Formby Junior Sports Club has reached the landmark of being sixty-four years old. Franks report here

Formby Junior Sports Club has now reached the landmark of being sixty-four years old. The club was founded by my late father Jim Rourke in early January 1959. Now at the beginning of 2023, all these years later, FJSC is remarkably still up and running and as ever provides football for children of all abilities.

The first weekend of football after a four week break was unfortunately hit by bad weather, waterlogged pitches and teams with no fixtures. Inter Club suffered with only the older age groups playing and for the Representative teams only three matches took place which were all played away.

REPRESENTATIVE TEAM MATCHES

FJSC Under 13’s Saturday team in the Hightown League played out a 1-1 draw with Freshfield FC on a very muddy pitch at Buckley Hill. Freshfield took a 1 nil first half lead. Man of the match Daniel Hill equalised for FJSC in the second half.

On Sunday FJSC Under 13’s were in action away at Southport Trinity. FJSC opened the scoring after nine minutes with a goal scored by Dominic Maxwell. Trinity were soon on level terms before Archie Ogden scored FJSC’s second goal. Within twenty seconds of the start to the second half Dominic Maxwell made it 3-1 to FJSC with his second goal of the match. It soon became 4-1 when Archie Ogden scored again to make sure of the three points . Second in the Craven Minor League FJSCUnder 13’s play league leaders Shevington Park next Sunday .

FJSC Under 11’s played away against Southport and Ainsdale Amateur Reds. S. and A. took a 2 nil lead after FJSC had started brightly. It was a setback but the Under 11’s came back strongly and deservedly scored a fine goal from Ralph Renton following a Lucas Lewis corner kick. After half time S. and A. added to their lead despite a very good effort by FJSC. The final result was much closer than the first encounter earlier in the season. This goes to showhow much of an improvement has been made by the FJSC Under 11’s team in their first season of competitive football.

INTER CLUB SECTION

Only the Years 5/6 and 7/8 age groups played on Saturday. Unfortunately heavy rain and a deterioration of the surfaces to the pitches meant a decision to cancel football and coaching for the younger age groups had to be made.

The Year 7/8 group enjoyed a lively five a-side match. Two short matches were played by the very well attended Year 5/6 age group. Scoring the goals in these two exciting matches were Lucas Lewis, Noah Bate, Tobias Rigby, Zac Hooson-Jones, Nick Kostakis, Joby Varey, Ben Harris, Sylvan O’Hara and Harry Ball.

INTER CLUB INFORMATION

The next session is on Saturday 14th Januaryat Deansgate Lane Playing Fields.

TIMES

Goalkeeper Coaching is from 9.00am - 9.30am.

Any budding young goalkeeper is welcome to come along and join in.

Years 5/6. 9.30 am - 10.45 am

Years 7/8. 9.45 am - 11.00 am

Four year olds 10.45 am - 11.45am

Years 1/2. 10.45 am -11.45 am

Years 3/4 . 11.15 am - 12.15pm

Each session has coaching and a friendly match as well.

NEW MEMBERS IN ALL INTER CLUB GROUPS ARE MOST WELCOME

Memberships fees for those new members joining now will be- Reception £5, Year One £15 and Year Two upwards £25.

CLUB NEWS

Congratulations to former FJSC member Mikey O’Neill who played for Preston North End last Saturday in their 3rd Round FA Cupwin against Huddersfield Town. Next up for Preston is Harry Kane’s Tottenham Hotspurs.