Non League Dougie

02/05/2026

Last Saturday we were at the Butchers Arms for the Counties North playoff semi final.
The first half was cagey, although good intensity from both teams, clear chances on goal were rare.

Second half, both teams went up another gear and was end to end excitement. Great defending from both teams which lead to counter attacks galore!
It was a hot one, while Dougie was in the shade with his water, running in the heat for this long should have been energy sapping! But it was still all go.
The home side got the first break on the hour mark. Artwell fired a shot off the cross bar and Talbot was first to react heading the ball into the top corner, we were pretty sure it was offside, but watching the video a few times it looks like the linesman got it right..... game on!
Gates reaction was imminent, and 2 min after the restart Harries found himself in space on the edge of the area passing the ball, all to easy past the hapless Latham. Not sure if it's was deflected, but it seemed to go straight down the middle.
It was anyones for the taking, the pace got quicker and the chances kept coming.
With a long throw, Droylsden striker flick on to the on running midfielder, it was the bloods number 8 Jordan Barnett who fired in from close range leaving McLachlan with no chance with 89 minutes on the clock.
Gate still pushed for another equaliser in the 7 minutes injury time, Latham tipped one over the bar from distance and with the Gate goalkeeper still up for a corner, the referee blew up. Heartbreak for Evans the Gate manager. After a tough start to the season squires have shown great belief to get into the playoffs on the last day of the season.
Games they were down and out, managing to come back and win on a few occasions. They should be proud of the season they had and not dwell on how it finished.
Where as Droylsden will host Maghull in the final, and after losing top spot to Nelson, they still managed a great run in the Manchester Cup beating teams from leagues above on the way to beating Curzon Ashton in the final.
Back to the Butchers Arms again today then for me and Doug.
Don't forget your s**tbags!


S**t video on the link😁
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DX1UnvdsxK5/?igsh=MWl3ajY0MmJmMTJuOQ==

30/08/2025

Back from a tanning session in Turkey, managed to come back still bald and my own lower than average teeth 😁 and we're back on the road. A few tasty fixtures today. The FA cup Atherton derby had a big pull, but the M65 seems the place to be today. Right at the top end Colne v Garstang, both on 4 points could be a tasty affair! Then to Nelson v Thornton. Good start of the season for Thornton, but Nelson bringing "The Talented Mr Ripley" back as manager might see their unfortunate fortunes turned today??
Then to Darwen v AFC Blackpool, where a win for the home side could see them go joint top! But the points will be much needed for AFC after a tricky start has left them looking up from 18th place.
Think we'll be starting at Little Wembley, knowing a few players on both sides, we're hoping for a feisty one at the Daisy arena.
But options to get to a couple of my old teams games could be a half time option.
It's gonna be a wet one, 🌨 fc
Don't forget your s**tbags!
**tbags

25/04/2025

25/04/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1FnmBDQaoW/

16/02/2025

Macron Cup quarter finals this week after a few weeks with no footy for Dougie. Storms keeping me busy fixing roofs!
4th in the Counties prem, playing their home games at Avro, versus currently 7th in the Counties North.
After already beating two prem sides, AFC went into the game with plenty of confidence. But it was the home side that took the lead in the 7th minute when the big no.9 found it all to easy to slot home.
AFC hit back quickly, a Gregory equaliser after good work down the left from Hepple. But in an end to end game, the Chadderton keeper had it reasonably easy where as Whittingham at the other end kept the away side in the game, first half.
A change and move around at half time worked and suited the away side and they went 2.1 up after 47 minutes with Blackpool captain, Hay scoring with his head from a Hepple corner. (Video in comments, while Dougie was still enjoying his half time s**t and run! He also managed to roll in a dead bird, which left him smelling delightful through the second half)😂
And for half an hour AFC hard work ethic showed, keeping Chadderton chances minimal while looking to score at will! Carter back in the 9 after playing the first half in the 10. Looked more at home with one of his 'worldies'!! Spotting the keeper off his line, he must of shot from all of 40+ yards out. Over the keeper making it 3.1 On 66 mins. Then again on 74 mins. Good work by Gregory pulling the ball back for another tidy finish from Carter. 4.1 to the team in the lower division.
In come the changes..... and probably the difference in the sides. The quality and pace Chadderton were able to bring on made the last 15 minutes, relentless attack after attack. Making it 4.2 two minutes later through Schofield, 4 minutes later flynn made it 4.3. And for the last 10 minutes it was backs to the walls for Blackpool. Looking like they were going to hold out, sub Wisdon-bernard equalised in the first minute of injury time. And probably could have gone on to win it. The away side happy to hear the final whistle.
To pens.... both keepers saving the first pens. The rest scored until Chaddertons last pen was saved by penalty expert Whittingham.
4.3 to AFC BLACKPOOL on penalties and into the semis.
Had to put my foot down a bit on the way home. Car stunk of dead bird! He got so many lovely comments from folk yesterday. Off his lead most the day, doesn't leave my side, until..... I go to pick his s**t up and I catch that roll in the corner of my eye!!! "You dirty bastard" 😂😂
Where to next Doug??
Don't forget your s**tbags!

