss Bank JFC

Update reference: Captains Clough.

CLUB STATEMENT: We would like again to reiterate to the general public that Moss Bank JFC have had no communication at any level with either Bolton Council, Vantage Academy Trust or Simon Bramwell prior to any proposed plans for Captains Clough or thereafter. We have had no deal, negotiations or correspondence with Vantage Academy Trust or Simon Bramwell over this matter despite people’s assumptions, reports previously published in the Bolton News and any discussions in any of the “Save the Church Road Playing Fields” group meetings or online. Please Mr Bramwell stop using our football club as a pawn in this game. We will respond with our own actions with the support of our own governing bodies when the appropriate time is right. We have spoken to our local councillors, immediate residents who are fully aware of our current position and fully understand our current stance on the matter. Thanks.

Update reference: Captains Clough playing fields.

A representative from the club attended the meeting at the Triangle Church on Thursday evening. From this, Moss Bank JFC are arranging to meet directly with Chris Green M.P. as to which is the best way forward for Moss Bank Junior Football Club. We, our governing bodies, the FA and Sport England cannot take any action until the feasibility study and surveying has been completed. If the Project goes to the planning stage it is then when we can officially lodge any complaint or protest. But at present we have to let the process take its course so at this present time Moss Bank JFC will not be supporting any petitions or action groups. We understand that residents will have a different view but as a club we are advised to follow the legal and procedural process from our governing body the FA and Sport England. Thanks all.

CLUB STATEMENT:

Just to clarify on the report in the Bolton News tonight and the Council announcement of a potential new school site on the Captains Clough pitches.

The Council approached us on the 10th August and told us they would NOT be renewing any lease on that land because of the “new potential project” which now transpires to be a new school. This left us in a very difficult position in terms of finding a short term home for 10 teams ranging from U11s to U14s both mixed and girls teams starting their season in September. Our lease ended on the 31st August.

We have been in direct communication with Bolton Council, our local councillor and Sport England/LFA in separate meetings. These early talks were to assure us of an immediate facility for the 10 teams using Captains Clough and our decision to reconfigure the Pavilion thereafter to make sure that every team at the club still continue to play and represent the club. We have at no time known that this was happening until that time.

We have had assurances off the Council that if a decision was made to build “the new project” the Council would have to provide us with 2 alternate better standard grass pitches with drainage or a 3G equivalent in the immediate area of the club base. However Sport England nor the LFA can come into this equation until any planning permission to build on Captains Clough as gone into planning. If this does this will trigger their official capacity in fully supporting the club. We cannot take no action until then and that’s when our membership base will have a big say in the future. Until then we wait until the surveys and groundwork’s on the site are completed and any decision is made. It might even mean they don’t go ahead with the project and they return the pitches back to us. The Council have already assured us that The Pavilion side will not be touched and our long term lease will continue.

Can we be absolutely clear that despite what the report states we have had no discussion with the Council or the project trust about what the project was as they would not disclose, no discussions on parking, a winter training all weather pitch, changing rooms or how this would fit into Moss Bank Junior Football Club and the community. We pride ourselves on having good community relationships. We fully understand the worries of those houses directly facing the back of the Pavilion and Captains Clough in the area. Some of these are current and past members of Moss Bank JFC. We have special trusting relationships with these people and this transparency is what we aim to continue to do. We have always maintained our pitches to the highest condition and have prided ourselves as having a superb facility for the 500 young people of the area not only with football but other sport.

For us we have to think of a short term pain is a long term gain. One of the main worries as a committee and club was to lose that identity and move teams out to other areas of Bolton and not feel part of the club. This will not happen. They are our DNA! All the older teams have been at this club since 5 year old and we will not allow us to be divided. We will keep you all fully updated of any news going forward but we could not officially announce anything until the Council did their official announcement. You as members are our blood line of this wonderful club and we need to STICK together as we will need each other in the future. Please do not speculate on Social Media because as a club we are fully aware and in complete discussions with all parties #upthebank

https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/19567557.bolton-primary-school-built-fields-off-captains-clough-road/

Hi all….had a number of answers back for the quiz and we will be announcing 2 winners picked out of the draw with most correct answers and those who have researched the answers. Prize will follow 🙂 It was a great response from everyone and thanks to Craig for compiling the questions and reading out the questions. Hope you enjoyed it and we will be looking to do something similar again. Please see answers below: How well did you do?

What is our 3 -5 year old training called? – little green dragons

What league do our open age teams play in – Lanc AM League

What are the names of our much appreciated kitchen staff? – Collete, Georgia & Jasmine

How many pitches are there on the Pavilion? – 6

Who are the club Welfare Officers – Collette Howarth/Rob Mcloughlin

What year did the Premier League start? – 1992

What year was the first official international football match played? – 1872

When was the first FIFA World Cup inaugurated? – 1930

Who was the first sponsor of the Premier League? – Carling

In what season did Roman Abramovich take over Chelsea? – 2003/04

Who scored the first ‘perfect hat-trick’ (left foot, right foot, and header) in the Premier League? – Jimmy Floyd Hasselbank

Who was the first English manager to win Premier League Manager of the Year award? – Harry Redknapp

Who achieved the first World Cup hat-trick? – Bert Patenaude

What was significant about Mario Balotelli’s ONLY assist in the Premier League for Manchester City – It was for Sergio Aguero’s title-winning goal vs QPR

How much did Sporting Lisbon receive for the transfer of 17 years old, Cristiano Ronaldo? – £12 million, a record fee at the time for a player of his age.

Scotland had appeared eight times at the World Cup finals; how many times have they made it past the group stage? – None

Which country hosted the first Football World Cup? – Uruguay

Which player won the World Cup Young Player award in 2018? – Kylian Mbappe

What is the full address of Moss Bank Junior Football Club? – 436 Church Road, Bolton BL1 5RP

What year was Moss Bank Junior Football Club formed – 2006

Who is the U10s Head of Age Group ?- Stuart Round
Moss Bank Junior Football Club had the honour of being nominated and won which award from the Lancashire FA in December 2020? – Club of the Year

Kevin Phillips won the Golden Boot in 1999/2000, who was the next English player to do so? – Harry Kane

Name the current MBJFC Youth Council Leader and Deputy Leader – first names only please- Xander T, Tyler W

In 1986, defender Alvin Martin scored a hat-trick in an 8-1 victory over Newcastle. What was so peculiar about his achievement? – He scored against three different goalkeepers

How many Ballon d’Or awards has Lionel Messi won? – Six

Which premier league player scored four goals in 12 minutes after coming on as a sub versus Nottingham Forest? – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

With 170 caps to her name, which player has made the most appearances for the England women’s national team? – Fara Williams

Which Sheffield United striker scored the first goal ever in the Premier League ? – Brian Deane

Who was Paul Merson talking about when he said: “I could win the league with Olympiacos. They’ve won it 107 times and it’s only been going 106 years. Why has it always got to be a foreign manager? What does he know about the Premier League?” – Marco Silva

Name the only three players that have, in individual premier league games, scored, provided an assist and scored an own goal – Wayne Rooney, Gareth Bale & Kevin Davies.

Which former premier league player holdS the title of missing the most penalties, but also the title of scoring the most? – Alan Shearer, missed 11 – scored 56

Which three players shared the Premier League Golden Boot in 2018-19? – Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane

What was the name of the Sutton United goalkeeping coach fined for eating a pie during his side’s game with Arsenal? – Wayne Shaw

Football Quotes:

Whose famous footballing quotes include – name the person that said these famous quotes

We had a good team on paper. Unfortunately, the game was played on grass – Brian Clough

“That’s a fantastic penalty, but he’ll be gutted it went wide.” Michael Owen

“I don’t want Rooney to leave these shores but if he does, I think he’ll go abroad.” – Ian Wright

“When they don’t score, they hardly ever win.” Michael Owen

“Will Chelsea qualify with ease? I think they will, but it won’t be easy.” Jamie Redknapp

“That’s exactly how you head a ball… you use your head.” Ray Wilkins

“Didier Drogba’s just a big loveable lump. Graham Norton seemed to get inside him last night.” Clive Tyldesley

True or False Round

Mark Hughes once played for Wales and Bayern Munich in the same day – TRUE

-Hughes had just signed for Bayern and was due to play for Wales against Czechoslovakia in Prague in a Euro ’88 qualifier. “I had dinner with Uli Hoeness (Bayern Manager) who asked me what time the Wales match was,” he said. “I told him it was around midday and he said: ‘That’s OK then, you can play in the evening as well.’” Hoeness watched the game and then flew him to the Bayern game on the other side of the Czech border where Borussia Monchengladbach were the opponents. “We actually flew over the ground and missed the first half, but I got there at the start of the second half.” Bayern won.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has played for six clubs that have won the Champions League, but he has never actually won the trophy himself – TRUE – The striker has been at Ajax, Barcelona, Inter, Juventus, Milan and now Man United.