14/01/2025

The Cyprus Rescue:
After losing Harvey, our big golden lab. Indie our black lab, who became unsociable after being attacked by an Akita, had a big cancerous tumour taken out, then losing Harvey to Cancer! She Needed a friend.
I'd looked for 18 months before seeing the photo and reading his brief story, I knew it had to be him! Possibly a slight pest in my chase for him.
But it worked, 5 weeks later, 1,830 mile flight from Cyprus followed by a 600 mile drive from Amsterdam he was here. March 1st 2020. Just before the world stopped!! Which was good for him as he got myself and the kids every day for 3 months.
The first intense meet with Indie, (she needs 5 mins to stop being reactive) was a success, best mates within 10 mins.
The daily, morning greetings of either holding your hand in his mouth or holding your clothing, walks us to the back door before going out in the garden. At times a bit destructive together 😂🤦 there's a continuing list of destruction!! Trainers, clothes, sofa's! Digging holes in the garden, breaking through to the neighbours to play with their dogs.
It's your usual dog/lab behaviour. I say lab, he's definitely cross with something Cypriot.
Where would we be without dogs🧡

30/12/2024

That funny time ain't it??
From a boxing day game, squeezing another in 2 days later, not really knowing the day or date!!
Then there's getting a squad out that might not of had to much food & drink the day before!

My biggest problem was having to put on my wife's deodorant! No Lynx Africa in my stocking this year.
Last thing I wanted was to turn the heads of the feral Droylsden fans! (Only some of them😉) luckily a damp Dougie smell probably covered it.
Where as for Garstangs problems.... it never looks good losing 5 in a row but those 5 were against 4 of the top 5 and the in form Darwen.

Another bad start lay in wait though after 7 minutes when 'Nellson Van headed in from close range.
Droylsden always look like they could expand on their lead at will, but clear chances were few and far between, and when Garstang scored a goal, which was correctly called offside even though the linesman didn't flag?? You couldn't help but think, not many more chances would come their way.
Sheriff Njie made it 2.0 on 36 minutes and Garstang battled hard to keep it at that for the first half.
Dougie found it hard not to be greeted by most off the 188 in attendance with the narrow path leading the bar and toilet area. Most of the time because he was in the bloody way!

Second half saw Garstang put in a better show of things while the pitch was getting wetter and cutting up a fair bit now, Droylsden managed their 3rd on 65 minutes to all but secure the 3 points. Squires scored a consolation for the home side deep into injury time.
Hopefully there's a few players back from injury in the coming weeks to improve results for the Riversiders.
Whereas the bloods keep pushing to make the playoff gap wider.
Where to next Doug?
Don't forget your s**tbags!!

27/12/2024

Nearly headed to see 'the dwarf and goblin' at Bacup until that postponement meant we just headed closer to home at Thornton-Cleveleys.
4th v 14th in the league, on paper it was always gonna be a tough day for the home side.
Thornton had the better of the chances in the first half, with Wilkinson having 2 of them, in the unusual no.9 role today. First he made a great run through the Holker Old Boys defence before somehow putting the ball closer to the old goals at their former home down the road. With second being saved well, and with Langs headed effort not hitting the target, Holker took advantage of missed opportunities with a good strike from McGladdery to make it 1-0 on the half hour and McGladdery found himself with an easy header at the end of the first half after a deflected cross and finish which all seemed to easy for the away side. Proving if you don't take your chances, you will be punished in this league.
Good job I had a few bags as Dougies half time blow out lead to 2 large dumps!! 💩 someone must have been cleaning the leftover Christmas plates by the looks of it!!

Thornton started the second half with intent, with Wood starting high up the right wing, heading through for Beavers with a great run but shooting just wide!
This lead to a better second half with both teams showing more intensity.
Thornton got their goal on 72 minutes with a composed finish by sub Ritchie, with which the 220 fans hoped would lead to a Thornton come back, only for Spence to score 3 minutes later, immediately taking the wind out their sails and sealed the home teams fate. A few good stops from the 'evergreen' Smith in the Thornton goal stopped it looking worse, but another home defeat for Thornton in their first season in the Counties, hopefully proves to be just a learning curve while Holker are looking odds on for a playoff place and possibly push the impressive Atherton LR at the top.

Decisions for Saturday Doug??
Don't forget your s**tbags!!