Juan Mata has been substituted more times than any other premier league player – FALSE – Ryan Giggs (134 times)

Only two players born after the Premier League began have scored premier league hat tricks – FALSE = 3 have, Raheem Sterling, Harry Kane and Romelu Lukaku

The only person born before 1960 to score a Premier League hat-trick is Gordon Strachan – TRUE

Picture round

Name the three players point for each player correctly named- neymar jr, ronaldo, messi

Name the mash up of two players, point for each player correctly named 1 – Salah/Vardy

Name the mash up of two players, point for each player correctly named 2 – Kane/Van Dijk

Name the two players in the edited photo, point for each player correctly named – Rooney/Ibrahimović

Name the Coaches, point for each correctly named – distorted images x 5

Name as many coaches as possible = point for each named

Name the clubs dogs – point for each

Badge mash up – each image is a mash up of four club badges – not all premier league, other UK leagues and european. Point each for each correctly identify badge making up each image

Mash up 1 = EVERTON, BARCELONA, WREXHAM, GRIMSBY

Mash up 2 = BAYERN MUNICH. READING, BLACKPOOL, MIDDLESBOROUGH

Mash up 3 = ST.MIRREN, LEEDS, SOUTHPORT, SUNDERLAND

Mash up 4 = HEART OF MIDLOTHIAN, CARDIFF, HEREFORD FC, SALFORD CITY

What happens next?

Substitute stops the ball from going out and the referee gives a penalty kick.
Player runs up with stuttered run up for penenka only for the keeper to save it.
Moss Bank Vets
Kyle Derbyshire and John Halliwell – U9s Whites
Player turns to celebrate but ball is stuck in the mud and another player follows up to score.

EASY ROUND – KIDS

- 1. Which famous English knockout competition is also the oldest cup tournament in the world? – FA Cup
  2. How many teams are there in the English Premier League? – 20
  3. What do footballers wear beneath their socks to protect their ankles and lower legs from injury? – Shin pads
  4. How many points does an English Premier League team get if they win the match? – 3
  5. Which football team are nicknamed The Gunners? – Arsenal
  6. What is the name of the football stadium where England play home matches? – Wembley Stadium
  7. What word is used to describe a match between two local rival teams? – A Derby
  8. Sheffield has two football clubs, which one of these club sounds like a day of the week? – Sheffield Wednesday
  9. What sort of animal is on both the England and Scotland football badges? – :Lion

We are asking all players, parents, carers, family, volunteers, coaches who have or still involved (past and present) to please search the loft 🙂 or storage areas for any old photographs or videos of your journey/time with Moss Bank JFC. We are celebrating our 15 years as a formed club (2006) alongside our Lancashire Football Association Club of the Year 2020 and we will be celebrating these in style. We will be compiling a video with interviews from MossBankTV to add to the celebrations. We would also appreciate your fond memories of Moss Bank JFC and if are willing to undertake a video interview with your memories this would be superb. Please send your photos and videos and memories to andrew.kearney@mossbankjfc.co.uk or whats app them to 07702472952. Hopefully we can celebrate the 15 years albeit with restrictions and in a safe way. More details of this will follow.

#MossBankJFC Ground Maintenance continues between the bad weather – Both the @LeasingOptions Pavilion and @_HarrisonsEA Captain Clough slit today – getting prepared as spring approaches and hopefully a return back to #grassrootsfootball after #lockdown2021 #upthebank #GSR not a clean job

This is a mixed adult, older child and younger child quiz. This is not a LIVE quiz and is pre-recorded on our #MOSSBANKTV YouTube channel – Open YouTube and search MossBankTV. A link will follow just before the quiz starts. We encourage everyone to allow your children to answer and participate. There is a mixture of Moss Bank questions which you can find the answers to the official club website mossbankjfc.co.uk – There will also be general football questions that range from hard to easy – yes you can google all the answers and I hope you can research some of these answers with your kids 😃 it’s about getting everyone involved through this boredom and lockdown. There is a picture quiz also added to the quiz and if you go on the website at https://mossbankjfc.co.uk/picture-quiz/ you will also find some Brucie Bonus Picture Questions. We have an incentive…all answers can be emailed to andrew.kearney@mossbankjfc.co.uk and all those entering will be put in a draw for a special prize plus highest top 3 will also receive a prize. Entries must reach us by Thurs 18th Feb.